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