England in the 17th Century

The Struggle between the King (Absolutism) and Parliament (Limited Monarchy) due to Political and Religious Issues

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Be able to answer the following question (might be on the test):•Why did James I and Charles I fail to

establish an absolute monarchy in England?

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From Absolutism to a Puritan Dictatorship

And how does England do it???- bloody civil war, 1642-1649- execution of a king, 1649- military dictatorship, 1649-1660

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The Decline of Royal Absolutism• Elizabeth I dies childless in 1603• selects James Stuart (Scottish cousin)

to succeed

• James I, r. 1603 – 1625 (King of England, Scotland and Ireland)• Devoted to idea of ruling by divine right• The Trew Law of Monarchy

• Conflicts with Parliament ($$$)• Conflicts with Catholics and Puritans

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Role of Parliament under James I & Charles I• What power did the Parliament have during the reign

of James I and Charles I?• Right to raise taxes or approve new taxes

• What kind of relationship did Parliament want to have with the king?• Parliament wanted to be able to “criticize policy” –

what does this mean???

• What kind of relationship did the king want to have with Parliament?• “Parliament was no place for every rash and hair-

brained fellow to propose laws of his own invention.”

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James I – Religious Issues• Anti-Catholic Policies – backlash from

Ulster Uprising in Ireland, 1597• Call to expel all Catholic priests, 1604• Guy Fawkes and Gunpowder Plot, 1605• After this James I sided with even Puritans

against the Catholics

• Puritans (who were they?)• “No Bishop, no King. When I mean to live

under a presbytery I will go to Scotland again.” – James I against the removal of Anglican (arch)bishops

• King James Bible, 1611 – Bible to be used throughout the Church of England

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James I and Colonial America•Reasons for colonization:• To escape religious persecution

(Separatists & Catholics)• Maryland – Catholics• Plymouth Colony – Pilgrims• Massachusetts Bay Colony - Puritans

• Economic profit for private merchants – Joint-Stock Company • Virginia Colony = tobacco

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Charles I, 1625 - 1649

• Adhered to divine right of kings = problems with Parliament• 1626 – Parliament summoned but won’t

approve funds for war with Spain• 1627 – Parliament responds with• The Petition of Right

1. Charles will not imprison subjects without due cause

2. Charles will not force loans or levy taxes without consent

3. Charles will not house soldiers in private houses without consent

4. Charles will not impose martial law in a time of peace

• 1629 – Charles dissolves Parliament• Ran up the debt = enraged English

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Charles I – Religious Issues• 1633, Archbishop Laud institutes Anglican

Reform (interpreted as Catholic influenced)• Puritans in Parliament are outraged – King is

trying to control them by controlling religion• Charles tries to implement the Book of

Common Prayer in Scotland and they rebel

• 1639-40, Bishop’s Wars with Scotland• When wars end Charles must pay war

reparations SO

• 1640 Charles calls the Long Parliament to request funds• And Parliament responds with…

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The Long Parliament, 1640-1651• Parliament declares and Charles originally

agrees that:1. Parliament may not be disbanded without the

consent of Parliament2. Parliament must meet on a regular basis

• Archbishop Laud arrested• 1641 Scottish Parliament given more liberties

than English SO…• English Parliament demands the same liberties• Charles denies• EP wants to ban Anglican bishops – Catholics in

Ireland rebel – EP won’t give Charles any money to quell the Irish uprising SO…

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English Civil War, 1642-1649• Charles I declares war on Parliament• King Charles’ Cavaliers – military force

supporting the king• Roundheads – Parliamentary force opposing

the king

• 1645 Charles defeated – surrendered to Scottish• 1647 – Charles returned to EP by Scottish• 1648 – Pride’s Purge: supporters of king are

thrown out of Parliament• 1649 – Charles is tried and publically

executed for treason against England–11

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The Execution of Charles I

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Who will rule?• Who were the Levellers and what did they

advocate?

• Who were the Diggers and what did they advocate?

• In the end the Puritans and Parliament won out…

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Puritan Republic – The Commonwealth • Oliver Cromwell led the new gov’t =

Commonwealth declared• Gov’t without a king whose power rests in

Parliament and a council of state• Reality:

• Instrument of Government gave power to Cromwell• Pride’s Purge, 1648 = Rump Parliament of

Puritan supporters• Eventually he shut down Parliament entirely!

1653 dissolves Rump, 1655 dissolves entire Parliament

• He created a Puritan military dictatorship

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Cromwell dismisses Parliament, 1655

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Puritan Republic – The Commonwealth • Military Dictatorship• Absolutist, puritanical• Religious toleration except for Catholics• Especially fierce in Ireland

• Crushed revolution in Scotland & Ireland• Censored the press• Closed Theater – strict moral laws• Mercantilism used in the economy• Navigation Act 1651• Required that English goods be traded only on English

ships

• 1658 Cromwell dies• Why did Cromwell’s commonwealth ultimately

fail?

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The Restoration of the Stuarts, 1660• Charles II 1660-1685• Fought for his father

during the Civil War• Lived in exile in Holland

and France• Attempted failed

revolution in 1651• Invited to return in

1660: crowned on his birthday, 30 May 1660

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