Conflict and Absolutism in Europe, 1550-1715

Chapter 18

18-2 WAR AND REVOLUTION IN ENGLAND

The Stuarts and Divine Right

Queen Elizabeth I died

in 1603, ending the

Tudor dynasty

The next line of rulers is

known as The Stuarts.

The first Stuart ruler was

James I, Elizabeth’s

cousin who had been

King of Scotland

The Stuarts and Divine Right

James I (1603 – 1625) believed his

power came from God and that he was

responsible only to God.

This idea is called the divine right of

kings.

Puritans: Calvinist-Protestants in

England

They did not like James’ strong defense

of the Church of England

Had Bible translated from Latin into

English – King James version

The Stuarts and Divine Right

The conflict about

religion lasted into

the reign of his

son, Charles I

(1625 – 1649)

He also believed

in the divine right

Some Puritans got

mad and decided

to leave…

“Pilgrims”

Civil War and Commonwealth

Civil war starts in 1642

Supporters of the king:

Cavaliers

Parliamentary forces:

Roundheads

Parliamentary forces

win under the

leadership of Oliver

Cromwell

Civil War and Commonwealth

Cromwell was put in

charge. He:

– 1. Kicked his

opponents out of

Parliament.

– 2. Had Charles I

executed.

– 3. Declared England

a commonwealth

(republic)

Cromwell becomes

Lord Protector

Civil War and Commonwealth

Cromwell could not get along with his

Parliament, so he kicked them out.

Set up a military dictatorship.

Exiled Catholics to Ireland

Strict Puritan laws passed – theaters

closed, Sunday set aside for worship,

no lewd dancing, taverns or gambling

Cromwell ruled until his death is 1658

The Restoration 1660 - 1685

Charles II - Popular

ruler

Monarchy restored –

Hence: Restoration

Bowed to the wishes

of Parliament

Restored the Church

of England

Stabilized government

A Glorious Revolution

Converts to Catholicism on his deathbed

James II, his son, becomes king

Favored Catholics in upper government

positions, which angers Parliament

Upon his death daughters Mary & Anne (both

Protestant) are to succeed him

James II had a son with his 2nd wife who was

Catholic

Parliament worried about possibility of

Catholic monarchy

England – William and Mary English Bill of Rights

1689

William and Mary were given the throne after the English Bill of Rights was passed.

Guaranteed supremacy of Parliament over the monarchy.

Parliament had to meet on a regular basis

Monarchy could neither make nor suspend laws

Trial by jury reinstated.

Abolished fines and cruel and unusual punishment.

Affirmed “writ of habeas corpus” – no person can be held in prison without first being charged with a specific crime. Due process of laws.

Laid groundwork for American system of laws.

Toleration Act of 1689

Act granted Puritans, but not Catholics,

the right of free public worship. Few

English citizens, however, would ever

again be persecuted for their religion.

DIVINE RIGHT OF KINGS – By

deposing one king and establishing

another, Parliament had destroyed the

divine-right theory of kingship. “William

was, after all, king by the grace of

Parliament, not the grace of God.”

Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan

Human life is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”

Before society was organized, humans were guided by struggle for self-preservation.

The state is needed to keep people from destroying each other.

An absolute ruler is needed to preserve the social order.

John Locke, Two Treatises of Government

Before forming societies, humans lived

in a condition of equality and freedom.

All humans have natural rights, including life, liberty, and property.

The agreement between people and government involves mutual responsibilities; absolute rule by one person is to be avoided.

People have the right to alter or remove a government that betrays their rights.