Lesson 3: Rise of Parliament in England

Key Idea

For many years, England’s Tudor monarchs worked with Parliament. Rulers like Queen Elizabeth I knew they needed Parliament’s approval to raise taxes and pass laws, which created a balanced relationship.

This balance was upset when the Stuart family came to power. King James I and his son, Charles I, believed in the divine right of kings. This was the idea that a monarch's authority came directly from God, meaning they were not bound by the laws of Parliament.

Key Idea

King Charles I and Parliament clashed over who held ultimate power. The king claimed a divine right to rule, but Parliament demanded control over taxes and laws. Their intense disagreement made peaceful compromise impossible.

This power struggle exploded into the English Civil War. The nation split between Royalists who backed the king and Parliamentarians led by Oliver Cromwell. After years of fighting, Cromwell’s army defeated the king’s forces.

Key Idea

After executing the king, England became a republic called the Commonwealth. For the first time, the country was governed without a monarch. Parliament held power, hoping to create a new kind of government based on its own authority.

However, the new republic faced many challenges. The powerful army leader, Oliver Cromwell, eventually took complete control. He dismissed Parliament and ruled as a military dictator. Many people disliked his strict Puritan laws, and this period showed that removing a king did not guarantee a stable government.

Key Idea

After Oliver Cromwell’s death, England grew tired of strict military rule. In 1660, Parliament invited the son of the executed king to rule, an event known as the Restoration. This brought the monarchy back, but the conflict over power was not over.

The next king, James II, angered Parliament by acting like an absolute monarch and promoting his Catholic faith. To avoid another civil war, Parliament invited James II’s Protestant daughter, Mary, and her husband, William of Orange, to take the throne.