Constitutionalism


 * Constitutionalim-**Commonly used in England and The Netherlands, this includes having a written constitution (or unwritten informal) that assured parliamentary status, judicial decisions, and the rights of man. The power of a constitutionalist monarchy is limited by law, and it is balanced between authority and power of the government and the rights and liberties of its subjects.


 * Gentry-High born nobles. - in its highest connotation, refers the people of good social positions connected to land estate ownership, upper levels of the clergy, and families of long descent who never obtained the official right to bear a coat of arms.**


 * House of Commons- The lower house of England's parliamentary system. As opposed to the House of Lords, which is formed by people hereditary nobility instead of elected officials.**


 * Stuart Dynasty- The first kings of the United Kingdom. From 1603 to 1714 there was a period which saw a flourishing court culture but also much upheaval and instability of plague, fire, and war. Lead to the civil war in England and the execution of Charles I by Oliver Cromwell from the instability they were already in. Stuart Kings: James I of Scotland, Charles I, (the dynasty was then interrupted by the English civil war and Oliver Cromwell's dictatorship), Charles II, and James II.**


 * James I- (Stuart King) used to be the king of Scotland and then became the king of England. The people of England despised him because he was Catholic. They feared he would spawn a Catholic dynasty and undo the work of Henry VIII. Believes that no privilege can stand against the king. He also spent money lavishly and openly flaunted his male lovers in front of his court. He fought with Parliament over the right to tax and twice disbanded Parliament.**


 * "divine right" of Kings:**The divine right of kings is the belief that the absolute ruler of the monarchy should have complete and total power. "Divine right" may also mean that the ruler of the country was chosen by God, and the ruler's decisions are from the acts of God. Commonly, absolute monarchs would take this "right" to the extreme, leading to political corruption and dislike from the lower classes. A few well-known absolutist rulers include: Henry VIII, Louis XVI, and Frederick "the Great Elector."


 * Charles I- King of England during the English civil war. Refused to cooperate with his parliament on tax regulations and headed north to create own army to overcome parliament and reestablish a full-on monarchy. He lost to Oliver Cromwell and the New Model Army and was executed after the war was lost. Tried to rule without Parliament for 11 years. He forced the English citizens to house and feed soldiers (this is where we get our 3rd Amendment from).**


 * Petition of Right, 1628- A petition concerning rights and liberties sent to the king, hoping for a full Parliament.**


 * "ship money"-** This was a tax that Charles I, had evoked from the medieval ages that allowed the government to force costal towns to pay for the cost of ships for defense. Eventually, he also made the inland cities pay this tax. He reasoned that the Navy protects the entire country, not just coastal towns. He did this because he was refusing to call Parliament and wanted to increase his revenue but since he couldn't tax without Parliament's consent he used "ship money" to get around Parliament. This action, along with many other by Charles, made the majority of parliament believe that he was a despot ruler, causing distrust this also led to the Long Parliament and the Triennial Act.


 * "Short Parliment"- Quickly created by Earl of Strafford. Called for a short Parliament to obtain money for financing his war with Scotland in the Bishop's Wars. Called the Short Parliament because the normal Parliament would not pay attention to his military needs and rather fund for the betterment of England as a whole.**


 * "Long Parliment"-** (1640-1648) desperate for money after Scottish invasion of northern England-Charles finally agreed to demands by Parliament: Parliament could not be dissolved w/o its own consent; had to meet once every 3 years; "ship money" abolished; leaders of persecution of Puritans to be tried and executed; common law courts supreme to king's courts; refused funds to raise army to defeat Irish revolt-Puritans came to represent majority in Parliament


 * Archbishop Laud-** (William Laud of Canterbury) The Archbishop was an influential minister to Charles I, James the I's son. Laud was known for imposing two new church "restrictions" that caused increased distrust of the monarchy and anger. He published a new prayer book, //The Book of Common Prayer//, and he established bishoprics in Scotland. The Presbyterian Scots rejected these things, because by enacting these, Laud made it look like Puritanism was moving towards Catholicism. The Presbyterian Scots felt the establishing bishoprics were trying to change their church. The bishops were loyal to the king, because he granted them this position, and essentially became his "yes men."


 * English Civil War- War in England fought over the disagreements between Charles I and Parliament over tax regulations and Charles I was upset and displeased over them checking his power. The two split, Charles to the North, and Parlament to the south with their own armies and fought with Charles leading the Army in the north, and Oliver Cromwell leading the Parliament's New Model Army. Cromwell won and then executed Charles I.**


 * Cavaliers**-The supporters of the king in the English Civil War. They were for the Anglican church and the clergy. Charles had asked for money to put down the rebellions of the Scottish, and when he did not get the money from Parliament, he had five of his opponents arrested. The Cavaliers agreed with this course of action (obviously).
 * See video on the resource page.


 * Roundheads-** The roundheads were the supporters of the Parliament in the English Civil War and were Puritan. Their leader was Oliver Cromwell, who believed that there should be no crazy king like Charles and favored democracy.
 * See video on the resource page.


 * Oliver Cromwell-** English military, political, and religious figure who led the Parliamentarian victory in the English Civil War (1642-1649) and called for the execution of Charles I. As lord protector of England (1653-1658) he was the head of the Puritan Republic, although it was really a military dictatorship.


 * Independent-** A member of a movement in England in the 17th century advocating the political and religious independence of individual congregations.


 * New Model Army-** This was the army created by Parliament, as a response to Charles I's formation of the Cavaliers.


 * Pride's Purge- The only coup d'etat in English history, Colonel Thomas Pride commanded troops in the Second English Civil War to forcibly removed members of the Long Parliament that did not support the Grandees in the New Model Army.**


 * "Rump" Parliament-** T he Cromwell-controlled Parliament that proclaimed England a republic and abolished the House of Lords and the monarchy after Charles I was killed. Cromwell fired all of the opposition in the parliament making it a small parliament of yes men.


 * Levellers- a political movement during the English civil war that touched on popular sovereignty, equality before law, extended suffrage and religious tolerance.**


 * Diggers- a group of English agrarian communists.**


 * Quakers- a group of Religious people whose bias was based on having a religious experience without the help of clergy.**


 * Interregnum- the first period of the Commonwealth of England. Occurs after the Civil War and execution of Charles I in which Oliver Cromwell begins to name himself the "Protectorate" of England and rules as a militarian dictatorship. This period was characterized by the rule and influence of high generals and Richard Cromwell, Oliver's successor.**


 * Protectorate-** the name for the state Cromwell created; the military dictatorship he instituted.


 * Restoration- Period of time after Oliver Cromwell's military dictatorship had ended, and the monarchy was reestablished under Charles II.**


 * Charles II-** was brought back to England after the rule of Oliver Cromwell, restored the English monarchy during a period known as the "restoration". He was a very ostentatious King who loved to throw extravagant parties. In order to fund his parties he wanted a higher salary and looked to King Louis XIV. The King of France agreed to pay an outrageous salary if Charles II eased up on laws that repressed the Catholics. Charles accepted this secret agreement, but the secret got out and the protestant population was outraged.


 * Test Act, 1673- Legislation, passed by the English parliament in 1673, to secure the position of the Anglican Church by stripping Puritans, Catholics, and other dissenters of the right to vote, preach, assemble, hold public office, and attend or teach at universities.**


 * Habeas Corpus Act, 1679- The law that said a prisoner's seizure was just; had just cause.**


 * James II- Brother of Charles II. Revokes the Edict of Nantes (1685-1688). Grants religious freedom in England. He arrests seven bishops and produces a male heir to the thrown of England. Openly violates the Test Act. Because he produces a male heir the revolution was inevitable.**


 * "Glorious Revolution"- when King James II was thrown out of the English throne by force and given (by Parliament) to William of Orange and Mary II of England to create more unity between the Parliament and the Monarchy.**


 * William and Mary of Orange- King and Queen of Orange (in the Netherlands). The thrown is offered to the protestant daughter Mary. In 1688 James and his son flee to France and William & Mary of Orange take over. This is the end of the problem of "who was superior? King or Parliament?" because Parliament gave the crown to Mary and William and could take it away.**
 * Bill of Rights-** Affirmed Parliament's right to make laws and levy taxes. Standing armies could be raised only with the consent of Parliament, no standing army during peace time. King could not interfere with elections and debates of Parliament. Confirmed rights of citizens to petition the sovereign, keep arms, have a jury trial, and not be subject to excessive bail. Protestants could possess arms.


 * John Locke, Second Treatise of Civil Government-** wrote Two Treatises of Government; said human nature lived free and had the natural rights of life, liberty, and property; said government was created in order to protect these rights and if the government failed to do so it was the duty of the people to rebel


 * Toleration Act, 1689- Allowed freedom to worship religion to people who didn't follow the church of England, as long as they pledge allegiance.**


 * Act of Settlement, 1701-**


 * Act of Union,1707-**


 * Cabinet system- evolves out of the Glorious Revolution. Roberts Walpole develops the idea that cabinet answers to the House of Commons**


 * Prime Minister- Leader of the House of Commons. Similar to our President.**


 * United Provinces of the Netherlands- seven northern provinces of Netherlands that fought for and won their independence from Spain and became the United Provinces of the Netherlands in 1648.**


 * (Dutch Republic)- Had an informal constitution based on tradition. The local government was regents of merchants for the Estates. The national government was the States-General (which was really only for any kind of foreign affairs) with a stadholder for each provinces.**


 * stadholder- the executive officer in each of the United Provinces of the Netherlands, a position often held by the princes of Orange, carried out ceremonial functions, responsible for military defense in each province or estate.**


 * Dutch Reformed church-**


 * Amsterdam- During the Dutch Golden Age was one of the most important trading ports.**


 * Dutch East India Co.- founded with the stated intention of capturing the spice trade from the Portuguese. The Dutch set their sights on gaining direct access to and control of the Indonesian sources of spices.**


 * Gustavus Adolphus- King of Sweden, during the Thirty Year's War he was a great military leader, during the Swedish Phase he led the Swedes vs. the Austrians he was killed in battle. He wanted to weaken the Habsburg power.**