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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
The nobles at the time forced King John to sign the Magna Carta, protecting their own interests in the future. The Magna Carta was the first document that began to limit the power of the English monarchy, while providing Englishmen with certain rights against being wrongly denied their privileges. -
Jan 1, 1341
Establishment of a formal (bicameral) Parliament
After Edward I's reign, Parliament gained significantly more power over legislation in England. They were, in some cases, able to oppose the monarch so strongly that the monarch was unable to raise taxes. In 1341, Parliament became bicameral, and from that point on, in order to pass legislation, the consent of both houses and the monarch were required. The monarch went from needed little approval to needing it to do anything. -
Petition of Right
This document provided protection of the citizens of England from the monarch. The monarch cannot infringe upon some of the rights of his subjects, such as imprisonment without cause and non-Parliamentary taxation. This prevents absolutism in favor of a limited monarchy by reducing the control of the monarch over his individual subjects. -
The Grand Remonstrance
The English Parliament presented a list of grievances against King Charles I's policies, most notably, the way he attempted to circumvent Parliament's authority. The Grand Remonstrance listed the concerns of an absolute monarch, and made it one of the goals of the Parliament to prevent absolutism in the future. -
Execution of Charles I
Charles I was the King of England during the English Civil War, a period of time where the nation was divided between those who believed in an absolute monarch and those who believed in the power of the common man and Parliament. This struggle was ended when Charles I was executed, and Parliament asserted its dominance over absolutism. -
Glorious Revolution
William of Orange invaded England in order to overthrow King James II. He successfully did so and made himself and his wife Mary joint monarchs of England, as William III and Mary II. This limited the monarchy because William and Mary went on to recognize the English Bill of Rights, which limited the monarchy. -
Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights established a written code of law that limited the power of the king and expanded the freedoms of Parliament. It stated that all members can speak freely in Parliament and that all citizens have the right to petition the king without fear of penalty. This limited the kings ability to control Parliament and the English people.
