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Reign of King James I
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The Gunpowder Plot
Guy Fawkes and other Catholics attempt to blow up the King and Parliament. They are arrested and killed. This showed that there was some disagreement among the King's subjects when it came to religion and that security precautions had to be taken in order to protect the King and his viewpoints. -
Jamestown is founded
Colonists set off to settle Jamestown. The Virginia company establishes this settlement which sparks the fire that is the Age of Discovery. -
Dissolution of the First Parliament of King James
Parliament had been the major funding source for the King and helped him deal with religious issues among his subjects. However, when it came to raising taxes without their consent, there was major unrest and he was forced to cancel Parliament. -
King James Bible is Written
Efforts by King James I to unify the church and stop rebellions from occuring. This would bring together views from both the Catholic and Protestant denominations and create peace between the two. -
Second Parliament of King James
Second Parliament is called to action with the onset of the Thirty Years War as foreign policy was a major concern to King James I, however, this was not on Parliament's mind. They wanted to discuss their own rights and were not interested in the King making all of the decisions. King James I was not ready to allow this and disbanded Parliament in December of 1621. -
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Reign of King Charles I
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King Charles I dissolves Parliament
Charles I dissolves Parliament and does not call it back for 11 years. -
English Civil War Begins
Civil war in England officially began as Charles I declared war on Parliament from Nottingham. Charles I went to the House of Commons to arrest some of its members and was refused entry. From this point on no monarch was allowed entry. -
The Battle of Turnam Green
The Battle of Turnam Green, West of London, between the Royalist army under King Charles I and the Parliamentarians under Robert Devereux. No actual battle was fought as Charles had no chance against 24,000 men so turned south to Kingston and then withdrew to Reading. -
Charles and the Royalists Attack Parliament
British King Charles I and his family flee London for Oxford. British King Charles I with 400 soldiers attacks the English parliament. -
King Charles I Surrenders
English Royalist leader, King Charles I, surrenders in Scotland. -
King Charles is taken as hostage.
The English army seized King Charles I as a hostage. Scottish Presbyterian army seizes King Charles I as a prisoner. Scottish Presbyterians sell captured Charles I to English parliament for £400. -
King Charles I is Executed
King Charles I of England was beheaded at Banqueting House, Whitehall by the hangman Richard Brandon. Britain then became a republic between 1649 and 1660. -
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Establishment of the Commonwealth
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Oliver Cromwell ends Long Parliament
Oliver Cromwell, frustrated with the lack of accomplishment of Parliament dissolves it. -
Oliver Cromwell becomes Lord Protector
Lord Protector Cromwell reorganised the national church, established Puritanism, readmitted Jews into Britain and presided over a certain degree of religious tolerance. Abroad, he ended the war with Portugal (1653) and Holland (1654) and allied with France against Spain, defeating the Spanish at the Battle of the Dunes (1658). -
Cromwell Dies.
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Richard Cromwell Becomes Lord Protectorate
He could not reconcile various political, military and religious factions and soon lost the support of the army on which his power depended. -
Richard Cromwell Abdicates and Flees
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Charles II Assumes the Throne
Charles II returns to England from Holland and is restored to the throne. -
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Reign of King Charles II
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Act of Uniformity
Act of Uniformity compels Puritans to accept the doctrines of the Church of England or leave the church. This forces the subjects of Charles II to participate in absolute monarchy and are unable to stray from his control or else be killed. -
Outbreak of the Second Anglo Dutch War
The Second Anglo-Dutch War began due to England's desire to end the Dutch domination of world trade. Urged on by his brother, James, Duke of York, King Charles II moved towards war in 1664, by releasing swarms of English privateers to attack Dutch commerce as well as seizing the colony of New Amsterdam (New York) and several trading outposts in West Africa. -
Great Fire of London
The Great Fire of London rages for four days and three nights. Two thirds of central London is destroyed and 65,000 are left homeless. This presents a huge domestic problem for Charles II and forces him to raise taxes in order to make up for the deficit. -
The Secret Treaty of Dover
Secret Treaty of Dover, by which Charles agrees to declare himself a Catholic and restore Catholicism in England in return for secret subsidies from Louis XIV of France. This prevents Charles II from having to have a bad relationship with Parliament and having to bring up the issue of raising taxes with them. -
Habeas Corpus Act
Habeas Corpus act passed which forbids imprisonment without trial -
Edict of Nantes Revoked in France
Edict of Nantes allowing freedom of religion to Huguenot Protestants is revoked in France, resulting in thousands of Huguenot craft workers and traders settling in England. -
King Charles II dies.
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Reign of King James II
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James Attempts to Restore Catholicism
James takes first measures to restore Catholicism in England, and sets up a standing army of 13,000 troops at Hounslow to overawe nearby London. -
Declaration of Indulgence
James, believing his Divine Right as King, issues the Declaration of Indulgence to suspend all laws against Catholics and Non-Conformists and repeal the 1673 Test Act. He seeks to promote his Catholic supporters in Parliament and purge Tories and Anglican clergy -
Discontent with James
Following discontent over James attempts to control politics and religion, seven leading statesmen invite William of Orange, son-in-law of James, to England to restore English liberties. The 'Glorious Revolution'. William of Orange lands at Torbay with an army of 20,000 and advances on London. Many Protestant officers in James' army including Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, and James' own daughter Anne defect to support William and his wife Mary. James abdicates and flees to exile in France. -
Parliament and William Negotiate
Parliament draws up the Declaration of Right detailing the unconstitutional acts of James II. Bill of Rights is passed by Parliament. It stipulates that no Catholic can succeed to the throne, and also limits the powers of the Royal prerogative. The King of Queen cannot withhold laws passed by Parliament or levy taxes without Parliamentary consent. -
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The Reign of William and Mary
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William Dies
William forms grand alliance between England, Holland, and Austria to prevent the union of the French and Spanish crowns. William dies after a riding accident. Stuarts in exile toast 'the gentleman in black velvet' in the belief that his horse stumbled on a mole hill.