THE glorious revolution it was the last phase of the English Revolution, begun in 1642. With the deposition of James II and the rise of William of Orange to power in England, this revolution changed politics by enacting the end of absolutist power and the emergence of a constitutional monarchy, that is, the king would remain on the English throne, but with reduced powers. This event was important for strengthening the bourgeoisie.
Read too: What is absolutism?
Context
Until 1640, England was ruled by Carlos I, an absolutist king. Their disagreements with the Parliament provoked a civil war. The king wanted to keep his full powers and the parliamentarians wanted exactly the opposite: the formation of a constitutional monarchy that would limit the royal powers.
Carlos I hoped that Parliament would approve the tax increase to balance real spending, but the real proposal was rejected. Thus, the Parliament was dissolved, starting the war between the king and the parliamentarians. Carlos I lost the war and was beheaded.
With the end of monarchy, England became a republic. Oliver Cromwell he ruled the country, establishing a dictatorship from 1653 to 1658. With Cromwell's death, his son Richard assumed English power, but without his father's political strength. Soon, he was dethroned, and Parliament invited Charles II, son of the beheaded king, to be the new king of England, but with reduced powers.
The new king came into conflict with parliamentarians by trying to rule in an absolutist way and by his proximity to Catholics. Parliament was dissolved, and Charles II ruled until his death in 1685. James II, brother of Carlos II, assumed the English throne and sought to make an absolutist government, in constant conflict with Parliament.
![James II was deposed with the Glorious Revolution. [1]](/f/b52a348be3172b41510e4d4073be3251.jpg)
What was the Glorious Revolution?
The Glorious Revolution was a movement against the absolutist power of James II. By strengthening Catholics, the king clashed with Parliament, which defended the formation of a constitutional monarchy and practiced Puritanism, that is, religion Calvinist. It would not be long before the two political forces were at war.
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With the birth of Jaime Eduardo, son and heir of Jaime II, the Parliament decided to act against the king, as the new son would become the heir of the absolutist king, perpetuating not only the dynasty of James II, but also the strength of the Catholic religion in England. You parliamentarians joined Maria Stuart, daughter of the king, and her husband, William of Orange, to mobilize against James II. This approach was due to religion, both were Calvinists.
William of Orange, in 1688, managed to summon his troops, which promptly surrounded James II. Without political support and much less military support, the English king fled to France, remaining there until his death. Dethroned the absolutist king, William of Orange and Mary Stuart were crowned King and Queen of England. Before the coronation, however, the two swore an oath to Parliament that they would never become absolutist kings.
Read too: Why was England a pioneer in industrial development?
Consequences of the Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution determined the end of the absolutist monarchy in England and the predominance of Parliament. Europe was witnessing the formation of a constitutional monarchy, that is, the king could remain on the throne, but with reduced powers. Another consequence of this revolution was the strengthening of the bourgeoisie in English power. With the Glorious Revolution, the bourgeois gave up real support, contrary to what was seen in the transition from Middle Ages to the Modern Age, which occurred 200 years earlier, when the bourgeoisie supported the formation of national states in Europe and the power of kings.
The predominantly Calvinist Parliament and representatives of the bourgeoisie opened spaces for the approval of laws that benefited the bourgeois economy and sowed the seeds for the foundation of the English Revolution a few decades later.
Summary
The Glorious Revolution was the last phase of the English Revolution and determined the end of absolutism in England and the formation of a constitutional monarchy.
In England, the power of Parliament prevailed over royal power.
The consequences of the Glorious Revolution were the reduction of the king's powers and the predominance of the bourgeoisie over Parliament.
Read too:War of the Roses — one of the most emblematic conflicts in English history
solved exercises
1) The Glorious Revolution was very important to 17th century Europe because:
a) inaugurated the absolutist monarchy and the closing of the English Parliament.
b) determined the predominance of Parliament by reducing the powers of the king.
c) the Pope became the sovereign head of the English monarchy.
d) kingdoms were formed through the decentralization of power.
Reply
Letter B. The Glorious Revolution represented the end of absolutism in England and the strength of Parliament.
2) The consequences of the Glorious Revolution in England were:
a) the strength of Catholicism.
b) the return of the nobility to power
c) the predominance of the bourgeoisie in Parliament.
d) expulsion of the Calvinists from England.
Reply
Letter C. Soon after the end of the Glorious Revolution, the bourgeoisie showed its strength in Parliament, paving the way for Industrial Revolution.
Image credits
[1] chrisdorney / Shutterstock.com
By Carlos César Higa
History teacher
