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Oct 31, 1517
Protestant Reformation
Image SourceThe Protestant Reformation had its early beginnings in a debate between the Pope and sovereigns. This would give sovereigns the power of religion in their countries and the idea of a divine right to power. This divine right to power was exercised in England mostly under the Tudors. But, Protestantism would come to cause problems when the people in the kingom and parliament wanted different degrees of Protestantism -
Jul 28, 1540
Henry VIII executes Thomas Cromwell
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Henry VIII first ruled with an absolute monarchy. However, Cromwell and his predecessor began to try to limit some of his power by molding the English government into one of discussion and consent. Cromwell's ideas began to set the Parliament on a path to oppose the monarchy, something Henry did not approve of. -
Death of Queen Elizabeth
Image Source:Queen Elizabeth I is known for having a strong and powerful reign, even as a queen. With her death, the crown switched to the Staurt house, a house much weaker than the Tudors. The Tudors ruled with an iron fist and wouldn't allow anything but aboslute monarchy. The Staurts were not strong enough to command that power and it began to slip from the monarch to the Parliament starting with Charles I. -
Grand Remonstrance
Image SourceThe Grand Remonstrance was a long list of grievances of the Parliament against the King. The idea that they would do this in the first place, shows that Parliament felt that the King wasn't powerful enough to harm them into submission. It also meant that Parliament was beginning to diverge in its idea of how things should be run. Parliament used its economic holdings to its advantage to give it the confidence to defy the sovereign. -
English Civil War- Establishment of a Puritan Republic
Image SourceBecause of the English Civil War, Parliament established a Puritan Republic during the interregnum. With this republic, Parliament was making it known that it could rule without a sovereign, a direct threat to any to take the throne later on. Parliament did require assisstance from Oliver Cromwell, but it was able to mostly stand on its own. After this true taste of power, Parliament would be much more reluctant to give power back to the sovereign. -
Charles II dissolves Parliament for the last time
Image SourceCharles II dissolves Parliament for a third and final time. Prior to this, however, Parliament had been pushing and proding Charles. In the Declaration of Indulgences, he had attempted to grant more rights to Catholics. However, Parliament quickly made his declaration obsolete. Every which way Charles tried to take his power back from a recent Puritan Republic, Parliament slapped his hand away from the cookie jar. -
James II abdication to William and Mary
Image SourceWhen William of Orange was invited by Parliament into England, they wanted James II gone. He had been getting in their way and now that he had a son, the throne would remain Catholic, something they didn't want to happen. This is the reason William invaded England and James fled to France in effect abdicating the throne. Before WIlliam and Mary took the throne, however, Parliament passed the English Bill of Rights a final way to solidify their power against the sovereign.
