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England:

Decline of Absolutism
Constitutionalism, Civil War, &
Restoration of Monarchy
What is Constitutionalism?
Limitation of government by law
Balance between authority & power of
government and rights & liberties of subjects
State must act according to the laws
Decline of Monarchy & Absolutism
After Elizabeth Stuarts gained throne & instituted
absolute government with constitutional legality
Tied to Parliament for consent
James Stuart (James I) united Scotland & England
Not good ruler for uniting – not familiar with English laws
& traditions
Ruled according to Devine Right
James I vs. Protestants (Puritans)
Threatened his absolutist ideals = conformity
Puritans increased in #’s & influence
James I vs. Catholics
1st lenient treatment (to unify) = lifted fines
Later reinstituted them
Gunpowder Plot (1605) Catholics planned to
blow up Parliament but discovered before it
happened
Increased fear & hatred of Catholics
Arranged peace w/ Spain = angered Prot.
James vs. Parliament
Parliament unwilling to
be under absolute ruler
Most were Puritans
Kept dismissing
Parliament
1625 Charles I becomes
king
Divisions of Parliament
Parliament ready to curb absolute Power
Starts taking king’s powers away (in few months
absolute power is gone)
Divisions in Parliament (religious & political
divisions): Puritans attacking Anglicans
Puritans/Parliamentary vs. Moderate
Anglo./Royalists
King Charles I
Divisions of Parliament
Puritans/Parliamentarians Moderate Angl./Royalists
Middle class/Calvinists Large landowners
Roundheads: would not Cavaliers
wear flowery curled hair

•1642 Charles I tries to arrest leaders of revolt


• Parliament raises army
• Fled to Oxford-Royalists follow
• Open war between King & Parliament – basically
war of differences in political & religious sentiments
Civil War 1642-1646
Goal of Royalists: Parliament:
March to London & Held most of seaports &
capture it – didn’t cities
Navy on their side
Had lots of land, no $ Deciding factor: New
Nobility, squires (British Model Army devel. by
gentry) Cromwell “Ironside
Calvary”
Oliver Cromwell
Officer of Parlimentary army – cavalry
Led army that defeated royal forces & now controlled
the gov’t
After war wondered what should do w/ king
Tried negotiations but Charles I tried taking
advantage of Parliament divisions – Cromwell took
over
Some wanted to keep monarchy others wanted him
gone
Oliver Cromwell Cont.
Cromwell/army vs.
Parliament
Cromwell reduces Parl.
w/ Prides Purge
Rump Parliament (50
members) agree to
execute king 1649 =
Commonwealth Republic
Commonwealth
Instrument of Gov’t: created constitution & executive
(Cromwell) & council of state
Council of State: annually elected committee of
Parliament
Europe applalled: wouldn’t recognize it & merchants
imprisoned
Cromwell acts worse than Charles I
Commonwealth collapses w/ Cromwell’s death in 1658
Restoration of Monarchy

1660 Monarchy restored with Charles I’s eldest


son Charles II
Both houses Parliament restored
Anglican Church restored
Not a absolutist ruler

King Charles II
Glorious Revolution 1688-1689
Destruction of absolute monarchy
William & Mary hold throne & acknowledge
supremacy of Parliament

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