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Because of his belief in the divine right of monarchs, James I tended to ignore Parliament’s decisions about taxes and laws. His actions led to people questioning absolute monarchy and calling for limits on royal power.
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Parliament forced Charles I to agree to not taxing or imprisoning people without Parliament’s consent. This helped pave the way for a limited monarchy, where the the king was also bound by law.
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This war, between Charles I and Parliament, was fought to determine who held the most authority in England. Led to Parliament winning and the king being executed, representing how monarchs were now tied down to getting approval from Parliament. War ended in 1649.
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After Charles I’s death, England was, for a little while, a republic under the rule of Oliver Cromwell. This time period weakened the idea of divine right and strengthened the collaboration in power between the king and Parliament. This republic ended in 1660.
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When Charles II regained the throne, he agreed that he needed Parliament’s cooperation to rule. The Restoration showed that the monarchy would continue to exist, but only within its limits.
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James II’s attempts to restore Catholic absolutism led Parliament to have William and Mary take the throne. This revolution showed that Parliament could decide the ruler, further pushing back against royal authority.
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The Bill of Rights mandated that the king work with Parliament on laws, taxes, and military decisions. It officially made England a constitutional monarchy, where royal power was limited by law.