18-3 Britain at Mid-Century

Geography

-locationEngland in a position to control trade

set up outposts in the West Indies, North America,

& India

a global empire

Success in War

-1700s-Br. generally on winning side of Eur.Conflicts

*Victoryvaluable rewards

-built powerful navy

could protect its growing empire and trade

Favorable Business Climate

-Eng.offered a more favorable climate for business

andcommerce than its European rivals

*placed fewer restrictions on trade than France

Union with Scotland

-1707-the Act of Union-joined England and Scotland

United Kingdom of Great Britain

-unioneconomic advantages for both countries

*free trade btw England & Scotland

larger markets for farmers and manufacturers

Ireland

-England had controlled Ireland since the 1100s

-1600s-England tries to subdue Catholic Ireland by

sending Protestants from England to settle there

*gave Prot. settlers title to Irish Catholics’ lands

the Irish would fiercely resist Protestant rule

uprisings and repression

The royal TUDOR family of England ruled England from 1485-1603

-these monarchs generally worked well with Parliament

-believed in divine right yet saw need/value in good relationship w/Parliament

1603-English throne passed to the STUARTS

conflict with Parliament

James I

-wanted to increase his powerused divine right as justification

-needed $ for wars & his lavish court

fought with Parliament over financial issuesforeign policy

James dissolved Parliamentimposed taxes

-James also clashed with the Puritans who wanted to purify the Church of England by eliminating Catholic practices

1625-James son Charles I inherited the throne

-put his enemies in prison without a trial-imposed high taxes

-angered the Puritans -dissolved Parliament

1640-Charles had to summon Parliament back

-needed to obtain funds to put down a Scottish rebellion

Eventually a civil war broke out between Charles I and Parliament

The English Civil War

Also known as the Puritan Revolution

Charles’s supporters-the Cavaliers vs Parliaments forces-the Roundheads

Roundheads were- Puritans, country landowners, manufacturers, led by Oliver Cromwell

Cromwell captured the king in 1647

Parliament put Charles I on trialbeheadedhim in 1649

Charles I was the first king ever to be tried & executed by his own subjects

After Charles’s execution Parliament abolished the monarchy

 England became a republic called the Commonwealth with Oliver Cromwell as leader

England’s years as a republic were troubled

Supporters of Charles II – the uncrowned heir to the throne attacked England from Ireland & Scotland

Cromwell led forces into Ireland to crush the rebellion

1653-Cromwell took the title of Lord Protector

by the time of his death many had become tired of Puritan rule

1660-Parliament invites Charles II-son of Charles I to become King of England

this marked the restoration of the Stuart monarchy

1685-Charles II brother James II inherits the throne

-James soon became unpopular b/c of his Catholicabsolutist policies

Parliament decides not to move against the king

expect his Protestant daughter Mary to be next on the throne until…….

James’s second wife who is Catholic has a sonheir to the throne

Parliament now fears the return of Catholic dominance in England

Parliament asks James II daughter Mary& her Dutch husband William to

take the English throne as joint rulers

-William & Mary were both Protestants

landed in England with their army of 1,500 men & advanced to London with

no opposition from James’ army who had mostly deserted the king

James fled to France

bloodless overthrow of the king & transfer of power is known as the

GLORIOUS REVOLUTION

- before William & Mary could take the throne they were forced to accept the

English Bill of Rights

-set of acts passed by Parliament to ensure its superiorityover the monarchy

& protect the liberty of the people

English Bill of Rights

It included several provisions that made Parliament stronger than the monarchy

-the king must work regularly with Parliament

-the king must give Parliament financial control

-abolished excessive fines& cruel & unusual punishment

-affirmed habeas corpus

*meaning no person could be held in jail without first being charged with a crime

With this Bill of Rights England became a limited monarchy

-a government in which a legislative body limits the monarch’s power

Constitutional Government

govt. whose power is defined and limited by law

Political Parties

Tories

-want to preserve old traditions

-support broad royal powers

-support dominant Anglican Church

-own land

Whigs

-supported policies of the Glorious Revolution

-religious toleration

-business interests

-favored Parliament over the crown

Cabinet

-members of Parliament that help advise the king

Prime Minister

-head of the cabinet

-leader of the majority party in Parliament

**in time would become the chief official of the British government**