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Jan 1, 1236
The first meeting of Parliament
Parliament started as nobles who advised the king. It evolved into a much more powerful group, one who controlled the finances of England forcing the monarchs to rely on them. Parliament gave the people some control over their government and gave them a feeling of power. This feeling was a large part of Parliament gaining control over the monarchy thus creating a limited monarchy. Without Parliament the people would not have had power in the government and there wouldn’t be a group to rule over -
Charles I becomes king of England
Charles I was the king of England from 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles had many problems with Parliament and vice versa. Charles implemented harsh taxes, unpopular policies such as forcing citizens to house soldiers, and showed catholic sympathies. The feud between Parliament and Charles I sparked the English Civil War and led the way toward a limited monarchy. -
The English Civil War
The English Civil War was the king and Parliament acted upon the resentment that had been building between them for years. It was because of the English Civil War that England turned away from a monarchy for a little over a decade. -
Oliver Cromwell rules England
Oliver Cromwell became the leader of England after the English Civil War. He was Lord and Protector and ruled as a dictator making life just as miserable for the people England as Charles I had. He made a republican government seem bad because he had been so cruel. His actions caused the English people to be ready to recreate a monarchy instead of continuing the republican system once he had died. -
Test Act was passed
The Test Act limited the people who could become a civil or military official. This was Parliament exerting control on the monarchy and who could hold power in England. This Act required all civil and military officials to swear an oath that no faithful catholic could honestly do. It was specifically pointed at King Charles II’s brother James the heir to the throne. However it affected every catholic who might have held an important position in the English government. This was one of Parliament’ -
The Glorious Revolution
Parliament invited William III of Orange to invade England and take over the monarchy. When he and Mary were proclaimed King and Queen of England they were required by Parliament to recognize the Bill of Rights. It limited their powers and the power of all the monarchs to follow. -
King James II has a son
King James II’s first wife did not produce a male heir and so Parliament both assumed and hoped that his eldest daughter Mary and her husband William III of Orange would take the throne when James died. Mary and William were Protestants and William opposed Louis XIV of France. Had James Francis Edward Stuart not been born Mary may have just taken the throne with no opposition from Parliament.
