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Seven Steps to a Limited Monarchy

  • King Charles l dissolves Parliament

    King Charles l dissolves Parliament
    Charles dissolved Parliament for twelve years after they demanded recognition of the Petition of Right. This marked a major overstep of executive authority.
  • King Charles I invades Parliament

    King Charles I invades Parliament
    After heightened tensions between the monarchy and legislature, Charles invaded Parliament and began the English Civil War. This demonstrates the explosion of hostility between the two branches of government.
  • Cromwell takes over the republic

    Cromwell takes over the republic
    After winning the English Civil War, Parliament set up a republic and put at its head Oliver Cromwell. This shows the first major interaction between the English people and a purely republican form of government.
  • Charles ll returns to much rejoicing

    Charles ll returns to much rejoicing
    After years of republican rule, the British people were overjoyed when Charles ll returned from exile. This rejoicing when compared to republicanism exhibits the British people’s disdain for an entire lack of monarchy.
  • Parliament refuses to fund war without the Test Act

    Parliament refuses to fund war without the Test Act
    Parliament passed the Test Act, which required oaths against the Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation, in response to Charles repealing anti-Catholic laws. This again showed severe disputes between the monarchy and Parliament.
  • James ll becomes king

    James ll becomes king
    James ll became king after Charles ll died, and repealed the Test Act promptly, showcasing further the ineffectiveness of the then-present monarchy system.
  • William of Orange arrives with overwhelming support

    William of Orange arrives with overwhelming support
    William arrived and took over the English monarchy with his wife Mary upon an invitation from Parliament. They subsequently recognized the limited powers on monarchy and various rights of the English people, culminating the Glorious Revolution and giving a balance between years of struggle between the monarchs and Parliament.