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Petition of Right
The Petition of Right asserted that the nobility should retain a piece of power in the English government. It is insisted that people didn't even need to pay taxes "without common consent by act of Parliament." Therefore, it is evident that the Petition of Right corroborated the claim that Parliament should play a major power role in the English government; Charles I officially recognized it in 1628. -
The Long Parliament
Due to the religious pluralism in this time, conflict arose between the Scottish Presbyterian Church and the Church of England. To fight the Scots, Charles I needed money; consequently, he called Parliament back together in session. Because of this, Parliament enacts a serious of constricting laws that greatly limit the power of the monarchy. -
English Civil War
Such a war as significant as to form a limited English monarchy because one of the sides in this war were the Roundheads. Led by Oliver Cromwell, their entire agenda was in favor of a Parliamentary monarchy; Parliament would have the power to check the monarchy, thus limiting absolute monarchial power. -
The Commonwealth
After the war was over in 1649, the Commonwealth took over, headed by Oliver Cromwell. This governing body dissolved the monarchy as well as the House of Lords; instead, Cromwell led a one-house Parliament under the name "Lord Protector." Evidently, the monarchy was completely gone during this time, demonstrating severe limitation of the monarchy. -
The Restoration (Charles II)
Although the Restoration was well-known for restoring the monarchy, it also brought back a full Parliament. Parliament was NOT disbanded at all—some argue it was strengthened—which caused more conflict between the monarchy and Parliament (mainly over religion). They did not agree, and the monarchy was not allowed to maintain full control/power in England because of it. -
The Glorious Revolution
Because Charles II did not have any legitimate heirs to the throne, James II, his brother, took the crown. However, William of Orange and his wife Mary (both Protestants) were invited by a divided Whig-Tory Parliament to overthrown James II (Catholic). While it did see a shift in religious reign, it mainly saw that limits to the power of the English monarchy were carried out. -
English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights was the doctrine that followed the Glorious Revolution in order to place William and Mary under Parliament's thumb. Essentially, England would become a nation appearing to be ruled by a constitutional monarchy, but actually controlled by an aristocratic oligarchy. Parliament would, evidently, have a say in all affairs, and restrict/oppress the monarchy severely.
