THE STUARTS (1603-1714)

Mary Stuart's son - James VI of Scotland became James I of England. He was holding two crowns - personal union between England and Scotland. Not political! Countries had separate parliaments. Political union was set later, in 1707. James descended from Henry VII.

1. James I

2. Charles I

3. Charles II

4. James II

5. William III of Orange

6. Queen Anne

JAMES I

He was successful in Scotland, not in England.

Extreme Protestant.

1605 - Roman Catholics (who failed to gain religious toleration) wanted to set Gunpowder Plot. Leader of the plot was Guy Fawkes. They set barrels into House of Commons and wanted to blow the house up. Plot ended up with failure, because of mysterious letter. Plotters were caught. More acts against Roman Catholics. Today on 5^th November (Guy Fawkes Night) English people make effigies (kukły) of Guy Fawkes and burn them.

Another persecuted religious group were puritans. They were extreme Protestants and they didn't like the church of England, because they claimed there are too many Catholic ideas left in the church of England. James didn't like them - he didn't trust them. He decided they should be eliminated. Puritans were afraid so they decided to go to North America, on ship Mayflower. They founded New Plymouth, Massachusets -> New England. They were called Pilgrim Fathers.

Colonisation of Ulster by Protestant English and Scottish plantation of Ulster (under Henry VIII). Irish Catholic were expelled by (wypędzeni) Protestant English. Irish people were treated really badly.

James I believed in “Divine Right of the King” and quarrelled with parliament about it. He strongly believed that monarch were deputy (zastępca) of God, and should be obeyed without any criticism (absolute power). Charles I also didn't want to share jurisdiction with parliament.

King could decide about religion, foreign policy, king's private issues <- these were royal prerogatives (=rights). Parliament had no right to discuss it. James I didn't want them to help him rule the country.

It had been different earlier…

Henry VIII - reformation - he invited parliament to make laws with him (he could do it alone, but he wanted to show them that they are important). This increased authority of parliament.

Edward VI - position of parliament strengthened.

Mary I - Parliament Council, she asked them what they thought about her marriage plans (private issue!).

Elisabeth I - summoned parliament only when she needed it.

Tudors cooperated with parliament (MPs could discuss).

In 17^th century there were no lords or nobles in Parliament, but merchants and landowners, therefore House of Commons were more powerful.

But parliament didn't represent all people - only those, who were rich had their representation. They often supported royal policy rather than the wishes of their electors.

Crown appointed a Speaker.

TUDORS AND PARLIAMENT:

1. Parliament agreed to the taxes needed

2. Laws were suggested by the Crown

3. Parliament could advise the Crown if they were asked to

RIGHTS OF MP:

1. Freedom of speech

2. Freedom from fear of arrest

3. Freedom to meet and speak to the monarch

So in the beginning of 17^th century it was natural for parliament to discuss different issues. But it wasn't for James and his absolute monarchy. Parliament agreed to pay debts left by Elisabeth. Instead they insisted the right to discuss home and foreign policy. James I became really angry.

CRISIS JAMES I vs. COMMONS

1621 - Marriage of James I's son to Spanish infant (girl was Catholic - House of Commons feared). Parliament opposed with a petition:

• Their privileges were not the gift of the Crown, but of the English people

• Marriages were proper issues to discuss

• Freedom of speech

But petition didn't help.

James I as a man was intellectual and learnt individual. Cultural flourishing continued under his reign. He was Patron of Arts, invited Dutch painters (Antony van Dyke).

King James I's Bible - 1611 - masterpiece of English prose.

CHARLES I (1625-49) - James I's son.

He also believed in Divine Right. His ambition: absolute power. He was unpopular. His wife Henrietta Maria was Catholic. He kind of liked Catholics. People felt he is too close to Catholicism.

1629-40 - Charles I ruled the country without a Parliament, but they still had a right to freedom of speech.

“11 years of tyranny” - many illegal taxes were introduced.

• Every person with land worth over 40 pounds to be knighted (then you had to pay a tax). If they didn't want to, they had to pay fines

• Punish for Roman Catholics

• Introduced ship money - traditionally it was paid only during the war)

Mistake: attempt to impose Anglicanism on Scotland. Archbishop of Canterbury William Laud tried to impose the Scottish Kirk (narzucać) bishops and prayer book. Scottish had no hierarchy in church (Presbyterians). They saw it as a threat to their national religion.

BISHOPS WAR

1. First - 1639

2. Second 1640

Charles I couldn't get help from parliament during war. He was able to put together only a small unexperienced army. He agreed to accept Scottish political freedom. He also agreed to pay them money so they returned home - but he didn't have the money. Therefore he needed a parliament.

THE ENGLISH CIVIL WAR (1642-49)

James and Parliament quarrelled who should control the army against Ireland. They were afraid that Charles wanted to control the army because he was planning to use the army against parliament. They couldn't trust him, he favoured Catholic church.

1642 - mistake: James tried to arrest 5 MPs -> by this he proved he couldn't be trusted.

Civil War broke out - The Puritan Revolution.

Charles moved to Nottingham (London locked its gates) and gathered an army.

Two opposing fractions:

1. The Royalists - Cavaliers

2. Parliamentarians - Roundheads

Initially King was successful. Edgehill 1642.

Then two fractions fairly matched (dosyć się wyrównały) so they started to look for help outside England.

1. King + Irish (Roman Catholics)

2. Parliament + Scottish Presbyterians - they promised to adopt Presbyterian religion in England

Parliament: Thomas Fairfax, Oliver Cromwell (New Model Army - first regular force). They could raise taxes.

1644 - royalists defeated in Marston Moor, crushed at Naseby

1645 - end, Charles I surrendered to the Scots. Scots.started negotiations with Parliament.

1646 - Charles I was treacherous. In the meantime he started negotiations with Scoths. They decided to conspire with Charles against England.

Second Civil War 1647 - Charles I defeated by Oliver Cromwell at Preston and Warrington.

London - Parliament strongest.

Puritans wanted to kill the king. He was charged, tried, found guilty and executed.

Rump Parliament - voted for execution.

30 January 1649 - king publicly beheaded.

HISTORIA - WYKŁAD - 01.12.2011

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