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Jun 15, 1215
King John Validates the Magna Carta
In 1215, after a 6 year period of rebellion, King John of England was forced by his subjects, the feudal barons, to sign the Magna Carta. For the first time, the power of the monarchy was being checked by its subjects: the document established the rights of freemen that were not to be violated the king. Essentially, the Magna Carta was the first assertion of subjects' rights over the monarchy's authority, -
Dec 14, 1264
Establishment of Parliament
The formal establishment of Parliament of England as a fixture of the government occurred in 1295 under Edward I, with his creation of the "Model Parliament". This was not the first Parliament; groups of nobles and clergy had been gathering to advise the king since as early as 1066. However, this particular event was significant beause it marked the official recognition of a representative body in the English government. The monarchy was no longer the sole source of mandate. -
The English Civil War
The English Civil War, faught between 1642 and 1651, was primarily a battle between the supporters of King Charles I (Cavaliers) and the supporters of Parliament (Roundheads). Essentially, Parliament was warring against the powers of the monarchy and establishing itself as a force that could legally raise an army and levy taxes. The war resulted in Charles' execution, and ultimately was a display of the representative body's power over the monarchy that was determined to have absolute power. -
Oliver Cromwell's Death and the Restoration of the Monarchy
Though Oliver Cromwell was the Lord Protector of the "Puritan Republic" after the English Civil War, many saw his rule as an oppressive dictatorship that limited religious freedom and maintained a standing army of 50,000 men. Upon his death, the people were eager to return to a new form of monarchy under Charles II, that would supposedly utilize Parliament rather than disband it when met with opposition. Though no net progress was made, it ultimately removed England from near tyranny. -
The Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution describes William of Orange and his wife Mary's" invasion" of England. After essentially being invited by Parliament to usurp control from James II, who had a Catholic heir to the throne. By 1689, Parliament had declared William III and Mary II the monarchs of England. In return for their new title, William and Mary passed the English Bill of Rights, which would limit the power of the monarchy. -
Parliament Passes the English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights, an Act of Parliament passed on the 16th of December 1689, was a massively important document in establishing a limited monarchy. It explicitly outlined the limits of the monarchy, the powers of Parliament, and reaffirmed its right to petition the monarch without arbitrary consequence as well as the basic rights of the English people, protecting them against the monarchy's acts of cruelty and injustice. -
Robert Walpole Becomes the First Lord of the Treasury
Sir Robert Walpole took control of the English government in 1721 after King George I rose to the throne. Out of political turmoil, Walpole established a period of relative peace and prosperity, as well as cooperation between local and national government. Appointed First Lord of the Treasury, and in addition to his leading role in Parliament, Walpole is considered to be the first Prime Minister of Britain. His strong influence reflect the expanded rights of Parliament and limited monarchy.
