Jonah Patel
The 17th century saw a shift from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy in England. The century began with absolute monarchs ruling by the grace of God, with Tudor monarchs like Henry VIII and Elizabeth I consolidating royal power. However, parliaments began to challenge the king's supremacy, claiming that they represented the estates of nobles and commons and that the people had vested all constitutive power in them. This led to the Glorious Revolution of 1688, which resolved the conflict between king and Parliament and resulted in a constitutional monarchy under law created by Parliament. William of Orange, a Dutch military leader, was invited by English lawmakers to lead a force against James II, who was viewed with hostility due to his efforts to enable English Catholics. William and his wife Mary, the Protestant daughter of James II, were appointed as co-rulers and agreed to abide by a new Bill of Rights, creating Europe's first constitutional monarchy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 17th Century |
| Country | England |
| Previous System | Absolute Monarchy |
| Cause of Change | Civil Wars, Conflict between King and Parliament |
| New System | Constitutional Monarchy |
| Monarchs | William and Mary (co-rulers) |
| Limitations on Monarchy | Rule according to law, Lawmaking controlled by Parliament |
| Impact | End of conflict, Growth of English state |
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What You'll Learn
The Glorious Revolution
The 17th century was a period of transition for England, witnessing the transformation of the country from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy. This shift was significantly influenced by the Glorious Revolution, which occurred between 1688 and 1689.
In response to these concerns, several prominent Englishmen invited William of Orange, a Protestant married to James's daughter Mary, to invade England. William obliged and entered the country in November 1688, leading to James's swift departure to France. William and Mary were subsequently crowned joint rulers in April 1689, with William also becoming William III, King of England, Scotland, and Ireland.
The interpretation of the Glorious Revolution's nature has been a subject of debate. Some historians characterise it as a relatively peaceful event, while others like Steven Pincus emphasise its divisive and violent nature, arguing that it involved all classes of English society. Additionally, the invasion aspect has been downplayed in some narratives, with the revolution portrayed as primarily an internal English affair.
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The end of absolute monarchy
The 17th century marked a crucial shift in English constitutional practice, witnessing the transition from absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy under Parliament's law. This evolution was influenced by several factors, including religious tensions, power struggles, and the emergence of new political ideas.
At the beginning of the 17th century, absolute monarchs ruled by divine right, with notable examples being Henry VIII and Elizabeth I of the Tudor dynasty. They consolidated power by neutralizing potential rivals, seizing property, and executing those who stood in their way. However, the tide began to turn as parliaments challenged the king's supremacy, arguing that they represented the estates of nobles and commons and that the people had vested all constitutive power in them. This sparked a debate about the ultimate source of governmental legitimacy and the potential need for revolution.
The Glorious Revolution of 1688 further cemented the move towards constitutional monarchy in England. This event revolved around the reign of James II, a Catholic king ruling over a predominantly Protestant country. James's efforts to grant English Catholics more freedom sparked suspicion and hostility, as Catholicism was associated with royal absolutism. With the birth of his son in 1688, the prospect of a Catholic dynasty alarmed a group of powerful English nobles, who invited James's son-in-law, William of Orange, to invade England. William, a Dutch military leader and lawmaker, was married to Mary, James's Protestant daughter.
William's arrival marked a turning point, as the English army defected to his side, forcing James to flee to France. This bloodless revolution, known as the Glorious Revolution, resulted in a political settlement that ended decades of conflict. William and Mary were appointed co-rulers by Parliament and agreed to abide by a new Bill of Rights, establishing Europe's first constitutional monarchy. This new form of government maintained a monarch while granting Parliament control over lawmaking and ensuring that all citizens were accountable to the same laws.
The establishment of a constitutional monarchy in England had far-reaching consequences. It resolved the longstanding conflict between the monarch and Parliament, with British elites now becoming part of the government instead of opposing it. The increased security from royal power struggles allowed for the expansion of the English state, the levying of new taxes, and the growth of parliamentary power. This transformation served as a model for political writers and influenced the formation of governments in other parts of the world, including the emerging American republic.
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The rise of constitutional monarchy
The 17th century was a crucial period for the development of constitutional monarchy in England. The century began with absolute monarchs ruling by the grace of God, with the Tudor monarchs, Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, consolidating their power by neutralising potential rivals, including religious leaders and the nobility.
However, parliaments began to challenge the king's supremacy, claiming that they represented the estates of nobles and commons, and that the people had vested all constitutive power in them. This debate was carried on by Whig republican thinkers of the era, such as Algernon Sidney and John Locke.
The conflict between king and parliament came to a head in the 17th century with the Glorious Revolution of 1688, which resolved the contest over conflicting views of legitimate authority and the proper constitutional order. The revolution ended the rule of James II, a Catholic king whose efforts to enable English Catholics to work and worship freely were viewed with hostility by his subjects, as they associated Catholicism with royal absolutism. A group of powerful English invited William of Orange, a Dutch military leader and lawmaker in the Dutch Republic, to lead a force against James. William, who was married to Mary, the Protestant daughter of James II, arrived in England, and the English army defected to him, forcing James to flee to France.
William and Mary were appointed co-rulers by parliament, agreeing to abide by a new Bill of Rights. This marked the establishment of Europe's first constitutional monarchy, in which lawmaking was controlled by parliament, and all citizens were held accountable to the same laws. The basic constitutional order of a limited monarchy reigning within a political structure of parliamentary supremacy was set, and the new constitutional arrangement became a model for political writers of the 18th century.
The constitutional monarchy in England after the Glorious Revolution had several benefits. Lawmakers felt secure from royal attempts to seize power unlawfully and were willing to increase the size and power of the government and levy new taxes, leading to the quick growth of the English state. Additionally, British elites, through parliament, no longer opposed the royal government but instead became a part of it. The constitutional monarchy also served as a source of checks and balances against elected politicians who might seek powers beyond those conferred by the constitution, ultimately safeguarding against dictatorship.
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The role of William of Orange
The 17th century witnessed a shift in England from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy, with Parliament gaining more power. This period was marked by the Glorious Revolution of 1688, which saw the deposition of King James II and the installation of William of Orange and his wife, Mary, as joint monarchs.
William III, also known as William of Orange, was born in The Hague, Dutch Republic, on November 4, 1650. He was the only child of William II, Prince of Orange, and Mary, Princess Royal of England, Scotland, and Ireland. William III became the sovereign Prince of Orange at birth due to his father's death a week before he was born.
William's role as a constitutional monarch was shaped by his religious affiliation and the political landscape of the time. England had a Protestant majority, and there were concerns that any son of King James II would rule as a Catholic King. William, a staunch Protestant, was invited by a group of politicians known as the 'Immortal Seven' to invade England and assume the throne. On November 5, 1688, William landed in southwest England at Brixham with a large fleet, successfully deposing King James II in what became known as the Glorious Revolution.
William's reputation as a Protestant and his marriage to Mary, the elder daughter of James, Duke of York (later King James II), enabled them to take power. William summoned a Convention Parliament, which decided that the throne was vacant and that a Protestant should assume the role. This decision was influenced by the Whig majority in Parliament. William's role as a constitutional monarch was further defined by laws such as the Bill of Rights of 1689 and the Act of Settlement 1701, which secured the Protestant succession.
During his reign, William was often occupied with foreign conflicts, such as the Nine Years' War (1688-1697), leaving Mary to govern Britain alone until her death in 1694. William faced plots against his life by the Jacobites, loyal to the deposed James, but he remained in power until his death in 1702. He was succeeded by Queen Anne, and his cousin, John William Friso, became the titular Prince of Orange.
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The impact on America
The 17th century was a crucial period in the development of English constitutional practice, with the absolute monarchy of the Tudors evolving into a constitutional monarchy under Parliament. This transformation would have a significant impact on the political landscape of America.
During the 17th century, England witnessed a power struggle between the monarchy and Parliament, with the latter challenging the king's supremacy. This contest over legitimate authority was resolved through the Glorious Revolution of 1688, which established a constitutional monarchy with a Bill of Rights and an Act of Settlement. The new political structure, with a limited monarchy reigning within a framework of parliamentary supremacy, became a model for political thinkers of the 18th century.
American propagandists during the revolutionary period were critical of the British system. However, when it came to forming their own governments, they drew on the lessons learned from England's transition to a more balanced and "republican" form of government. The American experience with independence and creating a government was influenced by the debates among Whig republican thinkers in England, such as Algernon Sidney and John Locke, who grappled with issues of revolution and the ultimate source of governmental legitimacy.
The failure of absolute monarchy in England and the subsequent emergence of a constitutional monarchy influenced the American understanding of governance. They witnessed the dangers of royal absolutism and the benefits of a system with checks and balances. The transformation of the British monarchy contributed to the development of modern characteristics associated with representative governments, capitalist economies, and religious toleration.
Additionally, the Glorious Revolution's impact on the British economy and its rivalry with France would also have been observed by the Americans. The revolution's resolution of conflicts between king and parliament enabled the expansion of the English state and its emergence as a significant political power in the 18th century. This transformation may have offered insights to the Americans as they navigated their own path towards independence and nation-building.
Overall, the 17th-century shift from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy in England had a significant impact on America's political development. It provided a framework for governance, influenced debates among American thinkers, and demonstrated the potential for a more balanced and effective form of government.
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Frequently asked questions
A constitutional monarchy is a form of government led by a king or queen, but where lawmaking is controlled by a parliament and all citizens are held accountable to the same set of laws.
England and France were constitutional monarchies in the 17th century. England is perhaps the most outstanding example of a state in which absolute monarchy failed during this period. France became a constitutional monarchy in 1791, but this only lasted until 1792.
One benefit was that British elites, through parliament, no longer opposed the royal government but instead became the government. After the Glorious Revolution, lawmakers in England felt secure enough from royal attempts to seize power unlawfully that they were willing to increase the size and power of the government and levy new taxes.
