English Revolution 1641-60
and 1688 /Civil Wars,
Glorious Revolution
BA 4TH SEMESTER (HONOURS)
HISTORY PAPER CODE HC-4016
2020
PREPARED BY: - LAKHI PRASAD MEDOK
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, DEPT OF HISTORY, RAHA COLLEGE
EMAIL ID : LAKHIPRASADMEDOK@GMAIL.COM
Main causes of the English Revolution
Struggle Against Absolutism
The political system that developed in the nation-state was absolutist in
character
The kings were absolute ruler or despots
The doctrine of divine right or king was advocated and it was said that the
kings were given the right to rule by god
With the support of merchants rulers started putting an end to the instability
that feudal system had created.
However, in course of time, the despotic rulers began to face opposition inside
their countries.
The people begun to protect against unjust laws and against the powers of
monarch.
English Revolution
English revolution begun in the 17th century with a conflict between the King
and the Parliament over the question of political power.
Basic Idea
The English Civil Wars (1642-1651) witnessed a bitter conflict between
Royalist (Cavallers) and Parliamentarians (Roundhead)
The Royalist supported first King Charles I of England (1625-1649) and then
his son Charles II, while the Parlaimenterians, the ultimate victors, wanted to
diminish the constitutional powers of the monarchy.
Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658) (Parliamentarian), had more resources and a
more professional fighting forces- The New Model Army-which ensured the
Royalists ultimately lost the three civil wars fought in England,Ireland, and
Scotland (“Wars of the Three Kingdom”)
The Civil War
In 1640, Charles-I was involved in a war with Scotland and was forced to
call Parliament to call Parliament for money.
But Parliament forced to abolish a tax called ship money and to sign a bill
agreeing not to dissolve Parliament without its consent.
Finding his posotion threatened the King decided to deal with Parliament
severely.
He came in person to Parliament to arrest five of its members.
However, ‘The birds were flown”. they had left and found refuge in the
city.
The war started in August 1642.
The supporters of the king belonged to the nobolity and and the Anglican
clergy or Roman Catholics.
They were called cavallers
The supporters of Parliament belonged to the new gentry and were
Puritans
contd.
Fighting continued for five years.
In the end Parliament came out victorious
Charles I was captured and publicly executed in 1649
Parliament established a Republic.
THE GLORIOUS REVOLUTION OF 1688
the Republic lasted only seven years. Cromwell, who had played the most important
role in defeating the king, became the ‘Lord Protector’’
He was a military dictator and had absolute command of a powerful army.
After his death, the Monarchy was restored and the son of the executed king,
Charles II, was made king.
He and his successor, James II, tried to assert the supreriority of the monarchy,
But feeling this kind of rule had grown too strong.
In 1688, a group of politicians invited William, the husband of James II daughter,
Mary, and ruler of Holland, to become king of England.
Without firing a shot, William reached London and James II fled to France
Then the Throne was granted to William amd Mary Jointly.
This event is known as Glorious Revolution
Aftermath
The Glorious Revolution, which was a bloodless revolution, completely
destroyed the doctrine of the Divine Right of kings in England,
Parliament enacted a Bill of Right in 1689 which provided that susoension
of laws, levying of taxes, and raising of an army could be done only with
the consent of Parliament, which would meet more frequentlt.
It provides for trial by jury, the right to petition and freedom from ecessive
bails, fines and punishments of persons accused or convicted of crimes.
GR marked the thriumph of Parliament over the monarchy
William and Mary had received the crwon from Parliament and were
dependent upon Parliament for keeping it.
No longer were the English kings to have independent authority of their
own.
