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Period: 1509 to 1547
Henry VIII's reign
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Oct 31, 1517
The Ninety-Five Thesis
Devastating critique of the indulgences nailed to the door of the university in Wittenberg by german monk Martin Luther.
We could say that it marks the start of the European Reformation -
1526
Tyndale bible
The first translation of the Bible (New Testament) in english.
-Most important principles of Protestantism are private prayer and Bible study, thus, vernacular translation is very important.
Before, it was in Latin and was therefore interpreted solely by the members of the clergy !! -
1527
The King’s “Great Matter”
King Henry VIII’s royal divorce with Catherine of Aragon.
Triggered the King’s relations with the Pope and thus England’s relations with The Roman Catholic Church -
1534
Act of supremacy
Founds the Church of England/ Anglican Church
King Henry VIII becomes Supreme Head of Church
-Starting event of the schism.
-Break with the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope. -
1536
Pilgrimage of grace
Rebellions that interrupted the dissolution of monasteries. They lasted 6 months, and were the greatest rebellions ever faced by a Tudor King. -
1537
English Bible allowed in Churches
Soon mandatory !! -
Period: 1547 to 1553
Edward VI's reign
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1549
Book of common prayer
Revision of the mass-book, it led religious services.
Edward was fiercly protestant. -
Period: 1553 to 1558
Mary I’s reign
Fiercely catholic, "Bloody Mary" restored Catholicism and repealed the protestant legislation of her father and half-brother in 18 months.
She persecuted Protestants between 1555 and 1558. -
Period: 1558 to
Elizabeth I’s reign
A lot is at stakes when Elizabeth’s reign starts, after 25 years of religious changes, the most important thing for Elizabeth who is a Protestant 25 year-old unmarried woman is to appease religious tensions and establish her legitimacy as a monarch. -
1559
Act of uniformity
This piece of legislation aimed to establish the protestant religious belief of the nation.
-It made it mandatory for every parish to use The Book of Common prayer.
-People who didn’t attend English services were fined. -
1559
The act of supremacy
This Act of Supremacy concerns church organization, it abolished the Pope’s authority and restored the Queen authority over the Church.
This piece of legislation marked a break from “Bloody Mary”’s Catholic Restoration and made Elizabeth the Supreme Governor of The Church of England. -
1569
The Northern Rebellion
The rise of Protestantism in Elizabethan England triggered many Catholics who started a rebellion against religious reformers. More than 6000 insurgents attempted to replace the Queen Elizabeth by Mary Queen Of Scots. -
1570
Pope Pius V excommunicates Elizabeth I.
Since her reform was moderate, he long thought that she would restore Catholicism, but she never did. In his Papal bull, he calls Queen Elizabeth “the so-call queen”, reinforcing the already very existing questioning of her legitimacy as a monarch. -
1571
Treasons Act
It is treason for anyone to say that Elizabeth is not the true Queen of England and Wales. -
1581
1581 Act
Provided the death penalty for anyone converting or already converted to Catholicism. -
Babington Plot/ Execution of Mary Stuart
A group of young Catholics wanted to assassinate Queen Elizabeth in order to put Mary Stuart on the throne. Strategy that was discovered by Francis Walsingham and resulted in Mary’s death. -
Poor laws
These laws that made the central and local gouvernements responsible of helping the poor were a consequence of the rise of the population and the disbandment of monasteries. They were nonetheless very harsh as they created a distinction between the «deserving poor» and «undeserving poor». The first one was enacted in 1553 and the latest change was made in 1601. NB: This system remained in place until the 19th century. -
Period: to
King James I’s reign
James I of England and VI of Scotland is the son of Mary Queen of Scots.
He is a strong believer in the divine rights of kings and perpetuates Elizabeth’s views on religion -
Gunpowder plot
The Gunpowder plot is a conspiracy devised by a group of Catholics to blow up Parliament and kill James I. -
The “Great Contract” refusal.
In response to financial issues faced by the crown, James proposed a financial reform that consisted in Parliament regularly granting the king a fixed sum of money. However, the financial independance it would give the King was threatening for the Parliament that refused this proposal which resulted in James dismissing the Parliament. Marks the start of a repetition of Parliament dismissals. -
Period: to
The Thirty Year’s War
Tensions linked to religion and power were growing in Europe. James involved himself which resulted in the rising of the Crown’s debt. James died in the start of this war, so he left this burden for his heir. -
Period: to
King Charles I’s reign
King Charles firmly believed in the divine rights of king, married to a French catholic absolutist, he is in favor of the Arminians a minority of Anglican that believed in some catholic views. -
Petition of Rights
This petition initiated by the Members of Parliament requested the king to recognize the illegality of extra parliamentary taxation, imprisonment without trial etc.
They wanted the King to recognize there were limits to his power.
Unfortunately, it resulted in Charles wanting to adjourn the sitting. -
Passing of the “Three Resolutions”
This text declaring that whoever tried to bring “Popery or Arminianism” or to alter the protestant aspect of the Church of England was an enemy of the Kingdom.
Seen as an act of open defiance by Charles who imprisoned these MPs and dissolved parliament.
This event marked the start of the “Personal Rule”, an 11 years period when King ruled without calling a parliament. -
Period: to
The Personal Rule
11 years of ruling without calling a parliament -
Period: to
The Scottish Crisis
Scottish opposition to King Charles’s attempt to draw the Church of Scotland (Calvinist) into line with the Church of England (Anglican).
Led to The Bishops’ Wars against his Scottish opponents who signed the “Scottish National Covenant”, a war that made him call parliament again twice. -
The Grand Remonstrance
important document voted by Parliament, it summarized the wrong doings of Charles.
This text divided Parliaments into two groups:
-The Parliamentarians
-The Royalists -
Charles I marches into the House of Commons.
Charles I marches into the House of Commons with troops and attempts to arrest the 5 MPs.
Catalyst for the English Civil war. -
Period: to
The First Civil War
1644: Creation of a new army by Parliamentarians.
resulted in the victory of the parliament. -
Period: to
The Second Civil War
King escapes from army custody and allies himself with the Scots.
Very short war, January to autumn 1648 -
England is a Commonwealth
Monarchy and House of Lords are abolished, England is a Commonwealth (a republic). -
Period: to
Interregnum
England declared a commonwealth, governed by the people without a king. Unfortunately it failed, which led to the creation of a “Military Protectorate” ruled by Cromwell. Time of many experiments with republican forms of governments. -
Period: to
The Commonwealth
Marked by Royalist revolts in Ireland and Scotland brutally repressed by Cromwell as well as his critics. -
Charles I’s regicide
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The Instrument of Government
England’s first and only written constitution -
End of the Commonwealth
Riding through the House of Commons with soldiers , Cromwell ordered the MPs to leave. -
Period: to
The Cromwellian Protectorate
This military dictatorship was led by lord Protector Cromwell, a parliament and a Council of State. -
Cromwell’s death
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Declaration of Breda by Charles II
Charles I, promises a general amnesty, religious toleration amongst other things for the restoration of monarchy -
Period: to
Charles II’s reign
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The Restoration
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The Popish Plot
Rumored plot by the French to murder Charles II and replace him by his catholic brother James II -
Charles II’s death and James II’s succession
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Period: to
James II’s reign
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The Glorious Revolution
After James II sat on the throne, the fear of catholic absolutism was ever growing but he was very old and had no mail heir but unfortunately, he had a son in 1688. Thus, the Parliament invited the King’s son in law to invade England and seize the Crown which worked. This revolution was “glorious” cause it happened without shedding any blood. -
The Bill of Rights
A key political, essential document of the uncodified British constitution and a model for the US constitution -
The Act of Settlement
After all the chaos concerning the crown’s succession on a religious level, it ensured a Protestant succession !! -
Act of Union between England and Scotland
Creation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain: England (and Wales) and Scotland.