2. Objectives
Identify conflicts between English rulers and Parliament.
Explain the causes and results of the English Civil War.
Describe the Restoration and the Glorious Revolution.
Explain the changes under William and Mary.
3. The English Parliament’s financial power was one obstacle to
English rulers’ becoming absolute monarchs.
James I (James Stuart, king of Scotland) was the cousin
of Queen Elizabeth I and was the heir to the throne of
England at the time of her death in 1603. He inherited
a country in debt and struggled with Parliament over
money. James believed in the absolute rule of the
monarch (as did Elizabeth I) and was not as successful
as Elizabeth I in getting what he wanted out of
Parliament. Although he was a Calvinist, he offended
many Puritan members of Parliament and refused to
make Puritan reforms. He also was the target of many
Catholic supporters.
4. THE GUNPOWDER PLOT OF 1605 WAS A
FAILED ATTEMPT BY A GROUP OF
ENGLISH CATHOLICS TO KILL KING JAMES I
ENGLAND, HIS FAMILY, AND MOST OF THE
PROTESTANT ARISTOCRACY IN A SINGLE
ATTACK BY BLOWING UP THE HOUSES OF
PARLIAMENT DURING THE STATE OPENING.
GUY (GUIDO) FAWKES WAS THE PERSON
RESPONSIBLE FOR STORING AND
DETONATING THE GUNPOWDER UNDER THE
PARLIAMENT BUILDING. HE WAS CAUGHT AT
MIDNIGHT ON NOVEMBER 5, 1605 BY THE
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE AND TAKEN DIRECTLY
TO THE KING’S CHAMBERS TO BE
INTERVIEWED. HE REMAINED DEFIANT IN
FRONT OF THE KING AND WAS LATER
SENTENCED TO DEATH AFTER BEING
TORTURED. HE WAS TO BE HUNG, DRAWN
AND QUARTERED BUT CHEATED THE
EXECUTIONER WHEN HE JUMPED OFF OF
SCAFFOLDING IN ORDER TO BREAK HIS NECK
IN THE HANGMAN’S NOOSE.
5. “Remember,
remember the 5th of
November…”
The day is celebrated as
Guy Fawkes’s night every
November 5th . Bonfires,
fireworks and effigies of
Guy Fawkes are all a part
of the celebration of the
thanksgiving for "the joyful
day of deliverance".
Guy
Fawkes
effigy on
parade to
bonfire.
Guy
Fawkes
mask
6. Charles I
The son of James I, Charles I
took the throne when his father
died in 1625. Charles I always
needed money to fund his wars
against Spain and France.
When Parliament would not
give him the funds that he
requested, he would dissolve
Parliament. 1628- Charles I was
forced to call Parliament again
to request money.
Parliament refused until the king would sign the Petition
of Right:
He would not imprison subjects without due cause.
He would not levy taxes without Parliament’s consent.
He would not house soldiers in private homes.
He would not impose martial law in peacetime.
7. Dissolution of Parliament
Charles ignored the petition but
the idea that law was supreme
over a king was set forth. 1629,
Charles I dissolves Parliament
again and refused to call it back.
In order to raise money, he
imposed all kinds of fees and
fines on the English people
which made him very
unpopular.
8. English Civil War
1637, Charles I tries to force Scottish
Presbyterians to accept a version of the
Anglican prayer book so that both kingdoms
would follow one religion. The Scots
rebelled, assembled an army and threatened
to invade England. Charles called Parliament
into session to ask for money to fund an
army. This provided Parliament the
opportunity to oppose him.
1641- Parliament passed laws to limit royal
power.
Jan. 1642- Charles tries to arrest members
of Parliament but they escape. A few days
after his failure to capture five members of
the House of Commons and fearing for his
own personal safety and that of his family
and retinue, Charles left the London area to
raise an army in the north.
1642-1649 English Civil War is fought
between supporters and opponents of the
king.
9. Royalists vs. Puritans
People loyal to the
king were called
Loyalists (Royalists)
or Cavaliers.
People supporting
Parliament were called
roundheads (because of
their closely cropped
hair.)
10. In this 17th century woodcut, The Roundheads with their dog Peper are
squaring off against the Cavaliers and their dog Pudel. Notice the haircuts
of the dogs reflect the style of the their group.
11. Rise of Cromwell
1644- Oliver Cromwell becomes a general who can
help the Parliamentarians win. He establishes the New
Model Army. It comprised professional soldiers led by
trained generals, unlike other military forces of the era,
which tended to have aristocratic leaders with no
guarantee of military training. Apart from their military
successes, the New Model Army troops also became
famous for their Puritan religious zeal and support for
the "Good Old Cause".
1646- the New Model Army defeats the Cavaliers.
12. 1649- Cromwell and the Puritans bring Charles I to trial for treason. They found him
guilty and sentenced him to death. He was beheaded on Jan. 30, 1649. Never
before had a reigning monarch faced a public trial and execution.
13. Lord Protector
Cromwell is now the Protector of the country
and sets out to reform society by passing
laws that promoted Puritan morality and
abolished sinful activities (like going to the
theater.) He promoted religious toleration to
all Christians except Catholics and even
welcomed back Jews who had been expelled
since 1290.
1658- Cromwell dies, his son fails to take
power and his government collapses. The
eldest son of Charles I was asked to rule.
Oliver
Cromwell’s
death mask
14. The Restoration
1660- Charles II takes the throne and restores the
monarchy. This period of rule is called the
Restoration. Puritan laws were reversed (theaters,
sporting events and dancing were allowed.)
In his restoration agreement with Parliament, he was
given a standing army and allowed to purge officials
responsible for his father’s execution. In exchange,
Charles II agreed to honor the Petition of Right and
accept a limited income.
Charles was cynical and self-indulgent, less skilled in
governing than in surviving adversity. Like his father,
he believed he possessed the divine right to rule, but
unlike Charles I, he didn’t make it his priority. The
Royal Court was notorious for its wine, women and
song, and Charles became known as the “Merry
Monarch” for his indulgence in hedonistic pleasures.
15. Parliament’s Power
1679- Parliament passes a guarantee of
freedom, Habeas corpus, which gave every
prisoner the right to obtain a writ or
document ordering that the prisoner be
brought before a judge who would decide
if the prisoner should go to trial or be set
free. This prevented the monarch from
putting someone in jail simply for
opposing him.
Publication of
the Habeas
Corpus Act of
1679
16. Glorious Revolution
1685- Charles II dies and his catholic brother, James
II, becomes king. James is disliked because he is
catholic. He has a Protestant daughter called Mary
who was married to a prince of the Netherlands,
William of Orange. Seven members of Parliament
invited William and Mary to overthrow James II.
William led his army to London in 1688 and James II
fled to France. This bloodless overthrow of the king
is called the Glorious Revolution.
17. William and Mary
William and Mary are crowned co-rulers of
England and they soon recognize Parliament
as their partner in governing and created a
constitutional monarchy.
1689- Parliament drafts a Bill of Rights which
stated that a ruler could not: Suspend
Parliament’s laws, levy taxes without a specific
grant from Parliament, interfere with freedom
of speech in Parliament or penalize any
citizen who petitions the king about
grievances.