early modern england

Early Modern England

Title page from Leviathan, by Thomas Hobbes

Centralized Government and Tudor Monarchy

Absolute Monarchy and Parliamentary Crisis: the Stuarts

• James I (1603-1625)• Charles I (1625-1649)• The Protectorate (1649-1660)• Charles II (1660-1685)• James II (1685-1688)

The Stuarts

James I (1603-1625)

Centralized Government and Stuart Monarchy

• James I was less skillful, politically, than Elizabeth; he stubbornly insisted on the concept of absolute, divine right monarchy, but his royal power was undermined by faction, corruption and the growing economic power of the merchant class

The Stuarts

Charles I (1625-1649)


• Charles I continued the absolutist agenda of his father


• Charles I continued the absolutist agenda of his father• Charles I dissolved Parliament in 1629 when Parliament refused to raise new taxes without consideration of their grievances


• Charles I continued the absolutist agenda of his father• Charles I dissolved Parliament in 1629 when Parliament refused to raise new taxes without consideration of their grievances• Merchant class had gained economic power, but still had less political power than the landed aristocracy


• Charles I continued the absolutist agenda of his father• Charles I dissolved Parliament in 1629 when Parliament refused to raise new taxes without consideration of their grievances• Merchant class had gained economic power, but still had less political power than the landed aristocracy• Charles governed without Parliament by raising “ship money”; excise taxes on the continually growing import and export trade that came through England’s port cities


• Charles I continued the absolutist agenda of his father• Charles I dissolved Parliament in 1629 when Parliament refused to raise new taxes without consideration of their grievances• Merchant class had gained economic power, but still had less political power than the landed aristocracy• Charles governed without Parliament by raising “ship money”; excise taxes on the continually growing import and export trade that came through England’s port cities• In 1640, faced with the military costs of putting down a peasant’s rebellion in Ireland and a threatened attack from Scottish nobles at the same time, Charles re-called Parliament


• Charles I continued the absolutist agenda of his father• Charles I dissolved Parliament in 1629 when Parliament refused to raise new taxes without consideration of their grievances• Merchant class had gained economic power, but still had less political power than the landed aristocracy• Charles governed without Parliament by raising “ship money”; excise taxes on the continually growing import and export trade that came through England’s port cities• In 1640, faced with the military costs of putting down a peasant’s rebellion in Ireland and a threatened attack from Scottish nobles at the same time, Charles re-called Parliament• Parliament refused to raise taxes without redress of grievances, so Charles dissolved Parliament again


• Charles I continued the absolutist agenda of his father• Charles I dissolved Parliament in 1629 when Parliament refused to raise new taxes without consideration of their grievances• Merchant class had gained economic power, but still had less political power than the landed aristocracy• Charles governed without Parliament by raising “ship money”; excise taxes on the continually growing import and export trade that came through England’s port cities• In 1640, faced with the military costs of putting down a peasant’s rebellion in Ireland and a threatened attack from Scottish nobles at the same time, Charles re-called Parliament• Parliament refused to raise taxes without redress of grievances, so Charles dissolved Parliament again• Parliament refused to dissolve, and instead formed an army and engaged in Civil War

Early Modern England

The Beheading of Charles I (1649), Anonymous Dutch Engraving

The Protectorate

Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector (1649-1658)

The Protectorate

• In 1649, the Parliamentary forces, under Cromwell, captured the King and put him on trial for treason; the King was convicted, and executed

The Protectorate

• In 1649, the Parliamentary forces, under Cromwell, captured the King and put him on trial for treason; the King was convicted, and executed• Under the “protectorate,” during the “interregnum,” England didn’t have a King; Oliver Cromwell ruled as “Lord Protector”

The Protectorate

• In 1649, the Parliamentary forces, under Cromwell, captured the King and put him on trial for treason; the King was convicted, and executed• Under the “protectorate,” during the “interregnum,” England didn’t have a King; Oliver Cromwell ruled as “Lord Protector” • In effect, Cromwell was a military dictator

The Stuarts

Charles II (1660-1685)


• In 1660, Charles II was recalled from France to become a “constitutional monarch” with reduced powers


• In 1660, Charles II was recalled from France to become a “constitutional monarch” with reduced powers• Merchant class had more political power


• In 1660, Charles II was recalled from France to become a “constitutional monarch” with reduced powers• Merchant class had more political power• Political parties—“Tories” and “Whigs” emerged at this time

The Stuarts

James II (1685-1688)


• In 1685, Charles II died and his brother, James II became king


• In 1685, Charles II died and his brother, James II became king• James was a Catholic; he had to agree that his successor would not be a Catholic monarch


• In 1685, Charles II died and his brother, James II became king• James was a Catholic; he had to agree that his successor would not be a Catholic monarch• James was seen as a threat by many because of his “absolutist” tendencies


• In 1685, Charles II died and his brother, James II became king• James was a Catholic; he had to agree that his successor would not be a Catholic monarch• James was seen as a threat by many because of his “absolutist” tendencies• James was deposed in 1688 in the “Glorious Revolution”


• In 1685, Charles II died and his brother, James II became king• James was a Catholic; he had to agree that his successor would not be a Catholic monarch• James was seen as a threat by many because of his “absolutist” tendencies• James was deposed in 1688 in the “Glorious Revolution”• He was replaced not by his Catholic son, Prince James, but by his protestant daughter, Mary, and her husband, William

The Stuarts

William and Mary (1689-1702)

early modern england

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