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The Magna Carta was a charter signed by King John. It established that the king was subject to the law (like any common citizen), and needed the approval of his barons for certain legal decisions, such as increasing taxes. Although the Magna Carta did not have a great immediate impact, its influence stood the test of time, checking the power of James I after he spent unapproved money belonging to Parliament. -
The Parliament of England was established in order to serve the interests of the people and check the power of the monarch. Parliament had representatives from the nobility, clergy, and (later on) the common people. As outlined in the Magna Carta, the king needed approval from Parliament in order to make decisions that directly effected the common people, such as increasing taxes. As time passed, Parliament became associated with constitutionalism. -
The Thirty Years’ War caused great economic devastation. In the aftermath of the conflict, there was increasing dependence on Parliament (rather than monarchs) to manage taxation. This led to greater cooperation between monarchs, Parliament, and the common people. Another reason for this increased cooperation was that the common people recognized how detrimental the unchecked balance of monarchs had been in initiating the conflict. *Note: 1648 is when the war ended. -
The English Civil War was rooted in discontent over the authority of King Charles I, who was a staunch believer in divine right (an aspect of absolutism). Parliamentarians won the war, executing Charles. This established that monarchs could, in fact, be held accountable by the law. In the aftermath of the war, England was finally able to experience a republican government. *Note: 9/3/1651 is the end date of the war -
In theory, the Protectorate was supposed to give legislative authority to Parliament and executive authority to a council, thereby limiting the power of a monarch. However, the Protectorate was actually more of a military dictatorship led by Oliver Cromwell. It only lasted for six years, signifying the unrest that came with centralized power and the desire of the people for a balance of power in the government. -
The Glorious Revolution signifies the transfer of power from James II—a monarch who abused his power—to his daughter, Mary, and her husband, William of Orange. Parliament gave the throne to the couple, and their ascension to the throne marked the end the idea of divine right. Mary and William did not believe that their authority should be unquestioned; they cared more about the interests of the people than their predecessors. -
William and Mary were required to abide by the Bill of Rights as monarchs. This bill asserted that a monarch could not rule without consent of Parliament. It also gave powers over taxation to Parliament and guaranteed personal freedoms to the people of England (such as freedom of speech, right to protest, etc.) The Bill wasn’t merely for show; it was a legal document that set an important precedent.