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1215
Magna Carta
King John of England, at the urging of his barons, signed the Magna Carta, which limited the power of the monarchy and granted British subjects certain inalienable rights. While the Magna Carta wasn't perfect, mostly addressing the concerns of the nobility, it was the first document to put guardrails on a monarch's power. The guardrails on the king's power were truly revolutionary, making this document the first step on the way to a limited monarchy. -
English Civil War
In a conflict between supporters of King Charles I, who were known as royalists, and those who supported a stronger parliament, who were known as parliamentarians and led by Oliver Cromwell, a battle for control of England was fought. The parliamentarians fought with the goal of limiting the power of the British absolute monarchy. They won the war, ultimately beheading King Charles I. -
The Interregnum
After the victory of the Parliamentarians in the English Civil War, England became a republic known as the Commonwealth of England. Led by Oliver Cromwell, Parliament ruled the country and the traditional English monarchy was abolished. After Cromwell's death, the British Parliament would struggle to regain the legitimacy it had under Cromwell's rule. -
The Restoration
After the death of Oliver Cromwell, there was a massive power vacuum left in both the English Parliament and the country as a whole. To fill this power vacuum, the monarchy was restored, with Charles II becoming the first king of England since his father was beheaded. It's important to note that his rule was subject to limitations imposed by the British parliament, which continued to exist. -
The Glorious Revolution
In a dramatic shift for the British royalty, William and Mary were invited by members of the English nobility to replace King James. This transition was almost entirely peaceful, which was extraordinary given the violence that occurred so recently during the English Civil War. To accept the throne, William and Mary agreed to the Declaration of Rights, which restricted their power, moving England towards a limited monarchy. -
The English Bill of Rights
This document, which was formally known as the Bill of Rights 1689, solidified many of the constitutional principles created by William and Mary during the Glorious Revolution. This document specifically limited the powers of the monarchy, reaffirmed the sovereignty of parliament, and outlined the rights of English citizens. The English Bill of Rights officially made England a constitutional monarchy. -
Act of Union
This event marks the union of the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland, formally establishing the Kingdom of Great Britain. The Act of Union created a joint parliament for the two nations, making them a single political entity. This further established the credibility of Britain's parliament, allowing it to govern more forcefully over a larger nation.