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Charles I Recognizes the Petition of Right
Charles I still needed more money to fund his war with Spain. Parliament would only grant the desired revenue if Charles recognized the Petition of Right, which he agreed to. This petition increased the monetary oversight of Parliament and prevented the king from imprisoning a freeman without due cause and billeting troops in private homes. This was only the beginning of the limiting of the monarch's power by Parliament. -
Abuse of Royal Power by Charles I
In order to fund the war with Spain, Charles I levied tariffs and duties, collected discontinued taxes, and issued a forced loan. He also had troops quartered in private homes. Charles wished to avoid consulting Parliament to raise money. These actions challenged the authority of local nobles and helped to turn the people's opinion against the idea of an all-powerful monarch. It also lead to the Petition of Right. -
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English Civil War
Parliament raises its own army and wages open war against the English king Charles I. The civil war epitomized both the nobles' and the people's frustration with the king's attempt at achieving political absolutism. After the war, the monarchy was restored, but the nation was ready for William and Mary to bring limited government to England. -
Parliament Asserts its Authority
Parliament, in protest to who they felt was an opprssive king, abolished the courts that had enforced the royal policies and determined that the king could not levy taxes without its consent. Furthemore, Parliament decied that its members should meet every 3 years and that the king could not dissolve their meetings without the members' consent. This is just another example of how Parliament acted as a check to the monarch's power. -
Charles II gives in to Parliament
Parliament refused to fund the war with Holland until Charles II rescinded his Declaration of Indulgence, of which Parliament disapproved. The king of England was once again forced to submit to Parliament. This is just one more example of how Parliament used its power of the purse to bend the king to their will, limiting his power. -
English Bill of Rights
William III and Mary II of England recognized the Bill of Rights, which limited the powers of the monarchy and provided civil liberties for English upper classes. It ensured that England's rulers would be subject to law and to Parliament. Parliament itself was to meet every 3 years. The recognition of the Bill of Rights exampled England's adoption of a limited monarchy. -
William of Orange chosen over James II
To escape the oppressive rule of the past monarchs and to avoid a Catholic heir to the English throne, members of Parliament that were oppsed to James II and his heir invited William III of Orange to take the throne. The ascension of William III and Mary II to the English throne completed the Glorious Revolution and gave England monarchs that were ready to accept and adopt limited governmental powers.
