HIST362 Study Guide

Unit 3: 17th Century England: Revolution or Civil War?

3a. Provide a concise historical narrative of revolutionary events in England between 1640 and 1688

  • What were the primary causes of the English Civil War (1642–1651)? Describe the political aftermath.
  • Describe the role of some key figures and groups in the English Revolution: Charles I, Charles II, Oliver Cromwell, James II, the Levellers and Diggers, Mary II, William of Orange.
  • Why were religious and political leaders in conflict during this time?
  • Why was the English monarchy and parliament in conflict?
  • How did the breakdown of censorship and distribution of pamphlets and newsletters help propel the English Civil War?
  • Describe the major turning points of the English Civil War.
  • What were the primary causes of the Glorious Revolution (1688–1689) and what were its political results?

The English Civil War, also called the English Revolution, describes the period of armed political and social conflict that occurred from 1642 to 1660 and resulted in the creation of a constitutional monarchy. In early 1640, intellectuals met to discuss the ideas of liberty and individual rights.

Thomas O'Brien describes how the "levellers" and "diggers" championed principles of political freedom and equality. They published and distributed pamphlets to spread their ideas that inspired future intellectuals in France and the American colonies to revolt against their own governments.

The English Civil War saw a radical shift in social relationships that came to support a free-market capitalist system (away from feudalism). In 1648, the army purged Parliament of its conservative members, Charles I was executed in January 1649 due to his resistance to change, and Oliver Cromwell, the leader of the army, was installed to rule over the Parliament as the leader of the new commonwealth from 1653 to 1658.

Although the monarchy was restored in 1660 with Charles II, O'Brien argues that this "revolution" saw many accomplishments, such as the rise of parliamentary supremacy over the Crown, the idea that careers are open to talent, protection of private property (which supported the rise of mercantilism and capitalism), religious tolerance, and aggressive internationalism.

Some call the period between 1688 and 1689 the Glorious Revolution, before the Parliament passed the Bill of Rights in 1689 and signaled the official beginning of a constitutional monarchy.

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3b. Explain the difference between revolution and civil war

  • Why do many consider the English Civil War to be a revolution rather than a civil war?

Both revolution and civil war refer to dramatic and violent uprisings that express popular discontent. Both terms refer to upheaval within a particular country, as opposed to international war. However, revolutions are generally uprisings against the current government. Civil war pits two or more opposing organized groups against each other, typically aligned within a country along ethnic, political, or religious lines. They typically engage in violent conflict, with the goal of obtaining political power or control. 

The historical determination on whether a conflict constitutes a civil war or revolution is not always clear-cut. For example, historians continue to disagree about the case of the English Civil War. Many call the conflict as English Civil War because two distinct groups battled against each other. However, others categorize the conflict as a revolution because the opponents ultimately fought against the government itself (the monarchy) and transformed the system of government to a constitutional monarchy.

Review The English Civil War Part II, World Revolutions by Thomas O'Brien (at 58:00).


3c. Critically evaluate the English Bill of Rights

  • What rights did the English Bill of Rights guarantee?
  • What did John Locke think about the powers and role of government in modern societies?
  • Describe the relationship between the Anglian church and the English government.
  • What should the relationship between politics and religion be according to Locke?
  • Where did Locke draw the boundaries of tolerance?

The English parliament introduced the Bill of Rights (1689) to denounce King James II, the last Roman Catholic monarch of Great Britain, for abusing his political power. Political and religious tensions were high: Protestants and Catholics were in conflict, in addition to the Parliament and the monarchy.

The primary goals of the English Bill of Rights were to:

  1. Condemn the abuse of power by King James II,
  2. Detail civil freedoms in 13 articles, and 
  3. Clarify the rules of succession to the throne.

The English Bill of Rights (1689) reinforced the principles of the two founding documents of England's constitutional monarchy: the Magna Carta (1215) and the Petition of Right (1628).

The Magna Carta (1215) was the first charter to support the "rule of law" and civil liberties in Europe: it declared the King was not above the law and could not deprive anyone of their "land, castles, liberties, or rights" without "the lawful judgement of his peers". The Petition of Right (1628) reinforced the legal principles of the Magna Carta and added that the King could not impose his will on parliament, tax without parliamentary approval, or support a standing army.

With the passage of the English Bill of Rights (1689), Parliament supported the rule of law and civil rights outlined in the two founding documents, and declared that it alone (not the Crown) had the authority to levy taxes, raise an army, and wage wars. The King, and others in positions of authority, were responsible and answerable to the people, not to themselves. The Bill also required regular parliamentary meetings, free elections, freedom of speech in parliament, prohibitions against cruel and unusual punishment, and declared that judges would be independent of the monarchy.

When King James II fled the country, his Protestant daughter Mary assumed the English throne with her Dutch husband, William of Orange. Both supported Parliament's efforts to expand its power.

To protest the restrictive and prohibitive nature of King James's Catholicism and outside control from the Pope, Parliament declared no Roman Catholic could ascend the English throne, nor could any English monarch marry a Roman Catholic. The Toleration Act of 1689 supported freedom of worship for Protestants, but excluded Catholics, antitrinitarians, and atheists from its provisions.

John Locke (1632–1704), the English philosopher, also feared that Catholicism would take over England and argued for religious freedom in his Letter Concerning Toleration (1689). He argued the government existed to promote external, not spiritual, welfare, and should not attempt to dictate religious choice. Locke believed that civil unrest and conflict would ensue when civil magistrates try to limit the religious choices of citizens. In other words, Locke paved the way for the American idea of the separation of church and state. However, it is important to note that Locke was not opposed to suppressing religions that refused to accept his doctrine of tolerance.

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3d. Describe the distribution of political power in a constitutional monarchy

  • Define a constitutional monarchy.
  • What were the causes and the outcomes of the English Revolution in terms of ideas about the rise of capitalism, the rise of the mercantile class, private property and eventual class conflict?
  • In what ways did the English Bill of Rights influence the U.S. Constitution?

With the English Bill of Rights (1689), the English parliament established its supremacy over the Crown and proclaimed the government a constitutional monarchy. In contrast to an absolute monarchy, where the king or queen governs with absolute power and authority, a constitutional monarchy is a form of government where the powers of the monarch (the king or queen) are limited by the country's written and unwritten constitution.

In today's United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) the monarch has limited formal authority and represents the country as its head of state, performing a primarily public ceremonial role. The elected prime minister is the head of government: the parliament is responsible for debating, creating and executing laws, and for overseeing and approving government taxation and spending.

Britain does not have a single written constitution like most modern states. Rather, its unwritten or uncodified constitution is based on Acts of Parliament, court judgments, and convention, many which originated with the Magna Carta (1215), the Petition of Right (1628), and the English Bill of Rights (1689). Note that English common law describes law that is derived from custom and judicial precedent rather than legislative statutes (statutory law).

The framers of the U.S. Constitution would incorporate many of these same principles and elements when they wrote their American founding documents 100 years later.

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Unit 3 Vocabulary

  • Charles I
  • Charles II
  • Civil War
  • Common law
  • Constitutional monarchy
  • Diggers
  • English Bill of Rights
  • English Civil War
  • English revolution
  • James II
  • John Locke
  • Levellers
  • Magna Carta
  • Mary II
  • Monarchy
  • Oliver Cromwell
  • Parliament
  • Petition of Right
  • Revolution
  • Statutory law
  • The Glorious Revolution
  • Tolerance
  • William of Orange