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James I Becoming King
James believed in the divine rights of the king. As a result of this belief, Parliament and the public became more wary and fearful of a monarchy -
The Reign of Charles I
Charles, like his father, believed in the divine rights of the king, but he took it to a new level. He declared martial law on large parts of the country, forced citizens to take in soldiers, and levyed taxes without Parliaments approval. It was his reign that caused many acs of legislation to be passed against a monarch and his reign that birth to England's civil war -
Petition of Right
This document, which was created to abolish many of the actions of Charles I that Parliament was displeased with, restricted the powers of a monarchy. It stated restrictions on taxes not levyed by Parliamen, restricted the usage of martial law, abolished imprisonment without cause, and stopped the forced billeting of soldiers. -
The Bishops' War
Charles actually had to ask for the help of Parliament to pay for the war. This is significant because it shows that Charles was realizing that he could not always rule by ignoring Parliament's power. -
English Civil War
This civil war demonstrated the public's distain for the king and a monarchy and Parliament's refusal to be dnied power. It also ended in Charles's execution, which shows how strong the citizens of citizen hated absolute monarchy and the lengths they would go to to avoid it. -
The Glorious Revolution
This war showed Parliament taking the public's concerns and wants into consideration. It also saw the overthrow of King James II, which was another step towards limited monarchy. -
Bill of Rights
This bill gave Parliament many checks over the monarch. Now, only Parliament could control laws, taxes, and armies, as well as making it freely elected. It gives Parliament the power to petition the monarch without fear of retribution. This document is still in place today.
