English Civil War

How a Constitutional Government was formed

CONSTITUTIONALISM

I. Background• Magna Carta 1215• Development of Parliament (14th

cent.) & Common Law• Petition of Right 1628 (Charles I)• Charles offended Puritans

– upheld rituals of the Anglican Church

– tried to force the Presbyterian Scots to accept a version of the Anglican prayer book

– Scotts rebelled– Charles brought Parliament back to

raise money

II. War Topples a King

• 1641, Parliament passed laws to limit royal power (Long Parliament)– Charles attempt to arrest leaders

• outraged a mob of Londoners• Charles fled north near his supporters

• 1642-1649 English Civil War– Charles supporters Royalists (Cavaliers) vs

Parliament supporters Roundheads

III. Oliver Cromwell

• Oliver Cromwell– Puritan general captured

Charles – tried him for treason– sentenced him to death

• Cromwell’s Rule– abolished the monarchy

and the House of Lords– established commonwealth

then quickly turned into a military dictator

– took over Ireland“Mr. Happy”

“Mr. Happy” and his Civilization

• Puritan Morality– reform society– abolished sinful activities

• dancing, theater and sporting events

– religiously tolerant to all but Catholics

IV. Restoration and Revolution

• Background– after Cromwell’s death

government collapsed– new Parliament

selected

• Charles II reigns– restored the monarchy– habeas corpus passed

• unlawful imprisonment

V. Glorious Revolution“The Bloodless Revolution”

• James II– displayed his Catholicism– appointed several Catholics to high

office– his son was Catholic, his daughter

Mary was Protestant– son in law: William of Orange was

Protestant• 7 members of Parliament invited William

and Mary to overthrow James

– James fled to France

New Monarchy

• William and Mary put in place a constitutional monarchy, that limited the ruler’s power, as well as a Bill of Rights