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1215
Magna Carta
Much of the Glorious Revolution was based on the Magna Carta, a document signed by King John of England. This document gave greater freedoms to the people of England, something that Parliament hoped to restore through the Glorious Revolution. -
Pilgrims leave England to settle in America
Angered by the monarchy's Anglican episcopacy, a group of Pilgrims fled England to set up a new colony in the Americas where they could have more religious freedom. These people did not believe that they would be able to worship fully under the control of a ruler like King James I who was not religiously tolerant. The personal beliefs of rulers were slowly starting to create discontent amongst the people whom they unfairly ruled -
Charles I begins enforcing new taxes
When Parliament refused to fund war with Spain, Charles I took matters into his own hands in terms of gaining the necessary funds. He reinstated old taxes, created his own tariffs, and forced all landowners to loan out their money to pay for the war. Parliament attempted to get Charles I to eliminate these taxes by agreeing to pay for the war, but he went against their wishes and dissolved Parliament for 12 years. -
The Long Parliament places restrictions on the monarchy
Meeting from 1640-1660, the Long Parliament set about a set of new rules that limited the powers of the monarchy following Charles I's abuses of his reign. Royal courts were abolished and the king was no longer allowed to create new taxes with agreement from Parliament. The Long Parliament also decided that it must meet at least once every year and could not be dismissed by solely the king. -
English Civil War
The English Civil War marked an obvious split between the monarchy and Parliament. King Charles I and Parliament had fought for years about religious issues and the way that England, Scotland, and Ireland should be ruled, and these disagreements spiraled into war in 1642. Royalist and Parliamentarian forces faced off for the next nine years, the Parliamentarian forces becoming victorious in the end. -
Charles II rejects Parliamentary authority
Enforcing countless religious restrictions throughout his rule, Charles II was constantly dissolving Parliaments to get his wishes. As Charles II attempted to revive the monarchy, greater animosity was created between him and Parliament. Charles II was known to place the blame for his mistakes on others, generating even more unpleasant feelings amongst his advisors and members of Parliament. -
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution officially altered the way that authority was divided in Europe. This "revolution" was actually a peaceful changing of Europe's governmental structure that gave Parliament more power over England's monarchs. William and Mary, the English rulers who took the crown in 1689, were the first to rule under a limited monarchy.