Democracy Develops in England

Main Idea: England began to develop democratic institutions that limited the power of the monarchy.

Why It Matters Now: Democratic traditions developed in England have influenced many countries, including the United States.

Terms and Names: common law, Magna Carta, due process of law, Parliament, divine right, Glorious Revolution, constitutional monarchy, bill of rights

I. Reforms in Medieval England• Henry II: Juries and

Common Law • King John II – 1215

Magna Carta, nobles wanted political rights

• Major Issues: Taxes, due process of law

• 1295 – Nobles and leading citizens called in to vote on taxes (Model Parliament) – important precedent

• House of Lords and House of Commons

Questions:

1) Why did the nobles want King John to sign the Magna Carta?

2) What was the Model Parliament and why was it so important?

II. Parliament Grows Stronger• Par. had power over $

and passed laws• King James I – divine

right, clashed w/ Parliament (religion, $)

• 1625 – son Charles I• Petition of Right • Parliament dismissed• 1642 – English Civil

War• Royalists vs.

Parliament• Puritan Oliver

Cromwell won, Charles I executed in 1649

Questions:

1) Why did James I and Charles I need Parliament?

2) What was each side fighting for in the English Civil War?

3) Imagine you live in England in 1649. You have just heard that King Charles I has been executed. What does it make you think about?

English Civil War: 1642 - 1651

• Royalists (Supported King Charles I) vs. Parliamentarians (Leader: Oliver Cromwell)

• Early 1642: Royalists held western and northern England, and the Parliamentarians occupied a large area of eastern England.

• By 1651, after several battles, the Parliamentarians had won control of England and quashed uprisings in Scotland and Ireland.

III. Establishment of Constitutional Monarchy

• Cromwell ruled, abuse of power

• 1660 – Charles II takes throne (Restoration)

• Parliament kept powers• 1685 – James II, Roman

Catholic (GASP!)• Parliament offered throne to

Protestant daughter, Mary and William of Orange

• 1689 – Glorious Revolution• Constitutional monarchy• Bill of Rights (1689)

Questions:

1) Why was Charles II asked back to the throne?

2) Why did the British people not want James II to remain king?

3) What advances towards democracy were made under William and Mary?

Document Analysis

• For the following excerpts of the Magna Carta:

A)summarize what each one says in your own words.

B)analyze why this clause (section) would be important for the development of democracy in England

Magna Carta Excerpts• 39. No freeman shall be taken or

imprisoned…or exiled or in any way destroyed, nor will we [the king] go upon him nor send upon him, except by the lawful judgement of his peers or by the law of the land.

Magna Carta Excerpts

• 40. To no one will we sell, to no one will we refuse or delay, right or justice.

• 45. We will appoint as justices, constables, sheriffs, or bailiffs only such as knkow the law of the realm and mean to observe it well.