Absolutism & Constitutionalism Part I

History M01B - Krister Swanson - Moorpark College

Two types of Government:

• end of 1500s- Eng. strong (EI), Fr. weak (H4)
• nat’l cultures developing

In the 1600s we’ll see:

• absolute monarchy- all power to king (France)
• constitutional monarchy- power of king checked by constitution (GB)
• both can be effective

England (Cons.) France (Abs.)

Conditions

•Puritan Hassles

•Liberty & Par.

•war debt=need $$

•king threatens nobles for income

Results

•Civil War (Ang/Mon vs. Pur/Con)

•Glorious Revolution

Conditions

•Prot. Squashage

•EG is weak

•private $ for conflict

•king assures nobles’ power

Results

•one king, one faith, one state

•Greatest nation!?!

CRISIS IN ENGLAND

• 1603- James I succeeds EI - start of Stuart line
• outsider who believes in Divine Right vs. strong Parliament (prosperous, sense of liberty)
• faces debt from war with Spain and divided church
• uses impositions to raise $$ without Parliament
• disagrees with Puritan expectations (they hoped he would reform COE) & view of man
• sides w/ COE – likes centralized control of church
• lavishness & corruption in court (Buckingham), plays favorites
• Hard time being a peacemaker, lots of suspicion that he favors Catholicism

Charles I (r.1625-1649)

• inherits war with Spain, which Par. won’t fund, uses forced loan & 1/4ing troops
• 1628- Parliament issues Petition of Right (all taxes Ok’d by Par)
• 1629- Charles disbands Par. (until 1640)
• Tries to rule w/out Par (Thorough) & fails miserably
• 1637- Charles & Laud force episcopal system on Scotland Scots rebel
• Charles needs $$ è calls Par. in 1640

Short/Long/Rump

• they demand redress of grievances
• disbanded in one month (Short Par.)

Long Par. (1640-1660):

• wide base of support
• outlaw parts of thorough (king must call Par.)
• Advisors Stafford & Laud are impeached & executed

Conflict Heats Up

• divisions over religion (COE vs. Puritans) decentralization, Book of CP
• 1641- rebellion in Ireland leads to:
• Grand Remonstrance
• Charles invades Par. & forms his own army
• Militia Act allows Par. to form their own army

CIVIL WAR

• King & COE or Par. & Puritans?
• Par. aligns with Scotland (Presbyterians)
• New Model Army wins with toughness & tactics, so...
• Charles tries to win over Pres & Scots
• 1648 - “Rump Par.” after Pride’s Purge

Rump Parliament

• all Puritan Parliamentarians
• 1649- Charles I tried and fried (regicide)
• abolishes monarchy, HOL & Ang. Church
• Cromwell conquers Ire. & Scot. (GB)
• Royalists flee to France

Cromwell’s Military Dictatorship

• 1653 - he disbands Par., rules as “Lord Protector”
• rules by districts through generals

• tries many systems of gov’t, commerce suffers, Puritanical views

• Levellers oppose & demand rights
• Crom dies in 1658, by 1660 GB’s ready for monarchy again...

The Restoration

• Charles II (r.1660-1685) returns from France
• “merry monarch”- revives outlawed practices
• influenced by cousin Louis XIV (frenchification)
• tries to get along with Par.
• he believes in religious toleration for loyalists, but Par. passes
• Clarendon Code: No non-Angs in public life (backlash against Puritans)
• renews Nav. Acts & war with Dutch
• aid from Louis XIV, promises to be pro-RC, revives fears of RC
• 1673- Parliament passes Test Act aimed at James II (RC)
• Eng. divides: anti-royal Whigs & royalist Tories
• “attempted” assassination scandal
• Whigs want J II out of line
• 1681-1685 rules without Par

James II (r.1685-88, RC geezer)

• stirs up same probs. that started the ECW
• grabs for absolute power
• infant son? RC dynasty?
• Whigs want Mary, Tories so freaked they join Whigs

Enter William & Mary

• 1688- Mary’s & William III of Orange “invade” by invitation & James II flees (Glorious Rev.)
• crowned joint monarchs
• 1690- defeat Irish/French force trying to restore James
• accept Bill of Rights & terms of cons. Monarchy, defer to Par. On many key issues