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1215
Magna Carta is Signed
The foundation for the development of constitutional ism in England
was established in the Middle Ages. The Magna Carta (1215) limited royal power by stating that the king could not
tax without the consent of the Grand Council (consisting of the nobility and the high clergy). The Grand Council
later evolved into the Parliament, which alone levied taxes. -
1300
Parliament includes Middle-Class
By the 1300s, the Parliament (or the Grand Council) included middle-class representation. Because the enlarged council served as a model for England's future legislature, it is often called the Model Parliament. -
Period: 1455 to 1485
War of the Roses
Royal families fighting over who had the right to the throne. It ended when Henry the 7th became king. -
Period: 1485 to
The Tudors
Henry 7 ruled from 1509 to 1547
Elizabeth 1 ruled from 1558 to 1603
While in power, she strengthened the middle-class and she establish Protestantism in England
The Act of Uniformity established a common prayer book and basic ceremonies
The 39 Articles in 1563 defined the English Reformation, established religious doctrine that governed the church
Nobles rebelled but they were repressed brutally
In 1571, an international conspiracy to kill her in favor of her cousin was found out. -
Period: to
The Stuart Monarchy
James I was a terrible ruler, saying his power was unchangeable. Parliament denied him revenue due to his claims. The Puritans also hated him and tried to reform the Anglican Church. Charles I was worse by clashing with Parliament. After draining all his sources of revenue, he signed the Petition of Rights and ruled with out Parliament. He continued to appeal Parliament for money, getting turned down each time. After a confrontation, Charles fled and the English War began. -
Period: to
The English Civil War
The English Civil War concerned religious differences and also centered on whether authority or sovereignty
rested in England with the monarchy or the Parliament Participants:
• Cavaliers/Royalists: These were supporters of the king. This group consisted of the wealthy landowners,
the Anglican clergy, and the Catholics.
• Roundheads: These were supporters of the Parliament. This faction was generally made up of the middle
class, merchants, small nobility, Puritans, and the Presbyterian Scots. -
Period: to
Rump Parliament
From 1649 to 1653, the Rump Parliament claimed to have supreme power. The monarchy was abolished and a
Commonwealth, a Republican form of government, was established. -
Period: to
Cromwell's Dictatorship
In 1653, Cromwell expelled the Rump Parliament. Cromwell took the title of Lord Protectorate and established a military dictatorship. He suppressed rebellions in Ireland and Scotland, advanced English trade, and greatly increased English power. However, Cromwell's rule did not gain popular support because people resented the severe moral code of the Puritans. When Cromwell died in 1658, people were tired of his stern military rule and deposed his son Richard in 1660. -
Period: to
The Stuart Reformation
Charles II accepted the Parliament. In 1673, Parliament passed the Test Act, which excluded all Catholics from public office. It was divided into two groups: the Whigs, who wanted a Protestant king; and the Tories who feared the restoration of Catholicism. In 1679, the Parliament passed the Habeas Corpus Act. James II, Catholic, assumed the throne. He appointed Catholic ministers to important posts. When James' wife gave birth, Parliament was fearful that Catholicism would come back. -
Period: to
The Glorious Revolution
In 1688, Parliament secretly offered the English crown to William, the Protestant ruler of Holland, and his wife Mary, the Protestant daughter of James II. • It re-established the principle of supremacy of the Parliament
• Parliament passed the Bill of Rights (1689)
• Parliament passed the Toleration Act ( 1689), but not to Catholics or Quakers.
• It laid the foundation for the constitutional monarchy.