Transcript CH1 Magna Carta and Glorious Revolution

World History
CHAPTER ONE
The Magna
Carta
After the fall of the Roman Empire the Catholic
Church held power over lives in Western
Europe.
Feudalism prevailed in England, led by monarchs
who were only checked by local customs.
• This changed when
King Henry II expanded
customs into common
law.
• A standard set of laws
& punishments applied
to kingdom.
• Nobles and members of the church disputed the
power common law gave to the monarchy.
• In 1215 they forced the English king to reform.
The Magna Carta was
enacted.
• New rights for free men,
nobles, and the church
• Demanded that monarchs
also obey the laws
A parliament developed in
England
• Representatives of
nobles and common
people are now included
in decisions.
• In order to pay for wars
monarchs had to ask
parliament for money.
• By “controlling the
purse” of the monarch,
parliament could check
his power.
Something to think about…
• What do you predict will happen with the people of
England now that the monarch is sharing power?
• If you lived in a country ruled by a king, what would
YOU do if he/she ruled you with absolute power?
World History
CHAPTER ONE
The Glorious
Revolution
• Rulers like Henry VIII &
Elizabeth I cooperated
with parliament.
• This changed when
King James I
challenged parliament,
and behaved as an
absolute monarch.
• James & his son Charles taxed people heavily,
jailed enemies, and ignored parliament.
• Attempts to check them failed.
• This led to the English Civil War.
• Led by Oliver Cromwell,
parliament’s forces
eventually defeat and
EXECUTE the monarch.
• Monarchs that followed
accepted checks in
power.
• This event is called the
Glorious Revolution.
The new monarchs, William
& Mary, accept the terms of
the English Bill of Rights:
• A Limited Monarchy is
made, where parliament
is superior to the
monarch
• Monarchs have to govern
as partners with
parliament.
• All people have specific
rights.
Something to think about…
• What was so special about the English Bill of
Rights?
• How would OTHER countries with
monarchies view what happened in England?