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1534
Separation between Church of England + the Roman Catholic Church
During the reign of Henry VIII, the schism is the split for the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church. -
1534
Act of Supremacy
Henry VIII became the "Supreme Head of the Church of England", and thus replaced the Pope. -
1536
The Dissolution of the monasteries
From 1536 to 1541, the monasteries were disbanded. Which led to the Crown to take advantage by appropriated themselves their income and land (25%). -
1536
Pilgrimage of Grace
From 1536 to 1537, the consequences of the dissolution of the monasteries led to the rebellious in Yorshire and Lincolnshire, the person who was the head of this, was a Tudor monarch. They lasted 6 months and thus became the "Pilgrimage of Grace". -
1537
First English Bible
In 1537, the permission was given to translate a Latin Bible into English. -
1545
Council of Trent
From 1545 to 1563:
- the Roman Catholic Church attempted to correct some of the abuses of the Church.
- and harshly condemned Protestant heresies. -
1547
Death of Henry VIII
At Henry VIII's death, the Church of England was not entirely Protestant despite the schism. -
1549
Book of Common Prayer
At the reign of the son of Henry VIII, Edward VI, who was Protestant. The publication of the "Book of Common Prayer" was released. -
1553
Death of Edward VI
Died at 15, Edward VI left behind him a bankrupt England. -
1553
First Queen of England: Mary I (Tudor)
In the same year of Edward VI death, his older sister Mary I became the first Queen of England. During her reign, she restored Catholicism in 18 months. Also, her marriage with Philip II of Spain was controversial became she became an ally with Spain in a war against France, which led to a decline in her popularity. -
1555
Bloody Mary
Protestantism was confined to secrecy as heretics were burned between 1555 and 1558. During the reign of Mary I, over 200 Protestants went to the stake. Also, they were forced to leave the country and going to the Continent. They were called the "Marian exiles". -
1558
Death of Mary I
Her death was appreciated by the English population, who turned their back against her. Even her husband do not seemed to be sad about his wife's death: "I feel a reasonable regret at her death". -
1559
The Act of Uniformity
It is a Religious belief. And it consists by:
- every parish had to use the Book of Common Prayer.
- people who did not attend an Anglican service were fined. -
1559
The Act of Supremacy
At the beginning of the reign of Elizabeth I, between 1559 to 1563, The Act of Supremacy is a Church organisation, she passed a new legistation:
- abolished the autority of the Pope.
- restored the authority of the Queen over the Church.
- she became the "Supreme Governor of the Church of England". -
1563
The 39 articles of faith
From 1563 to 1571, The 39 articles of faith which was a Doctrine, consisted by:
- stated the doctrine (religious belief) of the Church.
- 3 important changes: a new ecclesiology, a new doctrine of Salvation and a new definition of sacrements and of the mass (which is still in use today). -
1567
James I became the King of Scotland
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1569
The Northern Rebellion
- Rebellion against religious reforms.
- 6000 insurgents.
- An attempt to replace Queen Elizabeth by Mary, Queen of Scots.
- The revolt was led by the Earls of Westmorland and Northumberland.
- It was crushed.
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1570
Excommunication of Elizabeth I
In 1570, the Queen Elizabeth is excommunicated by the Pope Pius V. He called Elizabeth "The so-called queen" for example. And also, he almost gave Catholics licence to kill her thinking that it would not be seen as a crime by Rome. -
1581
The 1581 Act
- it provided for the death penality for any person converting or already converted to Catholicism.
- It was now forbidden to participate or celebrate the Catholic Mass.
- Anglican services were compulsory: £20 per month.
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The Babington plot
Elizabeth I was receiving death threats by young Catholics. They wanted her to be replaced by Marie Stuart but their strategies were found by Francis Walsingham. -
The Defeat of the Spanish Armada
The main ideological effects of the victory over the Spanish Armada were:
- acted as proof of the extraodinary qualities of Elizabeth I.
- acted as reaffirmation of the English national cohesion.
- the insularity of the English nation.
- Divine protection. -
Speech to the troops at Tillbury
The Queen made a speech in Tillbury, in order to rally the troops of the Spanish Armada: "I know I have the body of a weak woman but I have the heart and stomach of a king, a King of England too". -
James I became the King of England
James I was proclaimed King of England after the death of Elizabeth I in 1603. -
The Gunpowder Plot
A small group of Catholics who wanted to blow up the Parliament and kill James I. -
the "Great Contract"
The "Great Contract" which was a financial reform consisted by:
- The King would receive a fixed sum.
- But some MPs feared the King would not need to call up parliaments anymore to get money (the King would be financially independent).
- The House of Commons refused to vote in favour of the Great Contract and James dismissed the Parliament. -
King James' Bible
At the request of James I, a new English translation of the Bible is published in 1611. -
The Thirty Years' War
From 1618 to 1648, The Thirty Years' War included:
- Military defeats (Lord Buckingham, the King’s advisor became very unpopular)
- England in war with Spain and France And the consequences of this war were:
- A huge strain on finances
- The raising of troops (50 000) had important impacts on the local population -
Death of James I
Before he died, James summoned a parliament in 1621 to ask for money for war. And in 1624, the Parliament agreed to finance the war on Spain. -
Petition of Rights
They requested the King to recognise the illegality of extra-parliamentary taxation, billeting, martial law, imprisonment without trial.
- Wanted to get Charles to recognise that there were limits to his powers.
- Charles reluctantly signed it but was furious, and as MPs were
discussing impeaching Lord Buckingham again, he suspended parliament seating. -
The Personal Rule
From 1629 to 1640, the King ruled during 11 years without calling a parliament. -
the Three Resolutions
In 1629, the Member of the Parliament passed the
Three Resolutions which consisted by:- Declared that whoever tried to bring in “Popery or Arminianism” or to alter the protestant forms of the
Church of England was an enemy of the Kingdom. - as well as anyone advising the King to collect custom duties without Parliament’s consent.
- Declared that whoever tried to bring in “Popery or Arminianism” or to alter the protestant forms of the
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King Charles tried to impose a New Prayer Book
Scottish opposition came to the boil when Charles I attempted to impose a New Prayer Book (Book of Common Prayer). -
The Short Parliament
In 1640, Charles I needed money to fight the Scots, thus for the first time in 11 years he called for a parliament. -
The Irish Rebellion
James I (Charles’ father) had implemented a plantation policy:
- sending English and Scottish protestant colonists to Ireland, taking the lands of Irish Catholics
- In Oct 1641, Irish Catholic rebels rose up against Protestant settlers- Massacre of 3 000/4 000 protestants
- False rumours: Irish atrocities, 200 000 protestants massacred (fuelled the anti-Catholic sentiment in England)
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The Grand Remonstrance
It is an important document voted by Parliament after heated debates. It summarized all the wrong doing of Charles I and concluded on “revolutionary” demands:
- the right of the House of commons to choose the King’s
ministers
- the right for Parliament to control any army sent to Ireland
- the right for Parliament to reform the Church -
Charles declared war on Parliament
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The First Civil War
The First civil war would cost the lives of 190 000 Englishmen (in combat/from diseases) and last for four years. -
The New Model Army
This new army was created by the Parliamentarians.
- Strong of 22 000 men
- Armed with swords, pistols, pikes
- Wearing the redcoat
- Religious fervour (nicknamed the “praying army”, soldiers carried Bibles in their breast pockets), convinced that the army was acting on God’s behalf -
Battle of Naseby
The June 1645 Battle of Naseby was a turning point and saw the Royalist forces weaken. -
the King and the Royalists surrendered
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the New Model Army seized the King
- One of the consequences of the war = encouraged groups with radical ideas, who made a peace settlement more difficult to achieve. The New Model Army in particular = vehicle for the emergence of radical ideas.
- Religious radicalism: Separatists protestants who wanted religious toleration
- Political radicalism: new ideas (democracy, importance of the people, egalitarianism)
- Influenced by the Levellers (led by John Lilburne)
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The King's escapism + his alliance with the Scots
November 1647: the King escaped from army custody and allied himself with the Scots (he promised to introduce Presbyterianism/Calvinism into England, in return the Scottish army would invade England and restore him to power)
- Horrified Parliament (using a foreign army to wage war on his own people) and led to the Second Civil War -
Pride's Purge
Pride's Purge: Colonel Pride (Army) entered the House of Commons, stopped the vote and arrested the 45 conservative leader MPs. -
Creation of the Commonwealth
Monarchy and House of Lords abolished, England was declared a Commonwealth (a republic). -
The Irish Rebellion
The Irish Rebellion led by Irish Catholics was crushed by Cromwell and his troops.
- Massacre of the Irish Royalist troops and civilians in Drogheda
- Wexford massacre (every man, woman children killed) -
Execution of King Charles I
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The Blasphemy Act
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The Instrument of Government
England's first ond only written constitution. -
Cromwell dissolved the Rump
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End of the Commonwealth + start of the Protectorate
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Death of Cromwell
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Charles II issued the Declaration of Breda
It promised:
- A general amnesty.
- To continue religious toleration.
- To share power with Parliament in return for the restoration of monarchy.
= it was a success. The King restored 29 May 1660 = The Restoration. -
Outbreak of Plague
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Great Fire of London
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The Popish Plot
- Rumour of a plot organised by the French to murder Charles II and replace him by his Catholic brother James II.
- Fear: James as king would implement pro-Catholic politics + might try to restore absolute monarchy, threatening Parliament (Just look at Louis XIV: absolute monarch + persecution of protestants).
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The Exclusion Crisis
- Parliament attempted to debar James II from the succession to the English throne.
- Charles’ reaction: dissolving the Parliament.
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The Glorious Revolution
- In 1688, Parliament invited the King’s son in law (William of Orange) to invade England and seize the crown.
- He landed with an army of 15 000 men and met no resistance.
- James’ army disintegrated, officers deserted.
- James II fled to France and William became King William III.
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Toleration Act
Established religious pluralism and freedom of worship for all Protestants. -
The Bill of Rights
- List King James' misdeeds.
- Fixed limitations on the sovereign's powers.
- Set out the rights of Parliament.
- Set out basic civil rights.
- A key political text.
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The Act of Settlement
- Settled the order of succession and ensured a Protestant succession, ignoring dozens of Catholic heirs.
- Successor: Hanoverian descendants of James I.
- Key role in the formation of the Kingdom of Great Britain.
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Creation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
Creation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain: England (and Wales) and Scotland. (Was the biggest wish of James I).- Scotland had being occupied under Cromwell.
- Under Restoration: regained control of its own Parliament but the King of England was Scotland’s Monarch.
- Always threat of French invasion through Scotland, or rising in favour of James.
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War of the Spanish Succession
1710-1714: Britain gained Acadia over the French. -
The 1715 Jacobite Rising
Led to by "Old Pretender" James Francis Edward Stuart (the son of James I). -
The 1745 Jacobite Rising
Led by the "Young Pretender" Bonnie Prince Charlie (the grandson of James II). -
Final defeat of the Jacobites
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Seven Years' War
1756-1763: Britain gained Florida over the Spanish and (most of) Canada over the French. -
Declaration of Independence
Grievances against George III. -
The British Empire
- colonies in North America including the West Indies, and the Pacific including New Zealand (which became a British Colony following an expedition by James Cook in 1769).
- trading posts in India.
- naval bases in the Mediterranean (Gibraltar and Minorca).
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Treaty of Paris
Britain formally recognized the independence of the United States. -
French Revolutionary Wars
1793-1802: French Revolutionary Wars
- Britain at war with France.
- Combatting revolutionary ideology + maritime, colonial and economic motive. -
Irish Rebellion
- An uprising against British rule in Ireland.
- Influenced by the ideas of the American and the French revolutions.
- Presbyterian radicals + Catholics.
- Rebels defeated (/atrocities).
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Acts of Union
Created the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
Merged the Parliament of Ireland into the Parliament of the UK.