James I and Puritans

In 1603 after the death of Elizabeth first, James I became king because he was Elizabeth’s next of kin. James thought that the parliament had no right to rule and make decisions on taxes and laws since his powers were given to him directly by God they, mere mortals, should not have a say in those decisions. James’ view was conservative so his people were not happy with him. He was Protestant and discriminated Catholics by denying them the possibility of receiving a charge, they could not take part of the parliament, they could not teach at Universities and excetera. Without a place in society Catholics could not express their opinion on taxes, economy and laws. As a result of this descrimination Catholics started plotting against the king in 1605. The Catholics started smuggling barrels full of gunpowder in the cellars of the parliament, one by one, because they wanted to blow it up with the king inside. This plot, known as the Gunpowder Plot. failed because Guy Fauwkes( one of the conspirators) was caught smuggling a barrel in the Palriament. A lot of the conspirators were executed and even now on the 5th of November English people celebrate the death of Guy Fawkes. At the same time the Puritans (radical protestants) were against the king but fled the country firstly to Holland and then in 1620 went to America on the Mayflower and founded new colonies, they are remembered as the Pilgrim Fathers. James I first lived a lavish life and asked constantly the Parliament for money. He authorized the printing of the Bible in English for the first time in history. At the time most of the Middle class consisted in Puritans because they believed in predestination. They thought that God chose some Elect who were destined to salvation and Heaven and you knew if you were a Elect if you succeded in life, you could not make mistakes because that meant you were not destined to be saved. Thanks to this belief Puritans wanted to be respected and worked hard to make sure they succeded, fact that helped the development of trade and work in England. At the opposite pole of the Puritans were the Arminians, they were protestants loyal to the church and the king and were part of the High Church.