Absolutism in England Absolutism in England (1603-1688)(1603-1688)

James I (Stuart) (1603-James I (Stuart) (1603-1625)1625)

• Complete believer in the divine right Complete believer in the divine right monarchymonarchy– No use for Parliament and has absolute No use for Parliament and has absolute

powerpower

• Millenary PetitionMillenary Petition - petition given to - petition given to James as soon as he reached the James as soon as he reached the capital signed by 1,000 churchmen. capital signed by 1,000 churchmen. – No popery and no bishopsNo popery and no bishops

• Gunpowder PlotGunpowder Plot - - plot by Catholics to plot by Catholics to assassinate king and Parliament assassinate king and Parliament whose discovery raised a lot of anti-whose discovery raised a lot of anti-Catholic sentiment in England.Catholic sentiment in England.

• Foreign Policy under James I::– Stayed out of

Thirty Years’ War; Protestants were unhappy..

– Tried to make peace with Spain; offered his son, Charles I, to marry a Spanish princess.

Charles I (1625-1649)Charles I (1625-1649)

Problems with Parliament Problems with Parliament

• Charles appeared to be sympathetic to Charles appeared to be sympathetic to Catholicism; married Henrietta-Marie of Catholicism; married Henrietta-Marie of France..France..

• The Right to Petition (1628)The Right to Petition (1628)•Due Process of LawDue Process of Law•No taxation w/o Parliament’s consentNo taxation w/o Parliament’s consent•Charles imposed the ship tax; (all trade Charles imposed the ship tax; (all trade goods that were on British ships) goods that were on British ships) everyone was taxed….everyone was taxed….

• Tried to impose the Anglican Prayer Book on Tried to impose the Anglican Prayer Book on Scotland.Scotland.

• Charles needed money to put down a Scottish Charles needed money to put down a Scottish rebellion; called Parliament for money (1640)rebellion; called Parliament for money (1640)

Road to Civil WarRoad to Civil War

• Charles I summoned Parliament to Charles I summoned Parliament to raise taxes.. (on a couple of conditions)raise taxes.. (on a couple of conditions)

• Executing the King’s ministers; Laud Executing the King’s ministers; Laud and Strafford.and Strafford.

• Abolishing the Courts of High Abolishing the Courts of High Commission and Star Chamber.Commission and Star Chamber.

• Taxes can’t be levied without Taxes can’t be levied without Parliament.Parliament.

• Parliament can’t be dissolved.Parliament can’t be dissolved.• Parliament has to be called every 3 Parliament has to be called every 3

years (years (Triennial ActTriennial Act))

The English Civil WarThe English Civil War

CavaliersCavaliers• Anglicans and

Catholics• Rural squires:

Land owners• Nobility• The North and

Midlands

RoundheadsRoundheads• Mostly Middle-

class• From towns• From

Southeastern England

• Many were Puritans

Watch “Cromwell”

The New Model ArmyThe New Model Army

• Issues of the Civil Issues of the Civil WarWar– Absolutism vs. Absolutism vs.

ConstitutionalismConstitutionalism– Rule of Law vs. Rule of Law vs.

Rule of ManRule of Man• Oliver Cromwell and Oliver Cromwell and

Sir Thomas Fairfax Sir Thomas Fairfax were in charge of were in charge of the New Model the New Model Army.Army.

England under a dictatorshipEngland under a dictatorship

• Charles was put on trial for murder Charles was put on trial for murder and treason and beheaded on Jan. and treason and beheaded on Jan. 30, 1649.30, 1649.

• The army ruled Parliament “Rump The army ruled Parliament “Rump Parliament”Parliament”

• England became a Common Wealth England became a Common Wealth (monarchy abolished)(monarchy abolished)

• Parliament becomes corrupt Parliament becomes corrupt internally..internally..

Rule under CromwellRule under Cromwell

• Ruled as Ruled as Lord ProtectorLord Protector of The of The Common WealthCommon Wealth

• Religious toleration for all (except Religious toleration for all (except Catholics)Catholics)

• Closed theaters, pubs, banned Closed theaters, pubs, banned cards, forbid music and dance.cards, forbid music and dance.

• Issued the Navigation Act (all British Issued the Navigation Act (all British goods must be on British ships)goods must be on British ships)

The Restoration The Restoration (monarchy restored)(monarchy restored)

• 1660 Charles II returns 1660 Charles II returns to England (1660-to England (1660-1685)1685)

• Brings fashion, and Brings fashion, and French culture back French culture back from Francefrom France

• Parliament reaffirms Parliament reaffirms Petition of RightPetition of Right

• Adds Adds Test Act (1673)Test Act (1673) – –No Catholics shall hold No Catholics shall hold office in Parliamentoffice in Parliament

• Charles agrees to re-Charles agrees to re-Catholicize England in Catholicize England in secret with Louis XIVsecret with Louis XIV

James II (1685-1688)James II (1685-1688)

• Openly admitted that his first task Openly admitted that his first task was to convert England back to was to convert England back to Catholicism (moron)Catholicism (moron)

• Conversion methodsConversion methods– Appointed many Catholic leaders to Appointed many Catholic leaders to

high army positions, judgeships, and high army positions, judgeships, and local gov’t. (violation of Test Act)local gov’t. (violation of Test Act)

• James issued a declaration of James issued a declaration of indulgence granting religious indulgence granting religious freedom to all.freedom to all.

Signals of another Signals of another RevolutionRevolution

Two events:Two events:1.1. James James

imprisoned imprisoned bishops because bishops because they would not they would not read the read the declaration.declaration.

2.2. James’ 2James’ 2ndnd wife wife gave birth to a gave birth to a son; fear of son; fear of Catholic Catholic dynasty.dynasty.

The Glorious Revolution The Glorious Revolution (1688)(1688)

• James’ daughter, Mary, James’ daughter, Mary, (protestant) was asked to take the (protestant) was asked to take the throne of England…throne of England…

• Her husband, William of Orange, Her husband, William of Orange, accepted and marched an army accepted and marched an army into London with open arms…into London with open arms…(some son-in-law!)(some son-in-law!)

• James and his family fled to France James and his family fled to France w/o anyone getting hurt! (Very w/o anyone getting hurt! (Very Glorious!!)Glorious!!)

Terms and ConditionsTerms and Conditions• Act of TolerationAct of Toleration: : Granted religious Granted religious

freedom (except Catholics, Jews, and freedom (except Catholics, Jews, and Unitarians.Unitarians.

• Sign the Bill of RightsSign the Bill of Rights::– Triennial Act reinforcedTriennial Act reinforced– No standing army in peacetime No standing army in peacetime (learned lesson from (learned lesson from

Cromwell)Cromwell)

– Laws made by Parliament and could not be Laws made by Parliament and could not be rejected by monarchyrejected by monarchy

• Established Parliament as supreme power; Established Parliament as supreme power; Constitutional Monarchy!Constitutional Monarchy!

The Stuart Family Tree

James IJames I(1603-1625)(1603-1625)

Charles ICharles I(1625-1649)(1625-1649)

mm. Henrietta-Marie. Henrietta-Marie

Charles IICharles II (1660-1685) (1660-1685)

MaryMarymm. William II of Orange. William II of Orange

James II (1685-1688)James II (1685-1688)mm. Anne Hyde. Anne Hyde

William III of OrangeMary Mary

m. William III of Orangem. William III of OrangeFirst Cousins (eew)First Cousins (eew)

William and Mary IIWilliam and Mary II

HenriettaHenrietta

AnneAnne

The Dutch RepublicThe Dutch Republic• 7 provinces won their independence from 7 provinces won their independence from

Spain in the Treaty of Westphalia (Republic Spain in the Treaty of Westphalia (Republic of United Provinces of the Netherlands)of United Provinces of the Netherlands)

• 1717thth century was “Golden Age of the century was “Golden Age of the Netherlands”Netherlands”– Science, art, and literature flourished.Science, art, and literature flourished.

• Practiced religious toleration as long they Practiced religious toleration as long they did it in private.did it in private.– Persecuted Jews, Catholics, and Protestants Persecuted Jews, Catholics, and Protestants

sought refuge and economic prosperity sought refuge and economic prosperity followed.followed.

• Fishing Industry and Trade were the center Fishing Industry and Trade were the center of the economy (herring) in Amsterdamof the economy (herring) in Amsterdam

The Dutch ProsperThe Dutch Prosper

• The Dutch East India Company (1602); The Dutch East India Company (1602); joint-stock company allowed investors joint-stock company allowed investors to pool their money and gain returns to pool their money and gain returns on trade.on trade.

• Trade and commerce allowed the Dutch Trade and commerce allowed the Dutch to have the highest standard of living to have the highest standard of living in Europe by:in Europe by:– Building granaries (store food in case of Building granaries (store food in case of

bad season)bad season)– High salaries for workers (even women)High salaries for workers (even women)– Very few riots (peaceful times internally)Very few riots (peaceful times internally)– Plenty of workPlenty of work

The Decline of the DutchThe Decline of the Dutch

• War with England and France in the War with England and France in the 1670’s hurt economy1670’s hurt economy

• The War of Spanish Succession The War of Spanish Succession (Grand Alliance)(Grand Alliance)– William III of England (a.k.a. William of William III of England (a.k.a. William of

OrangeOrange) wages war on Louis XIV.) wages war on Louis XIV.– Drains Dutch labor, and financial Drains Dutch labor, and financial

resources; start of economic declineresources; start of economic decline