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Period: 1564 to
The Reign of James VI and I
He was seen as a tyrant and dictator by the public, and his reign was one of the most blatant examples of abusing power as a monarch in England through the concept of the Divine Right of Kings. This led to strong public dissent against monarchic power. This set the grounds for the later calls for reform in the 17th century. -
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The Reign of King Charles l
King Charles l was the immediate successor of King James VI and I. He was known for his disagreements and having friction with Parliament, which saw his economic and religious as disrespectful. Consequently, Parliament sought to create measures in the future to hold the King's power in check. -
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Oliver Cromwell
Cromwell was a well-known Puritan and military leader, who was elected to Parliament. There, he amassed a powerful backing which was critical in helping him fight against the royalists. As such, he was able to tip the balance in parliament's favor, which helped force King Charles l to abdicate. This set the stage for future change in monarchic power. -
The Great Remonstrance
A parliament document was presented to King Charles complaining about his policies and suggesting some reforms. This is the period of time when England really started to steps to shift away from absolutism. -
Period: to
Post-English Civil War Era
The post-English Civil War era was characterized by political instability that lasted until the beginning of the Glorious Revolution. This severely weakened the monarchy's grip on power. During these three decades, English switched from a republic back to a monarchy (Charles ll and James ll). This change in government and leadership weakened stability, which foreshadowed the reforms that would come soon after. -
The Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution was a series of events that led to the peaceful overthrowing of James II and VII of England. They were succeeded by Queen Mary and her husband. Although this seemed like another transition of monarchic power, this revolution severely weakened the English monarch's power. This is because most of this transition was controlled/overseen by the public and the parliament. -
The Creation of the English Bill of Rights
This document officially ended absolute monarchy in England and established a system of constitutional monarchy in England that emphasized rule of law and the parliament's power. This reformed the English government by establishing new principles such as frequent parliament meetings, freedom of speech, and also free election.