The English Civil WarThe English Civil War& Constitutional Monarchy& Constitutional Monarchy

How do How do different types different types of gov’ts gain of gov’ts gain & use power?& use power?

How & why did How & why did England place limits England place limits on its monarchs?on its monarchs?

Chapter 5, Section Chapter 5, Section 55

How did How did England’s England’s gov’t influence gov’t influence our own?our own?

Absolute Monarchs ruled most Absolute Monarchs ruled most of Europe during the Middle of Europe during the Middle

Ages Ages (& parts of Europe until WWI) (& parts of Europe until WWI)

But England was different …But England was different …

Types of Types of MonarchyMonarchy

AbsoluteAbsolute – ie. – ie. absolutism, monarchs absolutism, monarchs with unlimited power with unlimited power claimed claimed divine rightdivine right to to rule rule “God made ME “God made ME king, so obey me!”king, so obey me!”

ConstitutionalConstitutional – laws – laws limit monarch’s powerlimit monarch’s power

Background on EnglandBackground on England In 1215, English nobles In 1215, English nobles

forced weak King John forced weak King John to sign a document to sign a document known as the Magna known as the Magna Carta (Great Charter) Carta (Great Charter) that forced him to that forced him to accept limits on his accept limits on his powerpower monarch was monarch was not above the law!not above the law!

England was the only England was the only European country European country during the Middle Ages during the Middle Ages to place limits on its to place limits on its monarch.monarch.

Background on EnglandBackground on England Monarch needed consent of Parliament to collect Monarch needed consent of Parliament to collect

new taxesnew taxes ParliamentParliament

- representative, legislative body- representative, legislative body- bicameral (2 houses) based on social class - bicameral (2 houses) based on social class

1. House of Lords – nobles 1. House of Lords – nobles ((aristocratsaristocrats);); appointed or inheritedappointed or inherited

(today = only advisory & ceremonial role)(today = only advisory & ceremonial role) 2. House of Commons – wealthy landowners 2. House of Commons – wealthy landowners & townspeople; elected& townspeople; elected

(today = real power)(today = real power)

House of Commons House of House of Commons House of LordsLords

Background on EnglandBackground on EnglandKing Henry VIII (r. 1509-1547)King Henry VIII (r. 1509-1547) Loyal Catholic until the Pope Loyal Catholic until the Pope

denied him an annulment denied him an annulment from his (1from his (1stst) wife ) wife

So Henry removed England So Henry removed England from the Pope’s authority & from the Pope’s authority & created the (Protestant) created the (Protestant) Church of England, or Church of England, or Anglican Church (in USA Anglican Church (in USA Episcopalian), under his Episcopalian), under his control control

Ended up with 6 wives Ended up with 6 wives 3 kids (son died young & 3 kids (son died young & 2 daughters ruled after him) 2 daughters ruled after him)

FYI: Protestants = Christians who broke away from authority of Pope

Background on EnglandBackground on EnglandElizabeth I (r. 1558-1603)Elizabeth I (r. 1558-1603) solidified England as solidified England as

Protestant country Protestant country England defeated England defeated

Spanish Armada in 1588 Spanish Armada in 1588 (beginning of England’s (beginning of England’s naval DOMINANCE naval DOMINANCE that lasted ‘til WWII) that lasted ‘til WWII)

reigned over reigned over England’s “Golden Age” England’s “Golden Age”

““Virgin Queen” died without an heir to the throne Virgin Queen” died without an heir to the throne & throne passed to Scottish cousins, the Stuarts & throne passed to Scottish cousins, the Stuarts