Constitutionalism in England

Topic: Constitutionalism in England

Elizabeth was effective in avoiding conflict over: 

  1. The precise relationship of Parliament and Crown

  2. The challenge presented by the rising number of Calvinist Puritans to the established Church of England 

Puritans: english calvinists trying to make the established Anglican Church more Calvinist(sometimes called the presbyterian Party) 

Presbyterians: members of christianity’s scottish calvinist branch started by John Knox 

Divine RIght: In 1598, James published “The true law of Free Monarchies” in which he pressed his Scottish subjects to obey their king who was accountable to god alone

I.) English Civil War or Puritan Revolution

It embraces three separate civil wars in Scotland, Ireland and England and inviles interrelated political and religious developments within the Suart’s realm

A.) Background: James I (son of Mary Queen of Scots) succeeds Elizabeth I (rules from 1603-1625) and struggles throughout his reign on matters of taxation and civil liberties

1.) Impositions: custom duties to provide sources of royal income introduced in an effort to keep up with royal expenditure/reduce royal debt (illegal taxes)

a.) James uses this as a means to rule without Parliament

2.) Concludes a peace treaty with Spain in 1604, widely considered a sign of pro-Catholic sentiment

These measures aroused further resentment against the king  and made voluntary grants of taxation from the parliament even less likely 

3.) Hampton Court Conference (1604): James views Puritans as a threat to royal power and grants them no concessions, except one

Pilgrims: English settlers traveling to America (on Mayflower) and establishing Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts

a.) Puritans dislike him, many emigrate to New England and Virginia

b.) King James Bible (1611): one of the most widespread English versions of the Bible

i. James tries to satisfy both Puritans and Anglicans with this new translation

ii. Anglicans were using the Bishop’s Bible (Queen Elizabeth's Bible)

Smauel Ward: english academic POSSIBLE BONUS

iii. Puritans were using the Geneva Bible

iv. Puritans retain allegiance to Geneva Bible

4.) Gunpowder Plot (1605) causes him to rethink the lenient policy on Catholics and intensifies anti-Catholic feelings throughout the nation

Guy (Guido) Fawkes: person that tried to kill King James, when caught he says his name is John Johnson, he is caught lying and put on a torture ladder

Oath of Allegiance/Oath of Obedience 1606: a systematic effort was made to persecute Catholics at every turn from the cradle to the grace,  by penalizing Catholic baptisms marriages and burials, as well as education and acquisition of property

5.) Plantation of Ulster (1609)

a.) Organizes colonization of Northern Ireland

i. Undermines Irish Catholic property rights and creates religious animosities that last to present day

6.) Parliament is dissolved (1610)

a.) By governing with a select group of “favorites,” he dilutes Elizabeth’s legacy of strong representative government

Privy Council: James, Robert Cecil (name advisor *like a chief minister), Robert Carr(James’ love interest), Philip Herbert, George Villiers (after Robert Carr dies and second love interest of James)

7.) James summons Parliament in 1614 do to a royal shortage

a.) Members discuss grievances and no bill is passed

b.) James dissolves the meeting

SECOND DISSOLVED PARLIAMENT 

8.) James is slow is dispatching troops to help the Protestants in the 30 Years’ War, furthering increasing religious concern (1618)

9.) James requests Parliament to pass new taxes in 1621

Selles knighthood positions

a.) Parliament demands recognition of their authority before they do it

b.) James circumvents the Parliament by having gentlemen purchase knighthood (Imposition)

c.) Parliament adopts the Great Protestation of 1621

i. Any Englishman of “ancient and undoubted birth right” could debate any topic in Parliament without fear of arrest or punishment

ii. James tears it up and dissolves Parliament

Dissolved the Parliament in 1610, 1614 and 1621

Charles Privy Council: Archbishop William Laud, George Villiers, Charles I, Thomas Wentworth

B.) Charles I (son of James) advocates “Divine Right” (Absolutism)

1.) Parliament has growing number of Puritans (English Calvinists)

2.) Petition of Right (1628): Insists the king is subject to the law, cannot levy taxes without Parliamentary approval, and all are to have the right of habeas corpus

a.) Desperate for money, Charles signs it but never plans to observe the limitations on his power

3.) Marries the devout Catholic Henrietta Maria

4.) Charles clashes with Parliament (1629)

a.) In the midst of an intense debate over theology, taxes, and civil liberties, Charles tries to force Parliament to adjourn

b.) Charles dissolves the Parliament a week later and arrests Puritan leaders he feels were behind the fiasco

c.) refusing to call them into session again, Charles I begins “Personal Rule” (1629-1640) 

i.) uses questionable and illegal methods of obtaining money

  • Ship money . 

5.) Supports William Laud in trying to drive the Puritans from the established Anglican church

6.) Revolt in Scotland/Bishop’s Wars(1638)

a.) Orders the use of Anglican worship service in Scottish Presbyterian churches at the behest of William Laud

b.) Thousands of Sots sign the Solemn League and Covenant  and condemn Charles for his claim to absolute power and divine right

c.) Desperately needing money to suppress the Scottish revolt, Charles calls the Short Parliament (1640, meets for only 3 weeks)

i. Dissolves it when they refuse to discuss the war and complain about Charles’ abuse of power

ii. Imprisons enemies with the Star Chamber

The court was initially set up to make sure that Nobles can’t get away with things common people wouldn’t get away with→ overtimes it evolved into a political weapon, a symbol of the English monarchy’s misuse and abuse of power

d.) Charles loses the Bishops’ Wars (1640) to Scotland and is forced to recall Parliament when he is on the brink of bankruptcy

i. Long Parliament (cannot be dissolved unless they dissolve it, not the king)

  •  Parliament passes the Triennial Act ensuring no more than 3 years could elapse without them being called

  • Impeach Bishop Laud and Earl of Strafford (Thomas Wentworth)

  • Abolishes the Star Chamber

  • Grand Remonstrance: summarizes religious and political grievances against Charles

Allows parliament the power to veto any of charles appointments to important posts

  •  Rebellion in Ireland (1641): Charles’ Parliamentary opponents refuse to raise an army unless its under their command

7.) Charles leaves London for York with some of his Parliamentary supporters and several hundred troops; 

a.) he begins raising an army while his opponents remain in London

B.) House of Commons passes the Militia Ordinance, giving Parliament the right to raise an army

8.) 1642: English civil war begins

a.) the Roundheads (Charles opponents)

i. Land owners and merchant class represented in parliament resenting Charles taxes and absolute attitude 

ii. Puritans in parliament distrusting Charles’ Catholic wife and Catholic sympathies 

iii. Aligned with Scottish Covenanters (Presbyterians)

b.) the Cavaliers (supports of King Charles)

i. Royalists (control north and west)

ii. Draw supporters from noble families

c.) Oliver Cromwell: extreme Puritan and military leader of Roundheads leads the New Model army

i. Defeats Leveller and Digger mountains within his army 

  • Leveler ideas include religious toleration, reform of law, free trade, rights guaranteed under a written constitution and a government answerable to the People rather than the King or Parliament

  • Diggers who called themselves “True Levellers were agrarian communists; wanting the leveling of all estates —---- the abandonment of private property rights 

ii. Prides Purge(1648): radical puritans gain control of revolutionary movement and remove all moderates from Parliament

iii. Rump Parliament votes to abolish the monarchy, House of Lords, and Anglican Church

Charles Stuart's beheading marks the 1st time in history that a reigning king is legally deposed and executed by his own government

  • Charles is tried and executed in 1649 as a public criminal 

  • Rump votes to declare England a Commonwealth (republic)

iv. Cromwell dissolves the Rump parliament and forms and the Barebones Parliament

Puritans and restores

ENGLISH CIVIL WAR (8/22/

Parliaments 

Royalists 

Roundheads 

Cavaliers (Charles) 

Covenanters 


The rump parliaments' dissolution destroyed the last remaining element of English government 

v. Frustrated with assembly’s in fighting Cromwell dissolves Barebone’s parliament and establishes the 1st Protectorate (1653-1658)  with himself as “lord protector” 

  • Era is referred to as the interregnum (1649-1660)

d.) by 1600, England is sick of Cromwelll (dies in 1658) and the 

Having grown up in exile in France, Charles II was an admirer of all things French. During  the 1670’s however, he began to openly model his kingship on the absolutism of Louis XIV

II.) The Restoration of the Monarchy

A.) Charles II(1660-1685) 

  1. Restoration Settlement: Charles Stuart is invited to return to England and claim his throne as part of the settlement "restoring” the monarchy

  2. His reign is marked by:

    1. A relaxation of Puritan morality across the nation

    2. Parliamentary fears over Charles II restoring Catholicism in England 

      1. Marries Catherine of Braganza  (Roman Catholic)

  3. Attempted to give Catholics legal worship again but is stopped by Parliament 

    1. From 1661-1665, parliament passed the Calderon code to cripple Nonconformists power 

    2. Places restrictions on Catholics and non-Anglican Protestants

      1.  Excludes them from church offices 

      2. Made meetings for non conformist worship illegal 

  4. Treaty of Dover (!670) Charles II aligns with France against the Dutch Republic

    1. Trying to make Louis XIV a favorable figure in England, Chales II passed the Declaration of Indulgence

      1. Suspends all laws against Roman Catholics  and Non-Anglican protests 

    2. Parliament refuse to dun war against Dutch until Charles II rescinds the Declaration of indulgence 

    3. Parliament passed the Test Act(1673) barring nonconformists from civil and military positions

  5. Polish plot (1678) Alleged plot to kill Charles II and put his brother James (Roman Catholic) on throne 

    1. Titus Oates fabricates the stroy involving a jesuit led conspiracy: leads to catholic distrust across the nation 

  6. Charles again befriends Louis XIV of France for extra income so he can rule without calling Parliament (1681-1685) 

    1. In those years, he executes and tries to drive out members of Whig Party (opposition party to the king)

      1. Exclusion Crisis: Radical whigs attempt to legally prevent  Charles II’s Catholic brother, James from succeeding as king but Charles dissolves the meeting 

The Great Fire of London: Catholics blamed for it causing their distrust across the nation Chirstopher Wren: rebuilt 52 churches in London after the great fire, including his masterpiece, St. Paul’s Cathedral

Anglo- Dutch Wars: a series of naval conflicts fought mainly in the second half of 17th century over trade routes and overseas colonies 

  1. Convert on deathbed and is replaced by younger brother James II

Timeline of kings 

James I

Charles I 

Cromwell (for very short period of time)

Known for: Roundhead, leader of new model army , Rump Parliament (commonwealth), Barebones Parliament, Lord Protector, Interregnum

Charles II 

Known for: Restored Monarch, private Catholic, Treaty of Dover with France

James II

Known for: Last Catholic Monarch, permits freedom of worship for Catholics, Declaration of Indulgence (version 2)

B.) James II (r. 1685-1688; last catholic monarch) inherits throne and attempts religious freedom of worship for Catholics 

  1. Maintains a standing army in peacetime and allows Catholics to serve in highly ranked military positions

  2. Receives a diplomatic representative of Holy See in his court 

  3. Revises Declaration of Indulgence (1688) to negative effects if laws previously passed to punish “Protestant Dissenters" 

    1. Permits freedom of worship for catholic

    2. Requires all Anglican clergymen to read the Declaration in their Churches 

  4. Parliament hopes James II’s protestant daughter Mary II will replaces her father in thorne

    1. Mary is married to William III of Orange the leader of the opposite 

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C.) William and Mary

  1. Bill of Rights 1689: 

    1. Defines powers of the monarch and powers of Parliament

      1. Parliament secures its rights to assemble regularly and to vote on all maters of taxations

      2. All protestants regardless of sectarian bias are granted toleration

      3. Roman Catholic  are forbidden to sit on the throne

  2. Toleration Act of 1689: grants Protestant dissenters the right to worship freely but no hold public office

    1. Does not apply Roman Catholics, Jews nontrinitarians and atheists

  3. William and Mary II and their successors face Jacobite rebellion for next several years 

    1. Unsuccessful  attempts to restore the Catholic House of Staurt

  4. Mary Dies of smallpox (1694) and EWilliam still rules unto his death in 1702 

    1. William and Mary are childless and many remaining claimants are Roman Catholic 

    2. Act of Succession: 

England: The revolution was settled by  the Bill of RIghts, Act of toleration and new constitutional agreements that shifted the balance of power away from the Crown and towards Parliament

Ireland: The revolution was achieved by bloody conquest and the Triumph of “king Bill” and his parentage enabling the Protestant supremacy in largely Catholic Country 

Scotland: The revolution was sealed by the massacre of Catholic clans

International: Revolution is recognized by inclusion of England and Scotland in coalition against Louis XIV

Summary:

  • The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations that took place between 1642 and 1651 in England.

  • The war was fought between the Royalists, who supported King Charles I, and the Parliamentarians, who were led by Oliver Cromwell.

    • King James I:

      • First Stuart king of England

      • Sponsored the translation of the Bible into English

      • Believed in the divine right of kings

    • King Charles I:

      • Dismissed Parliament and ruled alone for 11 years

      • Sparked the English Civil War

      • Executed for high treason

    • Oliver Cromwell:

      • Led the Parliamentarian army during the English Civil War

      • Established the Commonwealth of England

      • Ruled as Lord Protector until his death

  • Causes

    • Religious differences: King Charles I was a staunch Anglican, while many of his subjects were Puritans who wanted to reform the Church of England.

    • Political tensions: The King believed in the divine right of kings and was unwilling to share power with Parliament.

    • Economic issues: The King's attempts to raise revenue without the consent of Parliament led to widespread resentment.

  • Major Battles

    • Battle of Edgehill (1642): The first major battle of the war, fought to gain control of London.

    • Battle of Marston Moor (1644): A decisive victory for the Parliamentarians, which secured their control of northern England.

    • Battle of Naseby (1645): The most significant battle of the war, which resulted in the defeat of the Royalist army and the capture of King Charles I.

  • Outcome

    • The Parliamentarians emerged victorious, and King Charles I was executed in 1649.

    • Oliver Cromwell became Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland, effectively ruling as a military dictator.

    • The monarchy was restored in 1660, but with reduced powers and a greater emphasis on parliamentary sovereignty.

  • Significance

    • The English Civil War marked a turning point in English history, as it established the principle of parliamentary sovereignty and limited the power of the monarchy.

    • It also had a profound impact on the development of democracy and constitutional government in England and other parts of the world.

The Glorious Revolution

  • The Glorious Revolution was a bloodless revolution that took place in England in 1688. Here are some key points to note:

  • It was triggered by the fear of a Catholic succession to the English throne. King James II, a Catholic, had two daughters who were Protestant, but he also had a son who was Catholic. This raised concerns among the Protestant nobility and the Church of England.

  • William of Orange: A group of English nobles invited William of Orange, a Dutch Protestant prince, to invade England and take the throne. William landed in England with an army in November 1688.

  • James II's flight: King James II fled to France when he realized that he had no support among the English nobility or the army. This was a bloodless revolution, as there was no fighting between the two sides.

  • Bill of Rights: The English Parliament passed the Bill of Rights in 1689, which established the supremacy of Parliament over the monarch and guaranteed certain rights to English citizens, such as the right to bear arms and the right to a fair trial.

  • The Glorious Revolution had a significant impact on English politics and society. It established the principle of parliamentary sovereignty and limited the power of the monarch. It also paved the way for the development of a constitutional monarchy in England.