James I
The accession of James VI of Scotland as James I of England (the first Stuart monarch), united the countries of England and Scotland under one monarch for the first time.
James believed in the Divine Right of Kings, for which he was dissolved by laws. He also introduced English and Irish Protestants into Northern and tried to keep England at peace with the rest of Europe. During his reign he had to face religious and political problems. Neverthless he was unable to solve them. When he died in 1625 the country was badly in debt.

Charles I
James I was succeeded by his son, Charles I who followed the same line of government: the Absolutism. He embarked on war with Spain and France asking the Parliament for money, but people got angry: too many taxes, they did not want to give money without a reason). In 1628 the Parliament forced the King to assent to the Petition of Rights (a constitutional document that sets out specific liberties of the subject that the king is prohibited from infringing).
In 1629 he dismissed Parliament and decided to rule alone for the next 11 years. This period is called "short republic" for its length.
He believed in the Divine Right of Kings too and he upset his Scottish subjects, many of whom were Puritans, by insisting that they follow the same religion as his English subjects. The result was the two Bishops Wars and so he had no choice but to recall the Parliament (long republic).
The Civil War broke out and Charles I execution happened in 1649.
 
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell took power and the very last time, England became a republic known as the Commonwealth. He created an army of brave soldiers called Ironsides, who fought by his side and born the New Model Army. Cromwell disliked the Irish Catholics and, on the pretence of punishment for the massacre of English Protestants, he killed most of them. Having conquered Ireland he declared war on the Netherlands (England's greatest trade rival).
Richard (Cromwell’ son) successed his father but he was not able to control the situation.
 
Charles II
The Parliament restored the monarchy by the coronation of Charles II; this event is known as the “Restoration”. In order to restore Anglicanism as the established religion, Charles imposed the Test Act (which barred all Roman Catholics from holding official positions in Great Britain). In addition, with the Exclusion Bill, the throne of England could not be hold by any catholic king. However, Charles II was an extravagant figure: he loved parties, music and the theatre, that became the most popular enterteinment.
Charles II died in 1685.
 
James II
James II (who was Catholic) succeeded his brother Charles to the throne, despite the passing of the Test Acts. This fact troubled the Parliament: some english political leaders invite Mary (older daughter of James II) and her husband William of Orange to take the throne. This action was called Glorious Revolution (made without blood) and established that the monarch had to rule with people’s consent: it was born a constitutional monarchy. Mary and William defended the Protestantism.
 
The Bill of Rights (a document that asserts the supremacy of Parliament over the monarch, and lists a number of fundamental rights and liberties) was approved in 1689.
 
Queen Anne I
Anne I supported the Glorious Revolution. In 1707 the Act of Union formally united the Kingdoms of England and Scotland. She was the last Stuart monarch as none of her eighteen children survived. Anne died in 1714.