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Jun 15, 1215
The Creation of the Magna Carta
The Magna Carta, or the "Great Charter", was a document agreed by King John of England to make peace with barons.In the charter, there was an agreement for the rights of people by providing protection from illegal imprisonment, swift justice, and a limitation on feudal authority. By asserting that law was more important than the ruler, the Magna Carta become one of the first steps in establishing a constitutional monarchy. -
Jan 20, 1265
The Establishment of Parliament
After the Magna Carta was issued in 1215, a legislative branch was instituted in the form of Parliament to represent the barons. Lords were initially on Parliament, but elected commons were invited in 1245, giving representation to the freemen of England. The establishment of Parliament allowed for power to be shifted from an absolute ruler to representation, which would only grow stronger. -
The Petition of Right
Parliament wanted the English monarch of 1628, Charles I, to recognize the Petition of Right. This document required that loans and taxation could not be brought on just through the king. There had to be consent by Parliament. Revisions on unlawful imprisonment of freemen were also outlined. The Petition of Right gave representation to Parliament leading to a constitutional monarchy, where Parliament would be placed above the king. -
The English Civil War
The English Civil War lasted from 1642 to 1646. Roundheads and Cavaliers fought over the power of England. Charles I decided to enact laws without Parliament's consent and started to attack Puritans. The war ended with a Parliamentary victory. Parliament saw an increase in power, while the absolute ruler of Charles I lost power. -
The Habeas Corpus Act
The Habeas Corpus Act of 1679 was passed by the English Parliament to define the rights of citizens. The act forced courts to look at the lawfulness of a criminal's imprisonment, so individual liberty could be preserved. The law was created by Parliament to ensure King Charles II did not unlawfully imprison citizens. This shows the growing power of the Parliament over the king, which led to England's establishment of a constitutional monarchy. -
The Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution was a bloodless revolution that overthrew King James II by Parliamentarians and William III of the Netherlands. William and Mary replaced James and enacted policies of religious tolerance and civil liberties were granted to citizens. The Glorious Revolution marked the beginning of the official transition to a constitutional monarchy. -
The English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights was an act passed be Parliament after the Glorious Revolution. The bill was agreed to be the newly instilled William and Mary. It created a separation of powers between the king and queen and Parliament, limited the power of the king and queen, and advocated democratic policy like freedom of speech. Ultimately, the English Bill of Rights placed Parliamentary powers above absolute rulers.
