the growth of democracy in england
Introduction
As we have learned, during the medieval time period, kings (monarchs) for the most part were at the highest level in society. They sometimes competed with nobles (lords or barons) and with the Catholic Church for power. They tried to centralize their power by conquering neighboring kingdoms until they could unite their nation into a country. England has a slightly different political history than most European nation-states. This is because starting in the Middle Ages they made a shift from an absolute monarchy to a limited monarchy and eventually to a parliamentary monarchy and later a constitutional monarchy. At the end of the day, what you should know is that in England, the monarchs agreed to follow certain rules and be limited in their power.
As we have learned, during the medieval time period, kings (monarchs) for the most part were at the highest level in society. They sometimes competed with nobles (lords or barons) and with the Catholic Church for power. They tried to centralize their power by conquering neighboring kingdoms until they could unite their nation into a country. England has a slightly different political history than most European nation-states. This is because starting in the Middle Ages they made a shift from an absolute monarchy to a limited monarchy and eventually to a parliamentary monarchy and later a constitutional monarchy. At the end of the day, what you should know is that in England, the monarchs agreed to follow certain rules and be limited in their power.
the magna carta
King John faced a great struggle to his rule in the early 1200s. John angered his nobles, the barons, by raising taxes and forcing them to comply with unfair rules. In 1215, a group of rebellious nobles cornered John and forced him to sign the Magna Carta, or “great charter.” In this document, John was forced to agree to a long list of feudal lords’ rights that he could not violate. In other words, he no longer had absolute power. For the first time in English history, the king was legally limited in his power.
Besides protecting their own privileges, the Magna Carta also protected the rights of the townspeople and the church. The most significant protection was the right of every free man to be protected against arbitrary (random; without proof of a crime) arrest, imprisonment, or other legal action except by “legal judgment of his peers or by the land of the land.” In other words, 1) no free man could be arrested without just cause and 2) could not be punished without a trial by his peers. This famous clause of the Magna Carta became known as “due process of the law.”
The king also agreed not to raise new taxes without first consulting his Great Council of Lords and Clergy, later to become Parliament. Many centuries later, the colonists in the New World in America would claim that this meant “no taxation without representation.” In 1215, however, the king or nobles never meant that idea.
The Magna Carta contained two very important ideas that would forever shape life in England: 1) it asserted that the nobles had rights (and that the king couldn't violate these rights!) and that these rights would be extended to all English citizens, and 2) the Magna Carta made it clear that the monarch must obey the law. Another way of saying this was that in England the people at limited the power of the monarch.
Besides protecting their own privileges, the Magna Carta also protected the rights of the townspeople and the church. The most significant protection was the right of every free man to be protected against arbitrary (random; without proof of a crime) arrest, imprisonment, or other legal action except by “legal judgment of his peers or by the land of the land.” In other words, 1) no free man could be arrested without just cause and 2) could not be punished without a trial by his peers. This famous clause of the Magna Carta became known as “due process of the law.”
The king also agreed not to raise new taxes without first consulting his Great Council of Lords and Clergy, later to become Parliament. Many centuries later, the colonists in the New World in America would claim that this meant “no taxation without representation.” In 1215, however, the king or nobles never meant that idea.
The Magna Carta contained two very important ideas that would forever shape life in England: 1) it asserted that the nobles had rights (and that the king couldn't violate these rights!) and that these rights would be extended to all English citizens, and 2) the Magna Carta made it clear that the monarch must obey the law. Another way of saying this was that in England the people at limited the power of the monarch.
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development of parliament
In obeying the Magna Carta, English rulers called upon the Great Council for advice. The Great Council would evolve into the Parliament in the 1200s. As Parliament acquired a greater role in government, it helped unify England and bring together nobles, clergy, and middle-class citizens. Parliament would, over centuries, become England’s legislature, or law-making body.
In 1295, Edward I summoned Parliament to approve money for his wars in France. According to the Magna Carta, he had to consult with the people of England before he could raise taxes, thus he called on the Parliament. According to Edward, “what touches all should be approved by all.” He had representatives not just from the nobles, but also from the “common people.” The “commons” included two knights from each county and representatives of the towns. Edward was one of the first kings who actually desired the approval of new taxes by all social classes.
Edward’s Parliament was divided into two houses: the House of Lords (consisting of nobles) and the House of Commons (consisting of knights and middle-class citizens). This gave both the higher and lower classes a voice in government.
Over the centuries, Parliament has gained the “right of the purse.” Right of the purse means that the English monarchs had to consult and win the approval of the Parliament before raising any new taxes. Parliament developed over time to “check” or “limit” the powers of the monarch.
In 1295, Edward I summoned Parliament to approve money for his wars in France. According to the Magna Carta, he had to consult with the people of England before he could raise taxes, thus he called on the Parliament. According to Edward, “what touches all should be approved by all.” He had representatives not just from the nobles, but also from the “common people.” The “commons” included two knights from each county and representatives of the towns. Edward was one of the first kings who actually desired the approval of new taxes by all social classes.
Edward’s Parliament was divided into two houses: the House of Lords (consisting of nobles) and the House of Commons (consisting of knights and middle-class citizens). This gave both the higher and lower classes a voice in government.
Over the centuries, Parliament has gained the “right of the purse.” Right of the purse means that the English monarchs had to consult and win the approval of the Parliament before raising any new taxes. Parliament developed over time to “check” or “limit” the powers of the monarch.