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Beginning of James I's Rule
James I's rule (1603-1625) signified the beginning of the rift that would form between monarch and Parliament as a result of absolutism. James I blatantly considered his power unlimited and thus disregarded the Parliament's sacred common law. During his reign frustration in the Parliament mounted against absolute monarchy and this anger would carry over to the reign of Charles I, where more aggressive actions to move toward a limited monarchy would occur. -
The Petition of Rights Was Passed by By Parliament
The Petition of Rights was passed by Parliament during the reign of Charles I in response to the tyranical absolutism with which the English monarchs had been governing since James I (R. 1603-1625). In this document, the Parliament demanded such meausres as an end to imprisonment without proof of cause and taxation without their consent. This petition, while ignored by Charles I, represents the Parliament's first direct and formal challege to the concept of an absolute rule. -
Beginning of the English Civil War
The English Civil War (1640-1646) was a war that broke out between the royalists (on the side of Charles I) and the antiroyalists (those against an absolute monarchy). A religious subgroup of the antiroyalist with representation in Parliament, the Independents, succeed in forcing Charles I to surrender thus ending a line of absolute monarchs. In addition the Parliament got a huge boost in power as a result of emerging from the war victorious. -
The Grand Remonstrance is Given to Charles I
The Grand Remonstrance was a list of grievences that was presented to Charles I by the Parliament. In it, the Parliament objected to Charles I's various policies and called for such measures as the expulsion of bishops and the killing of officals. Not only did this emphasize discontent among Parliament and the common people in England with the absolute rule, but Charles I's refusal to cooperate made this a significant event that would prompt the Civil War ending absolutism in England. -
Execution of Charles I
After surrendering during the English Civil War, Charles I was executed with the approval of the Rump Parilament and the new master of England, Cromwell. Charles had exercised his power solely for his own purposes, even ruling without the presence of Parliament for 11 years. He was therefore the epitome of absolute monarchy. With his execution, England definitively set its sights on a limited/constitutional monarchy. -
Beginning of the Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution was a non-violent revolution that lead to the overthrow of absolute monarchy under in England under James II by a Parliamentary union. This therefore ended absolutism in England and Willam and Mary accended the throne, instituting a new form of government--a limited monarchy. With their rule, a limited religious tolerance of Protestants was noted and ended the possibility of Catholicism ever becoming reinstitued in England. -
Passage of the English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights was passed by Parliament and essentially defined the powers of Parliament, limited the power of the monarch, and granted basic civil rights to the people of England. It also barred Roman Catholics from ever accending the throne (due to past religious intolerance). This creation of a bill of rights is a step that is essential when trying to establish and maintain a limited/constitutional monarchy as it creates boundaries for the ruler and perserves rights for people.
