The King of England’s “Power Meter”
King Charles I
This assignment’s objective is to learn about the rise of “Constitutionalism” in England.
We are going to look at some of the most important “events” and time periods throughout England’s History & rate each of the events by how much it “adds” or “subtracts” from the King’s Power.
We are going to look over the list of events below and base our “ratings” on what happened during that time.
The rating can vary from -5 to 0 to +5
We are going to look at some of the most important “events” and time periods throughout England’s History & rate each of the events by how much it “adds” or “subtracts” from the King’s Power.
We are going to look over the list of events below and base our “ratings” on what happened during that time.
The rating can vary from -5 to 0 to +5
Dates & Events
1086 – Doomsday Book – King orders census taken of all of England to give himself more power over taxation of the people.
1154- King Henry II inherits the throne. Under his rule laws in England come under the authority of the crown- these “common laws” are then enforced by Royal Justices.
1215- Land owners force King John to sign the Magna Carta. This gave the land owners some important rights and forced the King to “obey the law”. (Land owners get the right of “due process” – protection from arbitrary arrest w/o legal judgments & “habeas corpus”)
1200’s- What used to be a simple system of advisors to the King becomes a formal group called “Parliament”. This group of representatives provided a “check” on the King’s power.
1200 to 1600- A good balance between the King and Parliament.
1603-1625 King James I takes power and increases “absolute rule”
1625- Charles the I inherits the throne and increases the King’s power even more. He imprisoned people without trial & used the Kingdom’s money to fight wars without Parliament’s approval. At one point he has to get Parliament together to approve of giving him even more money- then he quickly sends them away.
1640- Parliament “forces” their way back into the government and tries to declare that only they have the power to dismiss their governing body- not the King.
1642- Charles sends his troops into Parliament to arrest the “radical” leaders. Those leaders were able to escape.
1640’s- The “radical” leaders who escaped formed their own army led by Oliver Cromwell. Cromwell’s army does unexpectedly well and defeats the King’s forces. This was the “English Civil War”
1647- The King is under the “control” of Parliament.
1649- Parliament puts King Charles on trial as a “tyrant, traitor, murderer and public enemy.” They have him beheaded.
1650 through 1658- Parliament holds a great deal of power… but Cromwell basically rules as a Military Dictator. In 1658 Cromwell Dies.
1660- the English invite Charles the II (son of Charles I) back to England to take the throne. He reestablishes the power of “absolute rule” but does respect some of Parliament’s rights.
1685- Charles’ brother James II inherits the throne and goes about suspending laws when he wants – angered Parliament.
1688- Parliament asked William and Mary (James I’s Daughter) of Orange to come rule England. James II flees- this is the “Glorious Revolution” because no blood was shed.
1689- Before William & Mary could take over they were asked to sign the English Bill of Rights – this ensured the Parliament would be equal to (and at times more powerful than) the Monarch. This Bill of Rights ensured fair trial by jury, abolished excessive fines & cruel and unusual punishment, and established freedom of religion (but only to certain groups???)
This was the point at which Britain’s Monarch became a “Limited Monarchy”. The Monarchs would never again gain powers they were once able to have.
Late 1600’s & early 1700’s
*Political Parties formed – more fighting within Parliament than between King & Parliament.
*The Cabinet System- Parliamentary advisors to the Monarch
*Prime Minister- The head of the Cabinet- after during the mid 1700’s the Prime Minister gained more and more power… eventually surpassing the power of the Monarch.
Today the Monarch is little more than a national symbol.
1154- King Henry II inherits the throne. Under his rule laws in England come under the authority of the crown- these “common laws” are then enforced by Royal Justices.
1215- Land owners force King John to sign the Magna Carta. This gave the land owners some important rights and forced the King to “obey the law”. (Land owners get the right of “due process” – protection from arbitrary arrest w/o legal judgments & “habeas corpus”)
1200’s- What used to be a simple system of advisors to the King becomes a formal group called “Parliament”. This group of representatives provided a “check” on the King’s power.
1200 to 1600- A good balance between the King and Parliament.
1603-1625 King James I takes power and increases “absolute rule”
1625- Charles the I inherits the throne and increases the King’s power even more. He imprisoned people without trial & used the Kingdom’s money to fight wars without Parliament’s approval. At one point he has to get Parliament together to approve of giving him even more money- then he quickly sends them away.
1640- Parliament “forces” their way back into the government and tries to declare that only they have the power to dismiss their governing body- not the King.
1642- Charles sends his troops into Parliament to arrest the “radical” leaders. Those leaders were able to escape.
1640’s- The “radical” leaders who escaped formed their own army led by Oliver Cromwell. Cromwell’s army does unexpectedly well and defeats the King’s forces. This was the “English Civil War”
1647- The King is under the “control” of Parliament.
1649- Parliament puts King Charles on trial as a “tyrant, traitor, murderer and public enemy.” They have him beheaded.
1650 through 1658- Parliament holds a great deal of power… but Cromwell basically rules as a Military Dictator. In 1658 Cromwell Dies.
1660- the English invite Charles the II (son of Charles I) back to England to take the throne. He reestablishes the power of “absolute rule” but does respect some of Parliament’s rights.
1685- Charles’ brother James II inherits the throne and goes about suspending laws when he wants – angered Parliament.
1688- Parliament asked William and Mary (James I’s Daughter) of Orange to come rule England. James II flees- this is the “Glorious Revolution” because no blood was shed.
1689- Before William & Mary could take over they were asked to sign the English Bill of Rights – this ensured the Parliament would be equal to (and at times more powerful than) the Monarch. This Bill of Rights ensured fair trial by jury, abolished excessive fines & cruel and unusual punishment, and established freedom of religion (but only to certain groups???)
This was the point at which Britain’s Monarch became a “Limited Monarchy”. The Monarchs would never again gain powers they were once able to have.
Late 1600’s & early 1700’s
*Political Parties formed – more fighting within Parliament than between King & Parliament.
*The Cabinet System- Parliamentary advisors to the Monarch
*Prime Minister- The head of the Cabinet- after during the mid 1700’s the Prime Minister gained more and more power… eventually surpassing the power of the Monarch.
Today the Monarch is little more than a national symbol.
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