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Hampton Court Conference
Following the reign of Elizabeth I, James Stuart inherited a church split between the Puritans and the Anglicans. At the Hampton Court Conference, King James I declared his intent to maintain Anglicanism as the true religion of England. This increased tensions between Anglicans and Puritans, led to the partly religious-based English Civil War, wrhich ultimately led to a limited monarchy. -
Petition of Right
The Petition of Right was an important step to British limited monarchy. In it, Parliament demanded the King to accept this law, which declared that there would be no increased taxation without parliamentary consent. Although King Charles I agreed to this document, he later went back on his word. This was an important step toward limiting the British monarchy because it set a precendent for Parliament putting a check on royal power. -
Militia Ordinance
In 1642, Parliament passed the Militia Ordinance, which gave itself the power to create an army. The fact that it did this without royal approval was an important step on the path to a limited monarchy. This law, in particular, led to the English Civil War, which further divided the nation. -
Battle of Naseby
The Battle of Naseby was an important event on the road to a limited monarchy, because it was a decisive victory for the Roundheads at the conclusion of the English Civil War. Following the battle, the nation was in the hands of Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan followers. The Battle of Naseby led to limited power for the monarchy because, after Cromwell's death and the Restoration, Parliament was much more demanding of the monarchy. -
Treaty of Dover
The Treaty of Dover was an important step on the path to a limited monarchy in England. Under the treaty, King Charles II secretly converted to Catholicism. The common anti-Catholic sentiment in England caused tensions to rise during his reign. Ultimately, this would lead to a limited monarchy, as an Anglican Parliament would not allow a Catholic ruler to hold so much power. -
The Birth of James "The Old Pretender" Stuart
The birth of James Stuart was an important step on the English road to limited monarchy. As the male heir to King James II upon his birth in 1688, he would have had the power to create a Catholic dynasty in a largely Anglican England. This was the last straw for Parliament, which called on William of Orange, James II's son-in-law, to come to England and claim the throne. This gave Parliament enormous power over William of Orange, limiting the monarchy. -
English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of RIghts was the document that officially recognized a constitutional monarchy as the British form of government, cementing England as a location of a limited monarchy. In 1689, William and Mary signed the document, which gave the citizens basic rights, including freedom of speech. In addition, it limited the power of the king and queen. Nearly every decision William or Mary made had to be previously approved by Parliament.
