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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
After King John was proven to be unsuccessful at foriegn policy in France and with the Catholic Church he required more men and revenue, which only the feudal Baron's could provide. Traditionally, the King would ask the Baron's for such things, but John arrogently demanded them. The Baron's rebelled, and captured London. The King gave in to the agreement that would become the Magna Carta. It would limit the power of the King and establish individual rights. -
Petition of Right
After King Charles I dissolved Parliament Sir Edward Coke felt compelled to remind the King that his power was not above the law and that the rights of the people are derived from the law not from his will. He demanded that the King respect the rights of due process, protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and protection from unjust punishments. The King accepted but did not comply with the petition. It asserted that only Parliament could tax people and limited martial law. -
Triennial Act
Parliament sought to force King Charles I to convene Parliament once every three years for at least fifty days. They were able to force this agreement because the King Charles I needed more revenue to fight the Scotts. This ensured that Parliament would be able to convene and voice its thoughts and provide for its own existence. -
Grand Remonstrance
To adress its many greivances with King Charles I Parliament passed the Grand Remonstrance. It announced Parliament must approve of the Kings ministers and that the church must be reformed. It passed by a narrow margin because of the newly created Royalist Party. Oliver Cromwell, future Lord and Protector of England, is said to have remarked that if the measure failed in Parliament he would move to America. The legeslation was rejected by the King. -
Regecide of Charles I
Charles I tried to create a absolute monarchy. In his quest for power he declared war on Parliament. This proved to be a fatal mistake. He was put on trial and declared to be a "tyrant, traitor and murderer; and a public and implacable enemy to the Commonwealth of England." Shortly after this event Parliament dissolved the monarchy and a short lived republic was created. This regecide proved the influence of Parliament goes above even monarchs. -
English Bill of Rights
As a condition of becoming monarchs King and Queen William and Mary of Orange had to sign this proposal. It limited the monarch by forcing them to be loyal to Protestantism, preventing them from taking away the firearms of Protestants, preventing them rom establishing copurts without Parliaments consent, or imposing cruel and unusual punishments, create an army, or prevent free speech in Parliament. -
Glorious Revolution
The English people and her colonies rebelled against the tyrannical Catholic monarch James II. This ended Catholic tyranny in England and began Protestant tyranny. From then on the monarch must be a Protestant. To fill the power vacuum William and Mary took the throne. Mary, as the daughter of James II gave the new monarchs more legitimacy. These new monarchs agreed to the English Bill of Rights which would severley reduce their powers
