The Magna Carta & Early English Monarchies

The Magna Carta & Early English Monarchies

• The Magna Carta, signed in 1215, marked a significant step in limiting the power of the English monarch.
• It established the right to trial by peers, safeguarded the independence of the Catholic Church, created a parliament-like body, and guaranteed nobles the right to discuss new taxes.

Religious Conflicts and the Glorious Revolution

• Religious conflicts between Protestants and Catholics dominated English politics for over a century, beginning in the 16th century when King Henry VIII broke with the Catholic Church.
• The 1640s saw a civil war leading to the Protestant dictatorship of Oliver Cromwell.
• The monarchy was restored but removed again peacefully in the Glorious Revolution of 1688, shifting the basis of legitimacy from monarchy to liberal democracy.

Rise of Parliament and Limited Suffrage

• The Glorious Revolution led to the expansion of parliamentary power over the monarchy.
• The Bill of Rights in 1689 significantly expanded citizens' rights.
• While parliament gained power, political rights were limited to men with substantial property holdings, a small percentage of the population.

Expansion of Suffrage

• Throughout the 19th century, the right to vote was gradually extended to the growing middle class.
• In 1918, the Representation of the People Act granted suffrage to men over 21 and women over 30 who met property requirements.
• Social movements played a key role in pressuring the government to expand the right to vote.

Industrialization and the Rise of the Bureaucracy

• Britain's rapid industrialization in the 18th and 19th centuries helped it become the most powerful state globally.
• Industrialization strengthened the state and fostered a modern bureaucracy.
• Government appointments shifted from patronage to a competitive civil service system based on merit and qualifications.

Social Rights and the Welfare State

• After World War II, Britain expanded its welfare state, providing benefits for citizens who had made sacrifices during the war.
• The National Health Service made healthcare a universal right, and other universal benefits like child allowance were established.
• Despite expansion, debates continue over the extent and limits of social rights in Britain's liberal democracy.

Explore the pivotal events surrounding the Magna Carta and its impact on English monarchy. Delve into the religious conflicts that shaped politics and the transformation of governance through the Glorious Revolution. Understand how these historical moments laid the groundwork for modern parliamentary democracy.