British monarchy

7.3 Seven Steps to a Limited Monarchy

  • Jun 15, 1215

    Magna Carte

    Magna Carte
    This document challenged the authorities of the monarchs. This document was the first to force a king to reign by his subject in order to limit his powers through the law and protect the people of his country, Magna Carta established for the first time the principle that everybody, including the king, was subject to the law.
  • Petition of Right Ratified

    Petition of Right Ratified
    Before the modern parliament was formed, there was still a sort of one existing. This parliament addressed their grievances, such as taxation without Parliament's consent and martial law in peace-time, to Charles I. Though Charles violated the terms he agreed to, the idea that the monarch can be checked by parliament persist, as the themes from this document reappear over the course of the next sixty years or so.
  • Long Parliament established

    Long Parliament established
    The first modern parliament was established at this date to discuss issues in England. Parliament would grow to have much control over the country. Rulers began to realize how much power the parliament had and realized that they had to begin to work with parliament instead of against it. Parliament was gaining more power than the king, and looked to take power away from the monarchies. The Parliament would not give up its powers.
  • English civil war begins

    English civil war begins
    The English Civil Wars (1642-1651) stemmed from conflict between Charles I and Parliament over an Irish insurrection. These wars basically settled who had power and who did not. Parliament would win the war however in the process litterally killing their king Charles I! England would be ruled by parliament for many years until Charles II would restore the country's monarchy.
  • The Habeas Corpus Act

    The Habeas Corpus Act
    The Habeas Corpus Act said that any person who was taken prisoner by the King would have a trial. This stopped the king from putting all of his enemies in jail. The picture for this event is Parliaments symbol because Parliament was responsable for the Habeas Corpus Act, which showed the king that he did not have absolute power.
  • Last Absolute Monarch overthrown

    Last Absolute Monarch overthrown
    James II was considered to be the final absolute monarch in England. After the Glorious Revolution, absolutinism was being abandonned in England. This is significant because it displays the final absolute monarch in English history. He was replaced by the Dutch William III, who adhered to parliament.
  • English Bill of Rights

    English Bill of Rights
    This is kind of what sealed the fate of all monarchs in England. Certain rights such as the right to petition against a ruler and freedom from royal taxes were displayed in this document. This is the final step in a limited monarchy because through this document, monarchs must work with Parliament.