James Stuart (1603-1628)

Crowned James I of England when Elizabeth I died.

He believed and he practiced the theory of absolute monarchy so he ruled without Parliament's help.

Parliament was summoned only three times, when the king needed money, that aroused the hostility between the King and the Parliament.

 Puritans were reinforced

Catholic planned to destroy the House of Parliament on 5th November 1605: Gunpowder Plot

5^th November 1605, Gunpowder Plot

During James' I reign, Catholics, because of the possibility to reinstate some rights, supported the King and organized a plot to blow up the House of Parliament but they were discovered and they lost their chance.

Charles I (1625-1649)

He ruled according with his father policy. He was convinced to be king because of the divine providence.

 Religious differences à In England there were: Catholics, Anglicans and Puritans.

Petition of rights

Charles I decided to impose taxation without Parliamentary consents, as a consequence the Parliament presented the Petition of rights in which:

•ü  no taxes should be levied without parliament's approval;

•ü  no one should be imprisoned except on a formal and justifiable charge.

 1640

The Commons attacked the Crown refusing king's request to have money for a campaign against Scots.

1642

The Civil War broke out. There were formed two parts, the Royalists who included the Catholics and the aristocracy and the part of the Parliament that included the professional and mercantile classes; their leadership was Cromwell.

1645 / 1649

Cromwell broke the Royalists' resistance, Charles was executed, the monarchy was abolished. A republic was instituted with the name of "Commonwealth". 

 1660

The republic collapsed and the monarchy was restored. Charles II came to the throne. That period was called "Restoration". There created two groups: the Tories who preserved the alliance between the Crown and the nobility and the Wighs who represented the commercial and industrial classes.

 1665 / 1666

 The plague and the fire hit the city.

 1685

Charles II died. The throne passes to James II, he was Catholic so he imposed his religion.

 1688

The Protestants organized a revolution, the "Bloodless Revolution", the king was deposed.