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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
Created in the middle ages to confirm that the monarchs of England were subject to the rule of law. The Magna Carta also protected the rights of the individual free man. This law was ratified by King John in 1615 under the threat of civil war. The Magna Carta restricted the overall power of the King of England. -
Jun 15, 1215
Creation of the English Parliment
The English parliament was created in 1215 under Edward I and was originally designed as a group of noblemen set to advise the king. The parliament eventually evolved from this role and became the main legislative body in England that kept the king in check. -
Petition of Right
The Petition of Right, written up by the House of Commons in 1628 to King Charles I, which addressed no taxation without the consent of Parliament, no imprisonment without cause, no quartering of soldiers on subjects, and no martial law in peacetime. They did this to help prevent Charles from becoming an absolute m0onarch and protect the rights of the people. -
The Grand Remonstrance
The Grand Remonstrance was a list of 204 misgivings that the parliamentarians had about Charle's growing absolutist rule and the growing power of the Catholic church. These misgivings were sent to Charles I in December of 1641 after being passed by parliament and is considered as one of the main precipitating factors of the English Civil War. -
Beginning of the English Civil War
The English Civil was fought between the Royalists and Parliamentarians of England over the manner of the rule in England. The Monarchists were led by King Charles I while the Parliamentarians were led by Cromwell. Cromwell won the war, making England the first Commonwealth nation. -
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution was a peaceful revolution which saw the ousting of King James II for his absolutist rule at the hands of parliamentarians. William and Mary took the throne as new limited monarchs. They also overthrew a Catholic monarch allowing more religious tolerance in England and weakening the power of the Church. This event gave power back to the parliament and cemented the parliament as the main political power in England. -
English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights was a bill that laid out the basic civil rights of all in England and gave parliament power over the monarchy by significantly weakening the legal power of the King. Among other things, it also allowed for many civil liberties and the right to elect officials without royal intervention.
