constitutional antecedents (1215-1689)
DESCRIPTION
A history of English constitutional antecedents that served as important precursors to the United States Constitution. The tyranny of John, Charles Stuart, and James II is covered, as well as the Magna Carta, Petition of Right, and English Bill of Rights.TRANSCRIPT
(1215-1689)
Considered a particularly oppressive king
Offenses Chose the Archduke of
Canterbury against the will of the people
Levied an income tax, considered callous and oppressive
Jailed/tortured rivals
“Hell itself is defiled by the fouler presence of John”
Means “Great Charter” in Latin
Charged John with ignoring Charter of Liberties (1100) which bound king to certain guidelines, proclaimed by Henry I
Condemned taxation by a king – affirmed the right of only Parliament to tax
Establishes the right of due process, ward against unreasonable incrimination
Established council of 25 barons who could overrule king
Reigned 1625-1649
Stuart monarch
Offenses Levied numerous taxes without
Parliamentary consent
Held adversaries without due process
Attempted to arrest Parliamentarians who opposed him
Prorogued (dissolved) Parliament in 1928
Condemned Charles I’s actions
Restrictions placed on government Restriction to tax without Parliamentary consent
Restricts extension of martial law
Restricts forced billeting of soldiers
Restated the validity of the Magna Carta
In response, Charles dissolved Parliament and entered an 11 year “lone rule”
After 11 year rule, Parliament charged the crown with establishing a government of “malignant and pernicious design”
List of 204 separate points of contention between Parliament and king Stealing all of the bullion from the mint
Seizing private property to create sustainable land developments
Established a monopoly on items of common use –soap, salt, wine, leather, sea-coal
Direct parent of the Declaration of Independence
Grand Remonstrance served as a precursor to the English Civil Wars of the 1640s
Following English Civil Wars, Charles was tried for treason and beheaded
Republic established in Britain for a time
Reigned 1685-1688
Offenses Expanded government to
include new offices
Declaration of Indulgences –forced decrees to be read in churches
Aligned too closely with the French
Attempted to establish new Catholic hereditary dynasty
Condemned actions of James II Disarming the populace
Intervening into the religious practices of the churches
Declared Parliament supreme
No taxation by royal prerogative
Guaranteed trial by jury
Outlawed cruel and unusual punishment
No royal interference in speech/right to bear arms
