Parliament Triumphs in
England
World History
Problems Develop between the
King and Parliament
ƒ King James I of England
claims that he rules
according to Divine Right.
(Which means it is God’s
will that he rules.)
ƒ James clashes with
Parliament, which is a law
making body, over money.
ƒ When Parliament wants to
discuss things with him
before he acts, he
dissolves Parliament.
Charles I Takes Over
ƒ Charles rules like an absolute
monarch, just like his father.
ƒ He imprisoned his foes without
trial and squeezed the nation for
money.
ƒ He summoned Parliament because
he wanted to raise taxes.
ƒ Parliament makes him Sign the
Petition of Right, which says, the
king couldn’t raise taxes without
their permission or imprison
people without trial.
ƒ He signs it, but then dissolves
Parliament.
The Clash Between the King and
Parliament Leads to War
ƒ The King sends his
troops against the
leaders of Parliament.
ƒ The Parliament then
raises its own army.
ƒ This begins the
English Civil War,
which lasts from 1642
to 1651.
Cavaliers and Roundheads
ƒ The supporters of Charles
I were known as Cavaliers
because of their plumed
hats and long hair.
ƒ The supporters of
Parliament were known as
the Roundheads because
of their round helmets and
short hair.
ƒ The Cavaliers expect a
quick victory, but are
defeated, and the king is
captured.
A King is Executed
ƒ Parliament set up a court
to put Charles on trial.
ƒ He stated “I am a martyr
of the people” and agreed
to be executed.
ƒ This was a symbol that a
king could not rule
England without following
the law and following the
will of his people.
Oliver Cromwell
ƒ Oliver Cromwell became the
leader of the Roundhead
forces.
ƒ He was a skilled general.
ƒ He became the leader of
England after the King was
executed.
ƒ England was declared a
Commonwealth.
ƒ Many groups challenged his
authority, and he crushed
them.
ƒ He then declared himself
Lord Protector of England.
ƒ He then ruled like an
absolute monarch.
Cromwell Enacts Changes
ƒ Cromwell was a Puritan.
This religious group
wanted to be rid of all
godlessness in England.
ƒ He made “profaning the
Lord’s Day” a crime.
ƒ He closed theaters and
frowned on taverns,
gambling, and dancing.
ƒ When he died, a new
Parliament invited Charles
II to come back and rule as
a king. He is followed by
James II.
The Glorious Revolution
ƒ James II is Catholic and
makes laws that anger the
people.
ƒ His daughter Mary and her
husband William were
invited by Parliament to
be rulers. James is
deposed peacefully.
ƒ This became known as the
Glorious Revolution.
The English Bill of Rights
ƒ Before they were allowed to rule,
William and Mary had to sign the
English Bill of Rights.
ƒ This document stated that
Parliament was superior to the
king and that Parliament had
control of all money matters.
ƒ It also listed rights of all
Englishmen, including trial by
jury and freedom from unjust
punishment.
ƒ It also affirmed the idea of
Habeas Corpus, which said you
couldn’t hold someone in jail
without charging them with a
crime.
England Becomes A Limited
Monarchy
ƒ A limited monarchy has a king or queen
whose power is limited by a constitution or
law making body.
ƒ Eventually, a cabinet develops around the
king. This is a group of people who advise
the king.
ƒ Eventually, the leader of this group, the
Prime Minister, will become more powerful
than the king or queen.