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Jun 15, 1215
The Establishment of Parliament
The feudal system that was under effect in England required that the King had the support of nobility, as they had power and land of their own. With the Establishment of Parliament, he was guaranteed the support of his subjects, as he was able to consult others who had high positions in society. This did, however, limit some of his power. At first, they only operated to approve taxes that the King wanted to levy, but soon they exerted more influence, especially when young Kings were in power. -
The Grand Remonstrance
Parliament presented this list to King Charles I. It contained all of his policies and tearing them apart, calling for him to change his methods of ruling. It requested a right of veto for Parliament. It passed by a narrow margin, creating strife within Parliamentary nobles and those who were critical of the monarchy. King Charles rejected it completely, although tried to deny some of the claims and win back the support of Parliament. He failed to do so however, and was executed after the war. -
The English Civil War
The supporters of Parliament fought the supporters of the Crown, and saw a victory by Parliament's supporters with the Battle of Worcester. This showed the weakening support of the monarchy within the country, and people placed more trust in Parliament, as they had more say in the government of their nation. -
King Charles I's Execution
With the Royalists' defeat in the English Civil War, many Parliamentarians demanded that King Charles I be executed. The people had been displeased with his belief that he count govern the country however he wanted. He did not abide by regulations set by Parliament. After running for a few years, he was captured and executed for treason. With his death, the monarchy was abolished, forming the Commonwealth of England, and although restored, it never had the same power. -
Two Treatises of Government
This document attempts to justify the overthrow of King James II during the Glorious Revolution, explaining the mindset of Parliamentarians who wanted him out. In the First Treatise, Locke explains why patriarchalism is not justifiable, and says that scripture cannot justify a government run by only the power of Kings. The Second Treatise is used to describe his opinion of a civil society. All men are created qual in the eyes of God, so everyone must have a say in the gov for it to be just. -
The Glorious Revolution
When King James II was overthrown by the supporters of Parliament and William III of Oranje-Nassau, William convinced Parliament to create a joint monarchy between him and his wife. This successful invasion of the country showed the weakness of a monarch who did something to displease the people, and how easy it was for him to be overthrown. People wanted a say in their government, and feared anything that went against their beliefs. -
The Bill of Rights
This outlines the powers that the crown does not have, as well as the rights given to Parliament. It required meetings of Parliament, in addition to a policy allowing Parliament to negotiate with the monarch and present new ideas freely.
