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Age of Absolutism
Age of Absolutism
A system of government in which a single ruler exercises supreme power based on heredity or divine right. The right to rule passes from one
generation of the ruling family to the next
What is a monarchy?
system of government in which the powers of the monarch are limited by the
constitution, either written or unwritten
• What is a constitutional monarchy?
1688 C.E. after the Glorious Revolution in England
• When is the first constitutional monarchy established?
King James II
• Who is the leader of England at the time of the Glorious Revolution?
to set clear limits on royal power
• What is the purpose of the English Bill of Rights?
establishing its power over the monarch
• What was the purpose of the series of laws passed by the Parliament in the aftermath of the events, which became known as the Glorious Revolution?
In 1689 Parliament voted to offer the throne to William and Mary
• How did William and Mary access the throne?
James fled the country
• What did James do when William and his army sailed from Holland and invaded England?
the belief in the "Divine Rights of Kings"
• What doctrine did the English Bill of Rights end?
he attempted to dominate the Parliament and revive the Theory of
Divine Rights of Kings
• Why can we say that James II did not learn from his father’s mistakes?
an agreement between Parliament and the new King and Queen about
how the country should be run
• What did the English Bill of Rights represent?
the right to bear arms for purposes of defense
• What rights did Protestants have with the English Bill of Rights?
Act of Parliament granting freedom of worship to Nonconformists
• What is theToleration Act of 1689?
dissenting Protestants such as Baptists and Congregationalists
• Who are Nonconformists?
it was not violent- bloodless revolution- and it was not the middle class and lower class
who were demanding rights, but nobles and wealthy members of Parliament
• Why was the Glorious Revolution was different than both the American Revolution and the French Revolution?
the rights and liberties that can be claimed by individuals by virtue of
being human; also called natural rights or human rights
• What is the principle of individual rights?
Parliament invited William of Orange, the husband of James's protestant
daughter Mary, to England
• What did Parliament do after the birth of James's son to head off the possibility of a dynasty of Roman Catholic Monarchs?
he had no idea how much his subjects valued their Protestantism and their
parliamentary rights
• Why was King James' religion a problem for members of Parliament and the people of England?
A roman Catholic who ruled with little respect for Parliament
• What was King James II's religion and attitude towards parliament?
Parliament was able to gain enormous power and William and Mary were able to
become King and Queen
• Why did Parliament make William and Mary sign the Bill of Rights?
the possibility of a dynasty of Roman Catholic Monarch
• What "potential" problems did England suddenly face when James fathered a son in 1688?
More facts about the Glorious Revolutions and Bill of Rights
• According to the English Bill of Rights, the King cannot make and suspend laws without the consent of Parliament
More facts about the Glorious Revolutions and Bill of Rights
• According to the English Bill of Rights, the King cannot raise money without the consent of the Parliament
More facts about the Glorious Revolutions and Bill of Rights
• According to the English Bill of Rights, the King cannot raise a standing army in time of peace without the consent of Parliament
More facts about the Glorious Revolutions and Bill of Rights
• According to the English Bill of Rights, the King cannot prosecute people for petitioning him
More facts about the Glorious Revolutions and Bill of Rights
• According to the English Bill of Rights, the King cannot make and suspend laws without the consent of Parliament
More facts about the Glorious Revolutions and Bill of Rights
• The English Bill of Rights guaranteed trial by jury
More facts about the Glorious Revolutions and Bill of Rights
• The English Bill of Rights outlawed cruel and unusual punishment
The Toleration Act of 1689
• because of the Toleration Act of 1689 few English citizens were persecuted for religion ever again
The Toleration Act of 1689
• +The Toleration Act of 1689 did not apply to Catholics and Unitarians, it maintained the social and political restrictions for dissenters
