Countries that are ruled by kings and queens Reading Focus

Major reason for Elizabeth’s good relationship with Parliament, her willingness to let members speak minds without fear of punishment

• Elizabeth in Charge

• Major reason for Elizabeth’s good relationship with Parliament, her willingness to let members speak minds without fear of punishment
• Close ties shown in fact that she called Parliament into session 10 times in 45-year reign
• Elizabeth clearly in charge, but had difficulty keeping subjects from questioning her actions
• Earl of Essex rebelled against authority
• Asked publicly, “Cannot princes err? Cannot subjects receive wrong? Is an earthly power or authority infinite?”
• Essex tried, executed as a traitor
• Not the last to question Elizabeth’s authority

• Recall
• What did Henry VIII and Elizabeth I work with Parliament to do?

• Answer(s): to pass laws to help the monarch achieve desired results

• The Tudors’ success with Parliament not repeated
• Relative of the Scotland Tudors succeeded Elizabeth

• James I, first of Stuart dynasty to rule in England
• View of absolute monarchy caused conflict with Parliament
• Previous wars, own spending left him low on funds

• James I

• From Scotland, considered outsider
• James rarely got all money he wanted from Parliament
• Puritans wanted reform of Church of England

• Clashes with Parliament

• Seen as threat to James’s power; church leadership supported him
• Refused to pass Puritans’ requests for reform
• Did agree to publication of King James Bible

• Puritan Reform

• The Stuarts and Parliament

• When James I died in 1625, his younger son was crowned king as Charles I.

• Popular at first, but married Catholic princess
• Involved England in military adventures overseas
• 1628, summoned Parliament to request money
• Parliament refused until Charles signed Petition of Right
• Petition of Right a direct challenge to absolute monarchy

• Issues of Money

• Placed limits on king’s power
• Could not levy taxes without Parliamentary approval
• Parliament later refused to give Charles money again
• He taxed English people on own, forced bankers to lend him money
• Parliament was furious
• Charles dismissed Parliament
• 1629, decided to rule without consulting Parliament again

• Petition of Right

• Charles I Defies Parliament

• Find the Main Idea
• Why did the Stuarts have trouble with Parliament?

• Answer(s): Both wanted to rule as absolute monarchs.

• Conflict Continued
• Conflict continued between king who believed in absolute monarchy, Parliament that saw itself independent
• Conflict led to war, king’s death

• Limited King’s Powers
• Having been ignored 11 years, Parliament took opportunity to further limit king’s powers
• Demanded Parliament be called at least every three years

• Parliament Reconvened
• 1640, Charles I finally reconvened Parliament to ask for more money
• “Long Parliament” did not disband for several years

• Grudging Acceptance
• Parliament also ruled king could no longer dismiss Parliament
• Charles accepted new rules; but awaited right time to overturn

• The English Civil War

• Strategy
• Charles’ moment came when radical Puritan group in Parliament moved to abolish appointment of bishops in Anglican Church
• King, whose power connected to power of church, was outraged

• Civil War Begins
• Some members of Parliament decided to rise up against king
• Charles I called for support of English people
• 1642, English Civil War began

• Charles Tries Power Grab
• Charles decided to arrest Puritan leaders for treason
• Led troops into House of Commons, but men had already escaped
• Charles had tipped hand on intentions to take back power

• War with Parliament

• Without Parliament’s funding, king relied on contributions to pay army
• Wealthy nobles called Royalists for allegiance to Charles
• Parliament could back its army by voting for funding
• Supporters of Parliament called Roundheads for short, bowl-shaped haircuts
• Roundheads included Puritans, merchants, some from upper classes

• Parliament member Oliver Cromwell led Roundhead forces
• Rose to leadership as army general
• 1644, led victory in which 4,000 of king’s soldiers died
• Cromwell soon became commander of Parliament’s army

• Roundhead Forces

• Royalist army outmatched by Cromwell’s troops
• 1646, king surrendered
• Cromwell dismissed members of Parliament who disagreed with him
• Those left made up what was called the Rump Parliament

• King Surrenders

• Royalists and Roundheads