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Jun 15, 1215
Creation of the Magna Carta
King John signed the Magna Carta on June 15th, 1215 under pressure from the leading nobles of the England. The document, written by Archibishop Stephen Langton, was a collection of 37 English laws that limited the power of the King and ensured the establishment of a strong Parliament. The document limited the King's power (the first to do so) is the basis for English citizen's rights.
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Nov 1, 1534
Establishment of the Anglican Church
When King Henry VIII broke with the Catholic Church, he established a precedent by going to Parliament for legal authority (it was Parliament who issued the Act of Supremacy which gave Henry controll over religion in England and the power to break with Rome). This set the precendent that for major changes, Parliament had to be involved in the process, granting Parliament greater authority.
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Trial of Charles I
After inciting the Second English Civil War while still in captivity, the English people were furious--in particular, the army and the Independents in Parliament. Under pressure from the army, Parliament conveened the High Court of Justice to try Charles I. He was found guilty and beheaded. This marked a sharp change in Pariliaments power as the body tried and convicted a sitting British monarch.
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Commenwealth of England
England was declared a republic and ruled by Parliament after the execution of Charles I. For at time, England was truly ruled by a Parliamentary body (the Rump Parliament) before Oliver Cromwell assumed conrol in what is commonly known as the Protectorate. This period demonstrated the lessening power of the monarchy and the increase in Parliamentary power and influence.
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Habeas Corpus Act of 1679
The Habeas Corpus Act formalized the law of Habeas Corpus (that a person could not simply be imprisoned without reason and process), establishing in addition that a monarch's command was not enough to suspend habeas corpus. The law was a step establishing inalienable rights for the British people, limiting the monarchies power while increasing that of Parliament and the people.
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The Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution was the overthrow of James II (A Catholic) by Parliament working with William of Orange and his wife Mary (James's Protestant daughter). William and Mary became joint monarchs of England, but worked with Parliament for this to occur. Parliament assumed a great increase in power with this transformation as the throne of England began to truly share power.
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English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights was a formal statement of the Declaration of Rights presented to William and Mary. It invited them to become monarchs and laid out the rights of Parliament, rules of free speech, and the right to peititon the monarchy as well as establishing limits on the monarchy's power. It was a formal acknowledgement of the new system of shared power between the King and Parliament.
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