Constitutionalism

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Terms: ID the following terms. Include any and all information that you feel is relevant to the term. If possible identify any other IDs your term is related to.


 * Constitutionalism-** limitations of government set by the law; helps to balance power/authority of government with the rights/liberties of the people


 * gentry -** Refers to people of high social class, especially in the past. These people often had good social positions connected to their large estates, and often had places in government and influence on its affairs.


 * House of Commons -** The House of Commons is the legislative group in England that has the power to create taxes to generate money for the king or queen.


 * Stuart Dynasty-** began with Scottish King James I when Elizabeth I did not produce an heir. Were not nearly as well loved as Elizabeth; lacked her political abilities, good judgement of character, and ability to manage the Parliament.


 * James I-** Scottish/English king who was not fond of people; was an absolutist ruler who believed in the "divine right of kings." He wrote "The Trew Law of Free Monarchy" in which he stated that the peasants should NEVER openly revolt against the king, as that was the worst kind of evil; rather, they should quietly disobey injustice but still expect to be punished. He amassed a vast amount of debt during his reign.


 * “divine right” of kings-** the belief that God had ordained these kings, and thus that they were above reproach and had license to do as they pleased.


 * Charles I-** The Absolutist son of James I; he dissolved Parliament for eleven years (** Eleven Year Tyranny ** ) because they would not allow him to tax as he pleased. He eventually allowed the ** Triennial Act ** to pass in order for him to be able to raise an army. However, when Parliament refused to allow him a second army to invade Ireland, he raised his own army of nobles and mercenaries. It led to a civil war between the king's supporters (cavilers) and Parliament's supporters (round-heads). He, like any interesting European, ends up getting his head chopped off, naturally.

1) no imprisonment without cause 2) no taxation without the consent of Parliament 3) no quartering of soldiers on subjects 4) no martial law during times of peace Charles I accepted the laws to get what he wanted, then went back on his word. How droll.
 * Petition of Right, 1628** - grievences Parliament brought before King Charles I. 4 total:

“**ship money”-** the king had the right to tax coastal cities for protection; Charles I believed that he could tax all cities for protection because the navy was protecting the whole nation not just the port towns. The general population did not appreciate the extra tax, naturally.

“**Short Parliament**” - (1640) summoned by Charles I to raise and army against the Scots. Before the bill could be brought to debate on the floor on May 7, where Charles I feared it would be shot down, he dissolved the Parliament on May 5. They had only been in session since April 15.


 * “Long Parliament**” - After being called back from the Eleven Year Tyranny, the members of Parliament refuse to leave the session for 20 years; they feared that they would not be called back again despite the mandate stated in the Triennial Act.

A**rchbishop Laud-** Archbishop of Canterbury- he wanted to force more elaborate ceremony in the Anglican church, created the Court of High Commission to enforce it, tried to write a new prayer book, and enforce bishoprics in Scotland; it led to revolts.


 * English Civil War** - King vs Parliament, there were fighting over who had more power, started when parliament wouldnt give Charles I an army, so he made his own. Parliament then creates their own army so Charles doesnt get to powerful and a civil war breaks out. Parliament won and then Oliver Cromwell (military leader) took control.


 * Cavaliers-** Supporters of the king during the civil war; mainly composed of clergy and nobles.


 * Roundheads-** Supporters of the Parliament during the civil war; composed mainly of Puritans. Oliver Cromwell was one of such Roundheads.


 * Oliver Cromwell-** the leader of Parliament's army during the civil war; when the army took control of the country, he became to Protectorate in order to "help England get back on their feet." He divided the nation into 12 military districts that were under the control of his generals, who in turn reported back to him. He tolerated all religions EXCEPT Roman Catholicism. He censored the press, closed all places that help worldly pleasure, abolishes the House of Lords, passes the Navigation Acts (stated that all good brought to and from England must be on English vessels- stimulated ship-building industry and docks), and allowed Jews to return to England. He also crushes the Irish revolt, planting the seeds for a long hatred of the English in Ireland.


 * Independent**


 * New Model Army-** army raised by Parliament to combat the army raised by King Charles I. Oliver Cromwell was the leader of the army.


 * Pride’s Purge-** Sir Thomas Pride, an agent of Oliver Cromwell, was set outside the Parliament doors to dismiss and/or arrest about half of the 420 Parliament members. Pride's Purge lead to the Rump Parliament.

“**Rump” Parliament-Oliver Cromwell dismissed all the nonPuritan representatives in Parliament. Thus creating a "Rump" parliament that followed whatever he wished due to their shared beliefs.**


 * Levellers-a socialist political movement during the British Civil War that encouraged equality, religious tolerance, suffrage, and popular sovereignty. These beliefs were expressed in the "Agreement to the People"**


 * Diggers- a dissenting group of Protestant agrarians who preached economic equality and tried equaling real property to make this equality happen**


 * Quakers - A faith that emerged as a Christian break off during religious turmoil in England. pacifists.**


 * Interregnum - Period between 1649 and 1660. Called the Interregnum because it separated two monarchical periods, the beheading of Charles I, then Oliver Cromwell's military dictatorship, to the restoration of Charles II to the throne of England.**


 * Protectorate-** the title Cromwell used to justify his control over the English government. He claimed that he was simply helping England to recover, but his reign was merely a military dictatorship.


 * Restoration-**after Cromwell's dictatorship, Charles II was restored to the throne.


 * Charles II - Restored to the throne in 1660 after Oliver Cromwell's military dictatorship. Charles II wanted to get along with parliament unlike his predecessor Charles I. Formed Cabal, an early form of the cabinet system, that acted as a liaison between parliament and himself.**


 * Clarendon Code-** was the name given to a series of statutes or laws that were passed at the time of King Charles II reign over England. Designed to cripple religious dissenters. 1) no municiple office could be taken by those who were not taking the sacrament at an Anglican church 2) (Act of Conformity) excluded the people from #1 from holding a church office 3) (Conventicle Act) made Nonconformist worship illegal. Stringency was eventually reduced with the Toleration Acts


 * Test Act, 1673** -It passed the act that people who refused to receive the Eucharist of the Church of England could not vote, hold public office, preach, teach, attend universities, or assemble at any type of meeting.


 * Habeas Corpus Act 1679-** English Parliament passed this act that stated a person cannot be prosecuted before a court of law if they are unlawfuly detained.


 * James II-** He was a catholic, in which the people of England did not like but they knew he would be gone soon anyway because he was old. But that was until his son was born who would have taken over the thrown and he might have converted England to a catholic country being that he would most likely be raised catholic. Parliament did not want this so they kicked him out and called a new thrown holder.

“**Glorious Revolution”-**This was the year in which William and Mary took the thrown. There was very little bloodshed, divine right was no longer in the monarchy and the declaration of rights was created/drafted.


 * William and Mary-**Mary was James' protestant daughter. Parliament had contacted William and Mary and asked them to be the king and queen of England. They could not say no say they became the new king and queen.


 * Bill of Rights- A series of conditions Parliament instituted when William and Mary took over the monarchy. Basically it asserted the Parliamentary right of complete control and took power away from the monarch.**


 * John Locke,** //**Second Treatise** **of Civil Government- one of the most influential works on government. Basically justified the constitutionalist system by suggesting that it is the duty of the king to ensure the well-being of his citizens. If the king oversteps his boundary it is tyranny and tyrannous leaders should not be tolerated.**//

//**Government** // **(1690)-** Two Treatise of Civil Government, by John Locke. The First Treatise attacked the theory of divine right. for the second see above.


 * Toleration Act, 1689-** the act gave the nonconformists a freedom of worship by the English Parliament. reduced the severity of the Clarendon Codes


 * Act of Settlement, 1701-** regulated the succession of the throne of England. Responsible for the accession of George I in 1714


 * Act of Union, 1707-** union of Scotland and England to create the United Kingdom. Protestant succession was adopted, free trade between the countries was allowed, and legal equality was accepted throughout Great Britain and its dominions.


 * Great Britain**


 * Cabinet system - Leading ministers who have seats in and the support of the House of Commons who could form common policy and run the business of the country.**


 * Prime Minister- the most senior member of cabinet in a parliamentary system. Is able to dismiss people from the cabinet and assign tasks, among other duties within the parliament.**


 * Robert Walpole-first Prime Minister- a royal minister who led the cabinet from 1721 to 1742 in England, underwhich the idea that the cabinet was responsible to the House of Commons developed. After the influence of the Crown declined Walpole was elected the king's first, or "prime," minister due to his favor within the monarchy and House of Commons.**


 * United Provinces of the Netherlands-** 7 northern provinces that won independence from Spain between 1568 and 1609. The Dutch Republic eventually grew out of the Union of Utrecht.

(**Dutch Republic**)


 * stadholder- leader of each of the provinces of the Netherlands was known as a stadholder. They met together at some points to discuss foreign policy.**


 * Dutch Reformed church-** a religious sect of the Christian church formed in the Netherlands; it was never officially a state religion, but it obtained all the privileges of one; based on Calvin's teachings.


 * Arminianism-** the contradiction to Calvinism- states that we chose whether or not we are “elected,” the Holy Spirit does not help us, grace is not irresistible, that we can resist sin but are able to fall out of grace, and that atonement is only for those who believe.


 * Amsterdam-**


 * Dutch East India Co. - Formed in 1602, it was a joint stock company where investors put money in, and then a percentage of the profits of the company was given back in accordance with the amount of money put in. They cut heavily into the trading of the Portuguese as well as set up trading posts in the Cape of Good Hope, Ceylon, and Malacca.**


 * Gustavus Adolphu**s-lutheran king, had a treaty with Richelieu promising french support against the Catholic Habsburgs in the Swedish Phase of the Thirty years war

As a group please outline the following essay question. Your outline should include a thesis statement and the information that would be used in three supporting paragraphs.

1. Analyze the developement of Constitutionalism in England during the 17th century.