Limited Monarchy In England

The Tudors & Stuarts

The House of Tudor (1485-1603)

• Henry VII: killed Richard III in the War of the Roses (between Lancaster & York families)– Raised lots of money through taxes

& tight spending– Kept England out of war– Sent John Cabot to explore

N.America

• Henry VIII– spent his father’s money on foreign wars– Parliament passed Act of Supremacy

(separated Church of England from Catholic Church b/c he wanted a divorce)

– 6 wives (trying to have a male heir)• Catherine of Aragon birthed him a daughter

(Mary) before the divorce• Anne Boleyn had a daughter (Elizabeth) before

being beheaded• Jane Seymour died after giving birth to a son

(Edward)• Anne of Cleves was childless; divorced her• Catherine Howard was childless; executed• Catherine Parr childless, but outlived the king who

died at age 56

• Edward VI (only son of Henry VIII)– Protestantism became the

national religion (short reign)• Mary I (eldest daughter of Henry VIII)

– Tried to return England to the Catholic Church•Persecuted those opposed to

Catholicism; over 300 burned at the stake, including Protestant clergy

•Nicknamed “Bloody Mary”– Married Philip II of Spain (to end

national rivalry), & plunged England into a disastrous war with France

• Elizabeth I (youngest daughter of Henry VIII)— ”Good Queen Bess”– Ended war with France & restored money

to English treasury– Mary, Queen of Scots (next in line for throne)

plotted to kill Elizabeth; Elizabeth had Mary beheaded

– Phillip II angered by Mary’s death, sent the Spanish Armada to punish England, but English ships defeated “Invincible Armada” (Spanish decline after this)

– Golden Age/Renaissance peaked with William Shakespeare– Sent Sir Francis Drake & Sir Walter Raleigh in search of

land & riches– Religious problems – Puritans wanted to rid church of all

Catholic practices– Relations with Parliament – Parliament challenged royal

power, but Elizabeth managed them skillfully

The House of Stuart (1603-1715)

• James I– Son of Mary Queen of Scots, ruled England

& Scotland– Strong supporter of Anglican Church, but

persecuted Pilgrims (separatists) & Puritans (reformists)--they leave England for America to worship as they please

– King James version of the Bible– Lacked economic & diplomatic skill, so he angered

Parliament when he tried to establish an absolute monarchy (believed in divine right of kings)

• Charles I– Disagreed with Parliament about taxes (was a big spender, &

always needed more money)• Petition of Right: Parliament had to approve tax

increases/tried to protect civil rights of citizens• Disagreements led to civil war

– Charles ignored Petition of Right– Dismissed Parliament several times– Supporters of king (Cavaliers) v. supporters of

Parliament (Roundheads)» Cavaliers = upper class, Anglicans, Catholics» Roundheads = Parliamentary army commanded by

Oliver Cromwell, Puritans, merchants– Cromwell took control of government, had Charles I

beheaded & ruled England for 9 years (Puritan = no drinking, dancing, gambling, etc.)

• Charles II (son of Charles I)– Parliament asked him to become king upon Cromwell’s

death• James II: wanted to rule as absolute monarch

– Wanted to return England to Roman Catholic Church

– Glorious Revolution: bloodless revolution that made James II flee & gave Parliament power to establish control over the king & pass the English Bill of Rights

• Mary II & Anne (Protestant daughters of James II)– Mary II ruled with William of Orange (Dutch)– Anne reunited England & Scotland

to form Great Britain