Dr Tomasz Skirecki, IFA, UAM
History of Britain and the USA  1 BA, 2011-12
LECTURE TEN
Stuarts Part I
House of Stuarts (1603  1714)
" 17th century - crucial period for the development of modern British political system
" 1603 - The Union of the Crowns - personal union of England and Scotland under James I
(James VI Stuart in Scotland)
" separate Parliaments until 1707
" absolute inclinations of the monarchs - leading eventually to England becoming a
parliamentary monarchy
James I (1603-1625)
" James VI of Scotland becomes James I of England
" first king of all four countries of the British Isles
" believing in Divine Rights of the kings
" personal extravagance
Religion
Three strongly marked religious parties in the country:
1. Episcopalians  maintaining the status of the Church of England  39 Articles and
Books of Common Prayer
2. Roman Catholics  wishing to restore Mass and the Pope in England
3. Puritans - for simplicity and radical Protestantism - growing influence in
Parliament
Main events:
1605 - the Gunpowder Plot  Robert Catesby, Guy Fawkes
Roman Catholic plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament and the king  discovered and the
plotters punished - celebrated today on Nov 5
1611 - Authorized (King James) Version of the Bible
Bible translation accepted by all religious groups in the country  huge impact on the
language  still popular today.
Since 1611 - Ulster Plantation - giving lands to English and Scottish protestants in Ulster
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Dr Tomasz Skirecki, IFA, UAM
History of Britain and the USA  1 BA, 2011-12
LECTURE TEN
Stuarts Part I
Constant troubles with Parliament over taxes and the divine rights of the king.
Attacks on king's monopolies and practices.
James I dies in 1625 leaving the country in huge debt
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