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The Petition of Rights
When parliament met in 1628, they stated that they would only grant Charles I more funds if they accepted the Petition of Rights which stated that no taxes would be enforced without parliament's consent and that a freedman can not be jailed without cause. Charles I agrees to this; however he later dissolves parliament until 1640s. This shows how Charles I failed to work with the people, and this would ultimately lead them to become extremely upset and revolt against the king. -
The Scottish Rebellion
Charles I wished to establish religious unity throughout his empire in order to bring about a more absolute monarchy; however when he tried to impose religious conformity in Scotland to the English episcopal church, the Scottish rebelled. This event not only forced Charles I to reconvene parliament due to lack of funding but also shows how Charles had little control over his people, and since he could not establish religious unity it further diverges him from the absolute monarchy of France. -
The Long Parliament
The Long Parliament lasted from 1640 to 1660 was one of the first examples of the the English parliament taking a stand against the monarchy. Parliament at this time impeached advisors to Charles I, and eventually executed them. They also prohibited new taxes from being created without parliament's consent which would prevent kings from making financial decisions on their own. This event marked the beginning of the English Civil War, and showed how parliament could control the monarchy. -
The English Civil War
The English Civil War marked one of the greatest points of tension between the monarchy and parliament. In the end, Charles I was defeated and he was executed January 1645. Parliament's victory in this war proves that it held power and could defeat the monarchy, which gave parliament overall power in the eyes of the people for years to come. This showed that if England was going to become an absolute monarchy, the king would have to show strong military power, and no king showed this ability. -
Cromwell's Puritan Republic
After the English Civil War, Oliver Cromwell established puritan republic which he ruled as a totalitarian; however, his military dictatorship was unsuccessful, and he was loathed by the public. After his death the English were ready to re-establish Anglican Church and the monarchy. This shows why monarchy still existed in England after the Glorious Revolution, because the rule of Cromwell showed the public that the monarchy had many benefits and that is why a constitutional monarchy was formed. -
Declaration of Indulgences
Charles II passed the Declaration of Indulgences in 1678 he further separated himself from parliament. This declaration prevented any laws from being passed against another religious group, and this greatly upset parliament because they were against Catholics. This would lead to parliament passing the Test act, which forbade Catholics from holding power. This shows the decline of Charles II due to religious ideas, as well as how religious division led to England to be constitutional monarchy. -
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution was marked by when William and Mary were named king and queen of England in 1689. Their reign marked the creation of a bill of rights (limiting monarchy), guarantee of civil liberties to nobility, and finally the Toleration Act guaranteed rights to those outside of the Catholic church. This stage set England as a constitutional monarchy, and further diverged it from the absolute monarchy in France which had unified religion and no parliament power.
