Absolutism in EnglandAbsolutism in England

BackgroundBackground

When Queen When Queen Elizabeth dies, there Elizabeth dies, there is no heir to the is no heir to the English throneEnglish throne

Throne must go to a Throne must go to a Stuart cousin from Stuart cousin from ScotlandScotland

James IJames I

James I takes the English James I takes the English thronethrone

Agrees to rule according Agrees to rule according to English rules & to English rules & customscustoms

Believes in divine rightBelieves in divine right Must deal with dissentersMust deal with dissenters Bible is translated into Bible is translated into

King James Version (still King James Version (still exists today)exists today)

Charles ICharles I

Takes throne after death Takes throne after death of his father, James Iof his father, James I

Absolute monarchAbsolute monarch Parliament wants him to Parliament wants him to

sign the Petition of Rightsign the Petition of Right This petition prohibited This petition prohibited

the king from raising the king from raising taxes without the consent taxes without the consent of Parliamentof Parliament

Prohibited imprisonment Prohibited imprisonment without just causewithout just cause

Charles I cont’d.Charles I cont’d.

Charles signs the Charles signs the petition, but dissolves petition, but dissolves ParliamentParliament

Ruled for 11 years Ruled for 11 years without calling without calling parliament into parliament into sessionsession

Eventually, Charles I Eventually, Charles I needs moneyneeds money

Parliament & Charles IParliament & Charles I

Parliament reconvenes and tries and Parliament reconvenes and tries and executes the King’s Chief Administratorsexecutes the King’s Chief Administrators

Abolish bishops in the Church of EnglandAbolish bishops in the Church of England Charles sends troops to the House of Charles sends troops to the House of

Commons to arrest membersCommons to arrest members Parliament members escape & raise their Parliament members escape & raise their

own armyown army

English Civil WarEnglish Civil War

CavaliersCavaliers Support King CharlesSupport King Charles Are wealthy noblesAre wealthy nobles Trained in warfareTrained in warfare

English Civil WarEnglish Civil War

RoundheadsRoundheads Hair cut in a bowl cutHair cut in a bowl cut Country folkCountry folk Mostly PuritanMostly Puritan Lead by Oliver CromwellLead by Oliver Cromwell

English Civil WarEnglish Civil War

The Roundheads defeat the CavaliersThe Roundheads defeat the Cavaliers King Charles I is executedKing Charles I is executed This is the First time that a monarch in This is the First time that a monarch in

Europe has been executed by its own Europe has been executed by its own people.people.

England without a kingEngland without a king

House of Commons names England a House of Commons names England a Commonwealth under the leadership of Commonwealth under the leadership of Oliver CromwellOliver Cromwell

Abolishes monarchyAbolishes monarchy Abolishes the House of LordsAbolishes the House of Lords Abolishes the official Church of EnglandAbolishes the official Church of England

England under CromwellEngland under Cromwell

Supporters of Charles Supporters of Charles I start rebellions in I start rebellions in IrelandIreland

Cromwell puts down Cromwell puts down rebellion & enforces rebellion & enforces strict rules on strict rules on CatholicsCatholics

Cromwell welcomes Cromwell welcomes Jews back into Jews back into England after 350 England after 350 years of exileyears of exile

Puritan beliefsPuritan beliefs

Parliament enforces strict laws that reflect Parliament enforces strict laws that reflect Puritan beliefsPuritan beliefs

Laws passed that closed theatres & pubsLaws passed that closed theatres & pubs But, the Puritans did promote literacyBut, the Puritans did promote literacy Wanted all Christians to be able to read Wanted all Christians to be able to read

the Biblethe Bible

Cromwell diesCromwell dies

The time of Oliver Cromwell is referred to The time of Oliver Cromwell is referred to as the “Kingless Decade”as the “Kingless Decade”

Puritans lose their influence in EnglandPuritans lose their influence in England People tired of the strictnessPeople tired of the strictness

The RestorationThe Restoration

After Cromwell dies, After Cromwell dies, Parliament lets Parliament lets Charles II take the Charles II take the thronethrone

Charles II reopens Charles II reopens theatres and tavernstheatres and taverns

Has a court like Louis Has a court like Louis XIVXIV

Charles II cont’d.Charles II cont’d.

Restores the Church of EnglandRestores the Church of England Tolerant of other Protestants Tolerant of other Protestants Held the same attitudes of his father about Held the same attitudes of his father about

the Catholic Church and divine right, but the Catholic Church and divine right, but was smart enough not to show itwas smart enough not to show it

James IIJames II

Inherits throne after Inherits throne after Charles II diesCharles II dies

James II flaunts his James II flaunts his Catholic faithCatholic faith

People fear that he People fear that he will restore the will restore the Catholic Church in Catholic Church in EnglandEngland

The Glorious RevolutionThe Glorious Revolution

Parliament invites James’ Parliament invites James’ daughter Mary & her daughter Mary & her husband to come to husband to come to England and take the England and take the thronethrone

When William & Mary When William & Mary come to England, James come to England, James II flees to franceII flees to france

This bloodless overthrow This bloodless overthrow of a King is called the of a King is called the Glorious RevolutionGlorious Revolution

English Bill of RightsEnglish Bill of Rights William & Mary had to William & Mary had to

accept or could not ruleaccept or could not rule Stated that Parliament Stated that Parliament

must be called regularlymust be called regularly The House of Commons The House of Commons

controlled the moneycontrolled the money Barred Roman Catholics Barred Roman Catholics

from being on the thronefrom being on the throne Restated traditional rights Restated traditional rights

of English citizensof English citizens Trial by juryTrial by jury Habeas corpus- to be held Habeas corpus- to be held

in prison must be first in prison must be first charged with crimecharged with crime

Absolutism in EnglandAbsolutism in England

With William and With William and Mary’s acceptance of Mary’s acceptance of the English Bill of the English Bill of Rights, this began Rights, this began England’s limited England’s limited monarchymonarchy