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Petition of Right
Parliament issued this document in response to the new taxes/duties, discontinued taxes, and forced loans that King Charles I demanded from the English people in order to pay for the war against Spain. In the Petition of Right, Charles I agree not to demand loans or taxation without parliamentary consent. This event shows Parliament "checking" the monarch's powers.
Image Source: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/citizenship/rise_parliament/docs/petition_rights.htm -
English Civil War Begins
King Charles I invaded Parliament and then left London to create his own army. In response, Parliament issued a Militia Ordinance giving them the power to raise an army in opposition. This army was led by Oliver Cromwell. Thus, this event marked a key controversy between the monarchy and Parliament.
Image Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/The_English_Civil_War -
Charles I executed
The death of the Charles I also marked the end of the English monarchy until 1660. Instead, the Puritan republic was formed, led by Oliver Cromwell. This event represents a point at which the English monarchy was completely eliminated.
Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Cromwell -
Restoration of the Monarchy
This marked the end of the Puritan Commonwealth and the end of Oliver Cromwell's military dictatorship. Charles II became king and the Parliament of Lords and Commons was restored. This shows how England could not function without a monarchy or Parliament.
Image Source: http://www.britroyals.com/kings.asp?id=charles2 -
Glorious Revolution
In response to James II having dissolved Parliament and his creation of the Declaration of Indulgence for free worship, parliamentary forces helped William of Orange to invade England and they forced James II to abandon the throne. This showed the failure of an absolute monarch (James II).
Image Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/civil_war_revolution/glorious_revolution_01.shtml -
William III and Mary II reign
These new monarchs acknowledged the English Bill of Rights, which limited the monarch's powers, while giving more liberty to the English people. This Bill of Rights recognized a cooperation between the monarchs and Parliament; it required the monarchs to get Parliamentary consent for their actions and have sessions every three years. This ended the Glorious Revolution and ensured that neither the monarchs or Parliament would gain too much power.
Image Source: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked -
Robert Walpole Becomes Prime Minister
Robert Walpole, who was a member of Parliament and dominated the House of Lords and Commons, was appointed by King George I to a position as his prime minister. From this position, Walpole maintained external and internal English peace and increased foreign trade among other things. The establishment of this prime minister position helped guide and "check" the monarch's powers.
Image Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Walpole
