English Revolution Essay by Dawn Ceglio.
What occurred politically between the years of 1640 and 1688 in England has been labeled as going “full circle.” What is meant by this expression is that politically in 1688 under James II, England returned to basically the same situation that existed in 1640 under Charles I. Ultimately, though, in 1689 under William and Mary, there was a bloodless “revolution” which shattered the circle. This Glorious Revolution, as it became known, created a fundamental change in the way England was to be governed and would be ruled in the future.[W1]
Exactly what was the political situation in 1640? During his reign from 1629 to 1640, Charles I, an early Stuart king, was known for ruling without Parliament. Not only did Charles disregard the Petition of Rights but he also denied Parliament’s authority to control his “divine right” rule. Accordingly, for eleven years, King Charles did not convene Parliament. Ruling autocratically, this sovereign illegally raised money, illegally imprisoned his opponents, and intentionally antagonized the Puritans by demanding their conformity to church practices similar to Catholicism. Besides collecting taxes illegally, Charles additionally defied the Puritan merchants by appointing William Laud, a High Churchman, as Archbishop of Canterbury. Thus, in the annuals of history, Charles I became known as an unpopular Stuart who had frequent clashes with Parliament and roused this political body to insist on reasserting its authority.
Although rulers from the Stuarts after Charles I essentially respected the authority of Parliament, the political precepts of James II, who ruled from 1685 until 1688, provoked both Parliament and the people of England. Like Charles I, James II refused to yield to the wishes of Parliament. Since he was a convert to Catholicism, James outraged the people of England and Parliament because of his pro-Catholic acts. He attempted to dominate Parliament and revive “divine right” rule. Moreover, the birth of his son in 1688 with his second wife aroused fear of Parliament of a continued Catholic rule in England. That is why the leaders of Parliament decided to ask the Protestant daughter of James II’s first wife to take the throne in 1688. Therefore, it is here with James II that one witness’s history repeating itself. Both Charles I and James II encountered conflicts with Parliament by ruling arrogantly and claiming “divine right.” When it came to raising money, both sovereigns used various means not approved by Parliament and taxed the middle class heavily. In essence, they both violated English law by imprisoning opponents without a fair trial and followed unacceptable autocratic political procedures and unpopular pro-Catholic religious[W2] policies. In conclusion, it was deja vous for England in 1688 because of the similarities in the governing beliefs between James II and his predecessor Charles I.
In 1688 when Parliament secretly offered the English crown to the Protestant daughter of James II, Mary, and her husband, William, the Protestant ruler of Holland, the political tide began to permanently change. Having accepted Parliament’s offer, William and Mary arrived in England and James fled the country. Consequently, Parliament declared the throne vacant and proclaimed William and Mary the new king and queen of England. This bloodless revolution, or the Glorious Revolution as it is known in the history books, positioned England on a new path permanently for the future. This is true because Parliament finally ended “divine right” in England and reaffirmed its supremacy over the king as it exists today. As part of this Glorious Revolution, Parliament passed laws that furthered democracy. These laws included the Bill of Rights and the Toleration Act in 1689. Making Parliament supreme, the Bill of Rights provided that the king may not make or suspend laws, levy taxes, or maintain an army without the consent of Parliament. In addition, the king may not interfere with Parliamentary elections and debates. Equally important, the Bill of Rights established that Parliament must meet frequently. Lastly, it guaranteed basic civil liberties to the people of England, such as the right to petition the government such as a speedy trial by jury. Therefore, England began its journey down a democratic path.
In conclusion, it is a popular belief amongst historians that history repeats itself. During the time periods of 1640 and 1688, where the political situation in England came “full circle”, it is hard not to agree with this accepted principle. Both in 1640 under Charles I and in 1688 under James II, one witnesses conflicts with Parliament due to the controversial political attitudes that were commonly possessed by both kings. Finally in 1689 with the Glorious Revolution, an ultimate transformation occurred in the way England was to be rule by future sovereigns.