-
Petition of Right
As Charles I is struggling to fund the war against Spain, Parliament agrees to lend over funding as long as he agrees to the Petition of Right, which granted Parliament the right to decide when subjects could be forced to pay taxes. Although Charles later disbanded Parliament, this was an example of the beliefs held in the English political system that would continue to prevail in the next two decades. IMAGE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Petition_of_Right.jpg -
War in Scotland
Charles I tried to enforce religious conformity and the episcopal system on the people of Scotland, who rebelled. Charles called Parliament for backup, but refused to meet their demands. In 1640, after a rough loss, he was forced to agree to the terms of Parliament, which lessened the power of the monarchy and gave more political freedom to Parliament.
IMAGE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anthony_van_Dyck_-_Charles_I_(1600-49)_with_M._de_St_Antoine_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg -
War Against Charles
Parliament vs. Monarchy. From 1642-1646, Parliament was at war with Charles I, who invaded Parliament in an attempt to attack his enemies, who believed Parliament, not the monarch, should have control over the military. Parliament won with its right to create its own army and had Charles executed.
IMAGE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Charles_I_Demanding_Entrance_at_the_Beverley_Gate,_Hull,_23_April_1642.jpg -
New Republic
England was now no longer operating under a monarchy, and was now a Puritan Republic under Oliver Cromwell. Although Parliament was eventually disbanded, this event marked a great shift in the power of the monarchy in how easy it was to disband it.
IMAGE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oliver_Cromwell_by_Samuel_Cooper.jpg -
Test Act
Parliament passed the Test Act, preventing monarchs from practicing Catholic transubstantiation, which directly took away religious freedom from monarchs and enforced Parliaments right to determine religious conformity.
IMAGE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_repeal_of_the_Test_Act_A_vision._(BM_1868,0808.10330).jpg -
William of Orange Invades
William of Orange Invades England and exiles Charles II, in support of giving Parliament more of a say. Him and his wife Mary become the new monarchs. A Bill of Rights allows for Parliamentary freedoms and a balance of power.
IMAGE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:William_of_Orange_engraving_by_Stephen_Alonzo_Schoff.png -
Walpole
Sir Robert Walpole took over and was considered the first PM. He regulated power fairly and limited absolute control of the monarchy, while maintaining peace. There was no standing army, and both Parliament and the monarchy could be criticized and operated under the consent of the people.
IMAGE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Robert-Walpole-1st-Earl-of-Orford.jpg