Timeline of Events Leading up to a Limited Monarchy in England

By lindsayapeuro

  • Petition of Right was Passed

    Petition of Right was Passed
    image sourceThe Petition of Right was passed by Parliament in response to Charles I’s disregard of Parliament and law and abuse of power as an absolute monarch. It took away the power of taxation without consent of Parliament, took away some power of the powers of military and its command by the king, and it took away the imprisonment of persons without being proven guilty. It showed discontent in Parliament as a result of the king’s actions.Parliament limited the king's power, leading to limited monarchy.

  • English Civil War begins

    English Civil War begins
    image source Lasting from 1640 to 1646, the English Civil War was a conflict between royalists who supported the king and antiroyalists that opposed the king and supported Parliament. Charles I was disregarding Parliament and exercising absolutism by making his own laws without its consent and attacking Puritans. Thus, the Scots took action against him. When Charles I asked Parliament for money to fund the war, Parliament would not give him any and England split and war broke out as a result of absolutism.

  • The Grand Remonstrance is Presented to King Charles I.

    The Grand Remonstrance is Presented to King Charles I.
    image sourceThe Grand Remonstrance, like the Petition of Right, was a list of grievances presented to the king. However, the Grand Remonstrance was given to the king by the House of Commons, which was made up of all the common people in English society at the time, with the help of Parliament. So, this showed the king how the common people were not represented and how they were angry. It showed that England would be better with a limited monarchy. The growing tension eventually led to limited monarchy.

  • Execution of Charles I

    Execution of Charles I
    image source Charles I had been disregarding the law, Parliament, and the common people during his rule and interpreting the government for himself, which shows absolutism. As a result of discontent, the English Civil war erupted, and at the end of the Civil War after his surrender, he was executed. He was the first king executed by his people and this showed how absolutism would fail and lead to a limited monarchy-because the people were so angry and powerlessthat they killed him against his "divine right".

  • Glorious Revolution Begins

    Glorious Revolution Begins
    image source The Glorious Revolution was a violent-free revolution that showed how Parliament was supreme and returned its power. King James II was overthrown by Parliament supporters and William and Mary took over the throne. This also overthrew a Catholic ruler, so there was more tolerance toward Protestants. William III’s overthrow of James II gave Parliament its power back that it missed during the age of absolute monarchy. And with this, William and Mary became the new LIMITED monarchs.

  • The English Bill of Rights was Passed

    The English Bill of Rights was Passed
    image source The English Bill of Rights, passed in 1689, confirmed the Bill of Rights passed by William and Mary back in March 1689. It told the country who would succeed the throne, outlined powers of Parliament, and offered joint rule for William and Mary in England. It gave people the right to petition the ruler and required the monarch to get consent from people. It forbade the monarch to pass legislation without the consent of Parliament, and took away absolutism from the monarchs, limiting them.

  • John Locke’s Two Treatises of Government was Published

    John Locke’s Two Treatises of Government was Published
    image source John Locke published his book, which had the ideas that people had perfect freedom in their natural law, natural rights, and natural state, and that any government that ruled without the consent of the people could be overthrown, and they had the ability and right to do that if they were not represented nor happy. Additionally, he stated that the divine right of kings would eventually be the downfall of any government. It rejected absolutism and strengthened beliefs and led to limited monarchy.