England during Period 5

Glorious Revolution (1688)

Overview

  • The Glorious Revolution refers to the overthrow of King James II of England in 1688.

  • It resulted in the establishment of William of Orange and Mary II as co-monarchs.

  • Marked a significant shift in power from the monarchy to Parliament.

Key Causes

  • Religious Tensions: James II was a Catholic in a predominantly Protestant nation, leading to fears of Catholic absolutism.

  • Political Conflicts: James's attempts to increase royal power and bypass Parliament raised concerns among political elites.

  • The Birth of a Catholic Heir: The birth of James's son in 1688 intensified fears of a Catholic dynasty.

Key Events

  1. Invitation to William of Orange: A group of Protestant nobles invited William of Orange to invade England.

  2. Invasion: William landed in England in November 1688 with a sizable army.

  3. James II's Flight: Faced with resistance, James fled to France, effectively abdicating the throne.

Outcomes

  • Bill of Rights (1689): Established limits on royal power and affirmed parliamentary sovereignty.

  • Constitutional Monarchy: Set the stage for a constitutional monarchy, reducing the powers of the king. No Catholics can ever be a monarch. Parliament will be called every three years.

  • Religious Tolerance: Led to the Toleration Act of 1689, granting freedom of worship to nonconformists (but not Catholics).

Key Figures

  • James II: The deposed king, whose policies led to his downfall.

  • William III: Dutch prince who became co-monarch of England.

  • Mary II: James II's Protestant daughter, who ruled alongside William

Commercial Revolution

Commerical Revolution - The great increase in commerce in Europe that began in the late Middle Ages. It received stimulus from the voyages of exploration undertaken by England, Spain, and other nations to Africa, Asia, and the New World.

  • Economic Growth: Expansion of trade and commerce

  • Mercantilism: Government regulation of the economy

  • Colonial Expansion: Establishment of overseas colonies

  • Joint-Stock Companies: Pooling capital for ventures

  • Banking System: Development of financial institutions

  • Market Economy: Shift from feudalism to capitalism

  • Consumer Culture: Increased demand for goods

  • Navigation Acts: Regulation of colonial trade

  • Agricultural Improvements: Boost in food production

  • Urbanization: Growth of cities and trade centers

English Civil War (1642-1651)

  • Causes:

    Political struggle - between the Parliament and the monarchy; tensions escalated as King Charles I sought to assert his authority and rule without parliamentary consent, leading to conflicts over taxation, religious reforms, and governance

    Clash of ideologies - between royalists, who supported the king's divine right to rule, and parliamentarians, who advocated for more power and representation for the people

    Religious Tension - Puritans sought to purify the English church of any lingering elements, such as hierarchy of bishops, suggestive of Catholicism

  • Key Figures:

    King Charles I - whose steadfast belief in the divine right of kings led to his eventual downfall; Oliver Cromwell tried him for tyranny and marched him on a platform to behead him in 1649

    Oliver Cromwell - a military leader and key parliamentarian who emerged as a formidable force against the Catholic monarchy; his leadership during the war and his subsequent role in the establishment of the Commonwealth; had the New Model Army and makes himself lord protector

  • Outcome:

    Execution of King Charles I - in 1649, it marked the shift in power from the monarchy to Parliament; parliamentary forces under Oliver Cromwell captured him and tried him for tyranny

    England was declared a Commonwealth - following his execution, effectively abolishing the monarchy and establishing a republic under the leadership of Oliver Cromwell

  • Restoration: The monarchy was restored in 1660 with the ascension of Charles II, the son of Charles I, marking the end of the Commonwealth and the return to a more traditional form of governance.

War with Spain (1568-1578)

  • War with Spain (1568-1578) - a military conflict between the seventeen provinces of the Netherlands and Spain, which then governed them, beginning in the reign of King Philip II of Spain (1556-1598). Peace was concluded in 1648 with the establishment of the Dutch Republic.

  • Context:

    • Charles V handed control of the Low Countries to his son, Philip II, in 1555 prior to his abdication in 1556.

    • Charles V was a member of the powerful Habsburg family, who were staunch defenders of Catholicism.

    • Charles V had been trying to suppress the 'new teachings' of the Protestants shortly after Martin Luther (l. 1483-1546) introduced them in the Holy Roman Empire in 1517.

    • Philip II was entrusted with not only governing the Low Countries but eradicating the Protestant heresy there.

  • Causes:

    Political Policies - Between 1556-1557, Philip II levied higher taxes on the Low Countries to finance his foreign wars as he was approaching bankruptcy.

    Religious Persecution - In 1556, Philip II continued the "Edict of Blood" issued by Charles V in 1550 outlawing Protestant writings, teachings, meetings, and religious services, stipulating among the punishments that males found guilty of heresy were to be put to the sword and females buried alive, or members of either sex to be burned at the stake, and their property confiscated.

  • Effects:

    • Dutch Independence/formation of the Dutch Republic; countries did not need a monarch

    • The Netherlands becomes a major European power; colonization of Americas

    • Innovations in warfare by Dutch Protestants

    • Beginning of the end of the Spanish Empire

    • Portuguese independence as Spain lost hold of its colonies

Key People

  • Queen Elizabeth - daughter of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII; takes the throne after Queen Mary died in 1558; refuses to marry Philip II; produced no heirs and does not get married; promotes Protestant rule

  • King Henry VIII - ruled England for 36 years from 1509-1547; married to Catherine of Aragon for 15 years and didn’t produce an heir; became infatuated with Anne Boleyn but the pope refuses to grant divorce; starts the Anglican church in 1533, dissolving the Catholic church’s wealth and holdings

  • James I - claims the throne after Queen Elizabeth; declares he has the divine right to rule from God; cemented the Church of England as the official religion of England; translated the bible into English

  • Charles I - son of James I; sought to assert his authority and rule without parliamentary consent, leading to conflicts over taxation, religious reforms, and governance; had a steadfast belief in the divine right of kings; contributed to the English Civil War; tried him for tyranny and marched him on a platform to behead him in 1649

  • James II - was a Catholic ruler in a predominantly Protestant nation, leading to fears of Catholic absolutism; makes England a Catholic monarchy; deposed of in the Glorious Revoltion; ascended the throne in 1685

  • Queen Mary II and William of Orange - the Glorious Revolution resulted in the establishment of William of Orange and Mary II as co-monarchs in 1688; William of Orange was a Dutch prince and Queen Marry II was the Protestant daughter of James II

  • Oliver Cromwell - a military leader and key parliamentarian who emerged as a formidable force against the Catholic monarchy; his leadership during the English Civil War and his subsequent role in the establishment of the Commonwealth; had the New Model Army and makes himself lord protector