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The Rule of James I and the Hampton Court Conference
James I, the successor of Elizabeth I, sought to establish a strong sense of royal authority in England. He emphasized his rule as one of divine right. While Parliament struggled with many of the King's levees and impositions, they worked around it. The king dealt with much religious turmoil. At the Hampton Court Conference of January 1604, James announced that England would remain a hierarchal Anglican nation, thus widening the religious gap and causing dissent from other protestant groups. -
Continued Religious Conflict under Charles I
Charles I advanced religious tensions in England, which aligned with a power struggle between the monarchy and Parliament. While he did approve the Petition of Rights, James shut down this lawmaking body in the face of continued disputes. Amidst religious conflict with Scotland, due to James's strict conformity policies, the monarch had to resort to Parliament for funding. Initially its refusal lead also to its dissolving, but a Scottish victory forced James to restore Parliament permanently. -
Origins of the English Civil War
After the King restored Parliamentary control, political leaders abolished royal policy, taxation, and refused any monarchial action without its own consent. However, Parliament was religiously divided among conservatives, who wished to maintain the Church of England as dominant, and more moderate Puritans. This lead to heightened conflict between Charles and Parliament over military control. The king unsuccessfully attacked his enemies, which lead to the passing of the Militia Ordinance. -
Roundheads vs. Cavaliers
The English Civil War involved Charles I's and his supporters, or Cavaliers, against Oliver Cromwell and the Roundheads. Under the Militia Ordinance, Parliament was able to organize a strong army under Cromwell and were able to successfully form an alliance with Scotland. Though Charles sought to take advantage of possible Roundhead weakness, Cromwell and his forces were quick to suppress this and ultimately won the war. Charles was declared a public criminal, and executed on January 30, 1649. -
Cromwell's Puritan Republic
From 1649-1660, Cromwell ruled England following a Roundhead victory in the English Civil War. Despite his own efforts to defeat a central monarch, Cromwell acted as such in his Republic. He imposed harsh rule over opposing Scottish Protestants and attacked Irish Catholics. Overall, his rule proved to be more of a dictatorship than the Republic which it stood for. -
The Monarchy is Restored with Charles II
After Cromwell's failed reign, the original structure of monarchy in England was reinstated, and Puritanism was abandoned: The House of Lords and Commons were re-established, and the Anglican church was revived. Charles II also set forth initiatives for religious tolerance. Some members of Parliament dissented this by continuing aggression toward other protestants. At this time, England also paired with France in war against the Dutch. This would force Charles II to act as an absolute monarch. -
The Glorious Revolution
James II was left to the throne and attempted to resemble the absolutist qualities of Louis XIV, especially by corruptly establishing Catholicism as the dominant religion. His successor was assumed by William of Orange, and his wife Mary. "The Glorious Revolution" was indeed glorious, as William and Mary ushered in a revolutionary era bringing about an English Bill of Rights in 1689. This lead to a limited monarchy, as it allowed civil rights and placed the king and queen under the rule of law.
