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Petition of Right
Parliament tried to check James I power by stating he must confer with parliament before he could request any loans and/or grants. The Petition of Right, stating this, was agreed to by James I. This event represents one of the first instances in this period of a monarch bowing to the authority of parliament, if only begrudgingly. This would signal a gradualy increase in the demands of parliament from the King, and a general increase in power to the parliamentary bodies. -
Militia Ordinance
In their fight with Charles, the members of Parliament passed the militia ordinance, which gave them the right to raise an army of their own. This was a power of Charles that Parliament claimed as their own, and demonstrated an increase of power within themselves. In turn, the relative power of the monarchy was diminished. Pictured here are the five members of Parliament which Charles hoped to arrest, and who's attempted arrest spurred the Militia Ordinance passage. -
Trial and Execution of Charles I
This event is a big one! With the trail and execution of Charles I, the English people (more accurately, the nobility), demonstrated that their leader is not above the law. In effect, by placing Charles on trial like a civilian, and killing him like a common criminal, the monarchy had its power permanently diminished. Now, the people had power. They could stand Kings on trial, and if deemed guilty, they would receive justice. Monarchs now faced a threat from the people to stay in line. -
Institution of Cromwell
Cromwell was the first ruler of England who was not a monarch, but a republican ruler. While he morphed into a dictator, he represented a transition away from monarchal power to a government ruled by the people. His institution as Lord Protector represented the victory of parliament, and therefore the long-term reduction of power of the monarchy (that is, once it was reestablished; Cromwell was a poor leader). -
Declaration of Indulgences
Succeeding Cromwell, Charles II sought to re-establish the monarchy as the dominant force in England. In 1672, he passed the Declaration of Indulgences, which granted religious freedom. Parliament checked his power refusing to fund conflict unless he repealed the act, which was the wish of many English citizens for a variety of reasons. Nevertheless, this situation represents parliament checking the authority of the monarchy by rufusing to bend to the King's will unless popular demands are met. -
English Bill of Rights
As James II refused the parliamentary demands, they invited William of Orange to conduct a friendly invasion of England to remove their monarch. William of Orange, crowed William III, in accordance with the wishes of Parliament, established the English Bill of Rights. This document protected basic rights of the common people from tyranny, and thus limited the power government had on the populace. Now, each individual was guaranteed certain natural rights under English law. -
Robert Walpole
Robert Walpole is by most regards, the first Prime Minister of England. His role is significant as he represented the first major political figure in the post-Cromwell era to hold powers previously designated to the King. In essense, he was the start of a more popular form of government in which greater powers were taken from the monarchy, and distributed to statesmen.