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Reaction to Absolutism in England

While other nations turned to absolutism in the 1500s and 1600s, England moved in adifferent direction. Englands Parliament (government) managed to resist successfully

the aggressive (violent) tactics ofabsolute rulers trying to gain absolute power.

Before 1603, the British

Parliament consisted of a

group of people, like ourcongress in the United

States, that decided on

laws, and had power to

prevent British kings fromgaining too much power.

People would vote on

British Parliament

members, to make surethat bad parliament

members would beremoved from power.

Additionally, no British Parliament members could be elected for life.

In 1603, King James became king of England. He believed that God has chosen him to

rule the British people, and thus, he had divine right. He fought wars to gain territory,

and imprisoned anyone he believed threatened his position as absolute king. Needing

more money for his wars, army, and secret police, King James asked Parliament toincreases taxes on the people. Parliament refused the kings request. Thus, King James

threw Parliament out of the English palace. With no Parliament, King James used hisabsolute power to eliminate freedom of speech, freedom of the press, putting enemiesinto prisons without trials, and imposed high taxes. When James died, his son Charlesbecame king and continued his fathers absolute policies.

Tired ofabsolute rule, the British

people fought the kings forces.

After years of fighting, the Britishcitizens had managed to capture the

king, and beheaded him. Some

feared God would strike the peopledown right there, for killing a

divine right king. However,nothing happened. British citizens

began to realize that the king mightjust be human after all, and not

really a God.

Before a new king would be chosen, the British Parliament asked the new king to sign a

document to limit the power of the king of England. This was the Magna Carta. This

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document limited the power of the king, as well as provided rights and liberties to the

English people. The British Parliament also created an English Bill of Rights. This Bill

of Rights was a document that protected citizens from the king, and protected allordinary citizens rights. Such rights were..

1) The king must hold frequent meetings with Parliament.

2) Parliament controls taxes. The king must ask Parliament to raise taxes

3) Cruel and unusual punishment without a fair trial is prohibited

4) Freedom of speech, religion, and press shall not be denied

5) All citizens can not be held in jail without first being charged for a crime, and can not

be executed unless found guilty of the crime.

6) All new laws and procedures shall be written down,

7) Not take crops from farmland without paying for them

ACTIVITY

Part 1 Choose the answer that best answers the multiple-choice questions below:

1) The Magna Carta can be described as a

A) journal about English feudal society

B) census of all tax-paying nobility in feudal England

C) list of feudal rights that limited the power of the English monarchyD) statement of grievances of the middle class in England

2) The twelve tables, Justinian Codes, the Magna Carta, and the English Bill of Rights aresimilar in that each addresses the issue of

A) social mobility

B) the individual and the stateC) the importance of religion

D) economic development

3) The Magna Carta, the Peition of Right, and the English Bill of Rights were created to

A) limit the power of English monarchsB) organize Englands colonial empire

C) establish laws protecting the rights of protestants

D) abolish the role of parliament

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Part 2 Choose two out of the four questions below to answer in a complete sentence

response consisting of at least SEVEN sentences. Be sure to provide proof and evidence

in your answer!

1) In your own words, what is the Magna Carta? Would you accept this document? Why

or why not?

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2) What do you think other absolute rulers are going to do in Europe after hearing aboutwhat happened in England?

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3) Is President Obama an absolute ruler? Why or why not? Give examples and proof.

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4) Take a look at the Magna Carta. What laws or ideas are not in there that you wouldlike to see if you were a citizen living in England? What other ideas could limit

absolutism in England?

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