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Jun 15, 1215
The Magna Carta Agreed To
The Magna Carta was signed in 1215 by King John of England. The Magna Carta came about due to John's unpopularity with the English nobility and was the first document to say that monarchs were not above the law. The Magna Carta served as an outline for basic, natural rights within England, limiting the unchecked power of the monarchy. In the 1600s, the Magna Carta was revitalized by dissenters as a precedent for personal liberties - something James I and Charles I attempted to suppress. -
Parliament Passes Petition of Right
Following years of efforts by Charles I and James I to limit the power of Parliament, when Charles came to them in 1628 looking for funds, members demanded Charles sign the Petition of Right. This document aimed to weaken the powers of the monarch by removing their sole ability to raise taxes, affirming due process rights outlined in Magna Carta, and disallowing the quartering of soldiers in people's homes. Charles agreed to the Petition, restricting his own power and establishing precedent. -
Charles' Religious Policies Provoke War
After Charles acquiesced to Parliament's demands surrounding the Petition of Right, he did not call Parliament into session for 12 years. When he finally did, it was because he needed their support in his war against Scotland. By this point, he had upset many, both through his strict religious policies and his efforts to manage without Parliament. Eventually, Charles had to agree to convene Parliament every three years as well as prohibit new taxes. These measures handicapped his own authority. -
Militia Ordinance is Passed
In 1642, after Parliament refused to raise new funds at Charles' request, Charles invaded Parliament in an effort to eliminate his dissenters and force their hand. He then proceeded to break the law and raise an army on his own accord. In response, Parliament passed the Militia Ordinance, allowing them to create their own army, and start a civil war. This direct challenge of Charles I ultimately worked out for Parliament, as they won the war and further limited the monarch's power. -
Oliver Cromwell Wins English Civil War & Becomes Protector
Throughout the English Civil War, Oliver Cromwell led the parliamentary faction against Charles I. Following their victory, Cromwell dissolved the monarchy, founding a republic with himself at the center. Up until this point, the English monarchy had existed for hundreds of years. The fact Cromwell was able to disband it (although temporarily), demonstrates how far the authority of the monarchy had fallen by the mid-1650s. -
Parliament Passed Test Act of 1673
After the English monarchy was restored, Charles II, a Catholic sympathizer, took power. He restored the authority of the monarch until he attempted to make England a more religiously tolerant place. The heavily Protestant Parliament forced through the Test Act, which rooted Catholics out from the English government. This act not only frustrated Charles' goals but also aimed to ensure Protestant control. -
William of Orange Claims English Throne
James II's attempts to check Parliament and increase religious toleration for Catholics resulted in its dissolution. Although James aimed to transform England into an absolutist state, Parliament encouraged William III to claim England and prevent further Catholic sympathies. Following his success, he agreed to explicitly limit the power of the monarchy by strengthening civil liberties. This ended the power struggle between Parliament and the monarch, making the latter dependent.