Transcript Democratic Developments in England Prologue Section 3

Prologue 3
Democratic Developments in England
– I) Medieval Reforms
– II) Parliament Grows Stronger
– III) Establishment of a Constitutional
Monarchy
Lecture Directions
• Copy definitions in bold print
• Be able to define roman numerals:
I) Medieval Reforms
II) Parliament Grows Stronger
III) Establishment of a Constitutional
Monarchy
I) Medieval Reforms
• The economic and political system of the Middle Ages
was feudalism, where nobles are granted the use of
lands that belong to the king in exchange for their
loyalty, military service and protection of the people
who live on the land.
• Henry II develops a single legal system England that
includes juries and the beginnings of common law,
which reflects the customs and principles established
over time, not just the will of a ruler.
• At the demand of English nobles in 1215, King John
signs the Magna Carta (Great Charter), which limited
the power of the king.
Magna Carta
• Magna Carta gave people the right
to due process of law, citizens
have protection of the law- jury,
trial, can’t punish at will.
• King can’t not levy(impose) taxes
without the consent of Parliament,
England’s national legislature
• The monarch (King) had no right to
rule in any way they pleased, but
had to govern according to the law.
II) Parliament Grows Stronger
• Over the next few centuries, Parliament’s
“power of the purse” or right to approve
expenses gave it growing influence in governing.
• Where do we see similar struggles today in
government?
• . The power of the purse plays a critical role in
the relationship of the United States
Congress and the President of the United
States, and has been the main historic tool by
which Congress can limit executive power
II) Parliament vs. Monarch
• The idea of the divine right of kings, claims that monarchs were chosen by God
and responsible only to God.
• Problems grow between Parliament and
Monarch over power struggles.
• Monarch Charles I is forced to sign the
Petition of Rights in return for the ability to
tax.
II) Parliament Grows Stronger
• The Petition of rights went against the idea of divine
right and absolute monarchy by demanding an end to:
– Taxing without Parliament's consent
– Imprisoning citizens illegally
English Civil War breaks out when Charles I refuses
• Clashes between the monarchy and the parliament
III) Establishment of Constitutional
Monarchy
• The Glorious Revolution, as it came to be called,
established Parliament's right to limit the power of the
English king and control succession to the throne.
• England was now a constitutional monarchy, where
the powers of a ruler are restricted by constitution and
the laws of the country.
III) Establishment of Constitutional
Monarchy
• In 1689 William and Mary accepted the English Bill of Rights,
a formal written summary of rights and liberties considered
essential to the people.
• protected free speech in Parliament
• Can’t tax or raise an army during peacetime without the
consent of Parliament, and people were protected against
excessive bail, cruel or unusual punishment, and had the right
to petition the government to seek remedies for their grievances.
• England’s Glorious Revolution and Bill of Rights, along with the
ideas of the Enlightenment, would give rise to democratic
revolutions in America and France in the late 18th century
Please identify terms using
lecture
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1. Feudalism
2. Common law
3. Magna Carta
4. Due process of law; law must follow established legal principles
that protect rights.
5. Parliament
6. Divine right
7. Glorious Revolution
8. Constitutional Monarchy; power of the king is limited by the
written law (constitution) of the land
9. Bill of Rights
Additional questions
• 1. How did the Magna Carta change the
way people were taxed?
• 2. Why did Parliament force the
monarch to sign the Petition of Right?
• 3What event led England to become a
constitutional monarchy?