-
Period: 1558 to
Rule of Queen Elizabeth I
The rule of Queen Elizabeth I set up the strong parliamentary monarchy which England used for much of the 17th century as well as the moderate Protestant Church of England with a system of religious toleration. Elizabeth I's monarchy was very strong and somewhat absolutist, which set a tone for those who followed her rule. -
Rule of Queen Elizabeth I
-
Period: to
Rule of Charles I
Charles I's rule caused much upset among the people as he attempted to force religious conformity in Scotland and England and, in order to fund wars, set up new and unfair taxes while simultaneously dismissing Parliament for long periods of time so as to avoid confrontation over his actions. This led England into a civil war between those who supported the king and those who supported parliament. -
Petition of Right
Parliament addressed Charles I with a petition to stop his levying of taxes without parliamentary consent, imprisoning of free men for not paying such taxes, and housing soldiers in citizen's homes. This petition was accepted by Charles I, but he dismissed Parliament soon after and did not call them again until 1640. This petition shows a wish by parliament for limits on the power of the monarchy which were not there. -
The Short Parliament
Charles I called together Parliament in order to fund a war with Scotland which had just broken out, but Parliament refused to fund the war until he met their demands on the legislation he had worked to enforce while they were dissolved. He dissolved Parliament again exceedingly quickly, showing a distaste for traditional parliamentary monarchy and an affinity for absolutist policies which was disliked by both Parliament and the people of England. -
Rule of King Charles I
-
Period: to
Rule of Oliver Cromwell
The military dictatorship set up by Cromwell after his defeat of Charles I with the parliamentary army faced much hatred from the people due to its Puritan restrictions and the extreme religious conformity it enforced at the expense of political liberty. This show of absolutist policies made it so that the people were ready to return to both a monarchy and the Anglican Church of England by the end of Cromwell's rule. -
Rule of Oliver Cromwell
-
The Popish Plot
A notorious liar named Titus Oates testified before Parliament that Charles II's wife was plotting with Jesuits and Irishmen to kill the king, Parliament's belief of this led to the investigation and execution of several innocent people. This event also caused greater suspicion of Parliament by Charles II and caused him to dismiss Parliament for some time as well as working to get people sympathetic and submissive to the crown elected to Parliament. -
James II Declaration of Indepedence
James II's Declaration of Independence suspended all religious tests and permitted freedom of worship, which was seen as a direct attack on the sovereignty of local powers and rulers. This, along with James II's attempts to instate absolutist policies caused Parliament to call on the assistance of Prince William of Orange to reinstate the Anglican Church and parliamentary monarchy in England.
