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Succession of Throne to James I
King James was well educated, experienced (35 years as king of Scotland), and politically shrewd. He was not as interested at displaying the majesty that elizabeth portrayed in her reign. James was not what the english public expected him to be. He also believed in the “Divine Right as a King” mentality that the French also adopted. -
Death of Elizabeth
Queen Elizabeth reigned until her death and was known as the virgin queen for never having married during her lifetime. She was known as one of the greatest rulers in England's history due to her political shrewdness and flexibility. The one problem with the fact that she did not marry is that she left no immediate heir to continue her legacy. -
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England after Elizabeth I
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Succession of Throne to Charles I
Charles, son of James I,was an intelligent man, but he was often deceitful, dishonest, and treacherous. He often disregarded Parliament and was engaged in a struggle for power with Parliament. Charles believed in the divine right of kings and thought he could govern in any manner he wished. Many of his subjects opposed his policies, in particular his interference in the English and Scottish churches and the levying of taxes without parliamentary consent, and perceived his actions as those of a -
Charles I Dissolves Parliament
Charles tried to rule without Parliament, financing his government through extraordinary levies considered illegal by most English people. He revived the medieval law requiring coastal districts to help pay the cost of ships for defence and also levied this tax on inland counties as well. This taxation without consent was viewed by Parliament as despotism. -
William Laud becomes Archbishop of Canterbury
William Laud tried to impose elaborate ritual on all churches and insisted on complete uniformity of church services and enforced uniformity through an ecclesiastical court called the "Court of High Commission". Laud also attempted to impose two new elements on church organization: a new prayer book and bishoprics. Many thought the country was being led back to Roman Catholicism. -
Long Parliament Summoned
Sat from 1640 to 1660 in which it enacted legislation that limited the power of the monarch and made arbitrary government impossible. -
Triennial Act
Commons passed this act which compelled the king to summon Parliament every three years. When they were summoned, they impeached Archbishop Laud and abolished the Court of High Commmission -
English Civil War
Charles went to Northern England and recruited an army while Parliament had its own army in London known as the New Model Army under the leadership of Sir Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell. Charles lost the civil war after 3 years, but refused defeat. They continued fighting until Cromwell captured Charles and dismissed members of Parliament who opposed his actions. Charles was found guilty of high treason by Parliament and beheaded on January 30, 1649 -
Execution of Charles I
Kingship was abolished and a republican government was proclaimed. Cromwell’s dictatorship came about. -
Navigation Act
Cromwell enforced the Navigation Acts which required that English goods be transported on English ships. This Act was a great boost to the development of an English merchant marine and brought about a short but successful war with the commercially threatened Dutch. -
Cromwell and the Protectorate
Cromwell came to power as a military dictatorship (the Protectorate). Army prepared Constitution of which Cromwell tore up. Cromwell was quite tolerant of religion except for Roman Catholics and Irish Catholics. His regulation of the nation's economy had feature similar to an absolutist. His policies were mercantalist. Military government collapsed when he died. England would never repeat this type of government. -
Restoration of Monarchy
The Monarchy was restored when Charles II came to power. Both houses of Palimanet were restored along with the established Anglican church, court of laws, and system of local government through justices of peace. Charles II was an easygoing man and indifferent towards Catholics and Puritans. He tried his best to get along with Parliament and thus established the Cabal, his major advisors, an ancestor of later cabinet system. -
Secret Deal Between Louis XIV and Charles II
Chales struck a deal with Louis XIV in which Charles would relax the laws against Catholics in England, gradually re-Catholicize England, support French policy against the Dutch, and convert to Catholicism. In return, Louis XIV would give Charles 200,000 pounds annually. This deal caused widespread fear of a Catholic rule in England due to the next heir being James of York, a Catholic himself. The Commons passed an exculsion bill denying succession to a Roman Catholic, but never became law. -
Test Act
Unlike Charles II who was indifferent toward Puritans and Catholics, Parliament were and thus enacted a body of laws that sought to compel religious uniformity. Stated that those who did not convert to the Church of England could not vote, hold office, preach, teach, attend universities, or assemble meetings. -
Succession of Throne to James II
James II succeeded his brother and the worst English anti-Catholic fears were established. James violated the Test Act and appointed Roman Catholics to positions in the army, the universities, and local government. He was suspending the law at will and appeared to be reviving absolutism. James also issued a declaration of indulgence granting religious freedom to all. Fear of a Catholic dynasty promped the Glorious Revolution. -
Glorious Revolution / Coronation of William and Mary
Replaced King James II with the ruling of William and Mary through minimum bloodshed. Represented destruction of the idea of divine right monarchy. The revolution established the principle that sovereignty was divided between king and Parliament. The king ruled with consent of the governed. A Bill of Rights was quickly framed
