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Hampton Court Conference
At the Hampton Court Conference James I of England angers Puritans by declaring that he intends to strengthen the Anglican Church. This contributes to the growing feeling of alienation the Puritans are experiencing. -
Petition of Rights
Parliament refuses to adequately fund Charles I's war with Spain unless he signs the Petition of Rights, which requires that the English ruler not enact forced loans or taxation without Parliamentary consent, that no freeman be imprisoned without due cause, and that troops not be billeted in private homes. In so doing Parliament's law making power would be drastically increased, but Charles II does not take the petition seriously and dissolves Parliament until 1640. -
Invasion of Parliament; Milita Ordinance
Charles I invades Parliament when it refuses to grant him funds to raise an army in order to suppress a Scottish rebellion, as it does not trust him with an army of his own. His political opponents escape. Charles raises an army and Parliament passes the Militia Ordinance, which lets it raise an army in response. Parliament has arrogated the power to raise an army for itself and has additional reason to distrust monarchs with military power. The image shows a Roundhead pikeman. -
Execution of Charles I and Abolition of the Monarchy
Charles I is defeated militarily. He then tries to take advantage of splits within Parliament, but only winds up being hated even more. This culminates in his death and the abolition of the monarchy, Anglican Church, and House of Lords. England briefly becomes a Puritan republic dominated by Oliver Cromwell. The monarchy has been temporarily eliminated, not limited, but the key angle is that the execution of a monarchy, previously considered unthinkable, has just become thinkable. -
Test Act and Catholic Sympathies
Charles II’s covert attempt to turn England Catholic fails, as Parliament counters his measures to ensure tolerance for other Protestant sects and Catholics and refuses to fund his wars unless he lets them pass the Test Act, which makes it impossible for devout Catholics to be civil or military officials—affecting also the king's own brother. -
Execution of Whigs
Charles II executes Whig leaders and other dissenters in Parliament related to the bogus Popish Plot (1678), which cost the lives of countless Catholics, especially Jesuits. In so doing he leaves James II, his successor and son, with an England that distrusts its monarchy more than ever before. Anti-Catholic hysteria and Parliamentary opposition are at an all-time high. -
William III Recognizes Bill of Rights
Parliament had invited William III (before known as William of Orange) and in 1689 Parliament declares William and Mary the new monarchs. In return they recognize the Bill of Rights, which limits the power of the monarchy significantly, making the monarch fully dependent on Parliamentary consent and support. England was now a limited monarchy.
