Paths to Constitutionalism: The British

What kingdoms entailed the land known as Great Britain?

• Ireland

• Scotland

• Wales

• England

When did the British Civil Wars occur?

After Queen Elizabeth I, on the cusp of the Early Enlightenment when the House of Commons claimed the "voice of the people = the voice of God."

What were the British Civil Wars?

A complex conflict involving multiple kingdoms (Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England) over religious and constitutional issues (like Holy Roman Empire in the 30 Yrs War).

What were the causes of the British Civil Wars?

• Gun Powder Plot: a plot against James I to blow up Parliament because they didn't trust what was going to happen to the monarchy, revealed it was done by Catholics vs a Protestant King
• who had the power: Parliament or the King
• who could tax: Parliament or the King
• English governors and landlords exploited Irish
• fear of a Catholic King because Catholic Spain had tried to get rid of Elizabeth and he would not be Protestant
• Puritan and Scots dissatisfied with the Anglican Church
• Scots were Presbyterian
• debate over divine right, King's right to tax, dissolving Parliament, etc.
• Magna Carta (1215): stated Parliament had the right to tax
• True Law of the Free Monarchy: no limits on the King's power!

What were some actions taken by James I (a Stuart King)?

• lectured Parliament on divine right
• took property without due process of the law
• refused to stop appointing bishops: "no bishop, no King"

What were some actions taken by Charles I (a Stuart King)?

• didn't call Parliament between 1629 and 1640
• supported Laud's policies: trying to force Angelican prayer book and bishoprics on Scotland
• married a French Catholic princess
• financed the government through stop gap levies (seen as illegal)
• illegally expanded ship money tax (taxes were only for coastal towns, this man made it so inland towns also had to pay them)
• dismissed Parliament despite acknowledging Parliament's power by signing the Petition of Right in 1628: affirms Parliament does the taxing
• Scottish rebellion (versus England and Laud's religious policies) led him to raise an army and required him to call Parliament again for funds

What were Short and Long (pre Rump) Parliament in the context of Charles I?

• Short Parliament: when Charles I called + asked for money, they said no and gave him a list of things they wanted him to do and he dissolved them
• Long Parliament: Civil War Parliament, between 1640 and 1653, was radical, refused to be dissolved, issued a list of complaints/demands, attempted to arrest leaders who escaped, colonial pride purged presbyteries from this Parliament creating "Rump" Parliament which put Charles I on trial for treason

What was the Rump Parliament?

What remained of the Long Parliament after Cromwell and colonial pride which purged presbyteries. All Puritan.

Who were the two sides in the Civil Wars?

• Cavaliers (royalists)
• Roundheads (Parliament and towns)

How did the Civil Wars end?

Victory for Parliament's New Model Army under General Oliver Cromwell, a military genius.

What effect did the Civil Wars have on Scotland and Ireland?

It allowed England to increase control over Scotland and Ireland (Catholic) at the great expense of the locals (loss of freedom, massacre of Drogheda).

Key factors in the New Model Army's victory over the forces of the Crown?

• had the militia of London (experience)
• had country squires with business connections support (money)
• had more people and motivation
• Cromwell was a military genius
• middle class joined with Par = educated and industrialized

How did the trial of Charles I represent a remarkable shift?

It was the FIRST time a monarch was executed!

In what ways did Cromwell change England, its government, social structure, and its holdings during his era of the "Rule of Saints?"

• no monarchy, no House of Lords, and no Church of England = Rump Par was now the "supreme authority" of the commonwealth
• no sports, no theater, no music, no dancing, no pubs and taverns, did not CELEBRATE Christmas (instead went to church, people were unhappy), no cards
• censored the press
• army controlled the state and Cromwell controlled the army
• continued the standing army during peacetime and claimed quasi-martial rule
• religiously tolerant of other Protestants, NOT Catholics
• Cromwell led army into Ireland and massacred a garrison, after he left, English banned Catholicism, executed priests, and confiscated land
• Navigation Act: English goods on English ships
• April 1653: Cromwell took on the title of Lord Protector under England's 1st Constitution

Major developments in Restoration England under the rule of Charles II (Merry Monarch) and James II

• monarchy back!
• House of Lords back!
• Anglican Church back!
• tradition returns!

Causes of the Glorious Revolution

• Charles II entered the Treaty of Dover (1670, a secret agreement but elites knew) with Louis XIV: got 200,000 euros per year to slowly turn England Catholic
• Charles II 1st Declaration of Indulgence (1672) passed: suspending laws targeting RCC, closer to religious toleration of Catholics
• James II was openly Catholic (NO Catholic King!!)
• James II appointed Catholics to positions in government and army
• James II supported Catholic schools and churches
• Test Act: had to prove you're Anglican; secured the Anglican Church by stripping Puritans, Catholics, and dissenters of right to vote, preach, assemble, hold public office teach/attend university
• James II passed 2nd Declaration of Indulgence (1687): suspending religious tests, overturning Test Act
• FINAL STRAW: James II baptizes his son in RCC, securing the continuation of Catholic Kings (a big no no for Par!!)

Effects of the Glorious Revolution

• firmly cemented a constitutional monarchy in Britain
• Par power was secured: monarchy could not rule without its consent
• William of Orange (Dutch Stadholder) and Mary (Protestant daughter of James II) were King and Queen of England, signing the English Bill of Rights