Welcome to Crown and Parliament in England (1625–1714)
Hello and welcome! In this study guide, we will explore one of the most dramatic and transformative periods in British history: the struggle between the Stuart monarchs and Parliament over a span of nearly 90 years. During this era, England experienced political standoff, a devastating civil war, the execution of a king, a republic, the restoration of the monarchy, and finally a constitutional revolution.
This chapter is part of CCEA A2 Unit 1: Change Over Time. In this exam, you will answer one synoptic essay (worth 40 marks in 1 hour 15 minutes) that tests your ability to trace broad themes across the entire 1625–1714 period. Don't worry if this seems like a huge stretch of time—by grouping the events into clear, manageable themes, you will be able to tackle any essay question with confidence!
Core Theme 1: Divine Right vs. Parliamentary Privilege
At the very heart of the conflict across the 17th century was a simple question: Who holds ultimate power in England—the King or Parliament?
1. The Concept of Divine Right
Divine Right of Kings: The belief that monarchs are appointed directly by God and are therefore accountable only to God, not to Parliament or the people. Charles I, Charles II, and James II all held strong views on their royal prerogative (special royal powers).
2. Parliamentary Privilege and Constitutional Landmarks
Parliament believed it had ancient rights and privileges, such as freedom of speech in debates and the sole right to consent to taxes. Key milestones in this power struggle include:
• The Petition of Right (1628): Parliament attempted to limit Charles I's power by declaring non-parliamentary taxation and arbitrary imprisonment illegal.
• The Triennial Act (1641): Passed by the Long Parliament to ensure Parliament would be summoned at least once every three years, preventing another prolonged Personal Rule.
• The Execution of Charles I and the Commonwealth (1649): The ultimate breakdown of monarchy, leading to a republic without a king under Oliver Cromwell.
• The Restoration (1660): Charles II returned to the throne following the Declaration of Breda. While the monarchy was restored, Charles II still faced substantial political constraints.
• The Glorious Revolution and the Bill of Rights (1688–1689): Following the flight of James II, William III and Mary II accepted the crown alongside the Bill of Rights (1689), legally establishing a constitutional monarchy.
• The Act of Settlement (1701): Finalised the Protestant succession and placed permanent legal limits on royal prerogative.
Key Takeaway: Over the course of 1625–1714, England transitioned from an unstable system dominated by claims of royal divine right to a constitutional monarchy where the crown rules alongside Parliament.
Core Theme 2: Financial Conflict ("The Power of the Purse")
Money was the practical battleground between Crown and Parliament. If a king had enough independent money, he didn't need to call Parliament; if he ran out of money, Parliament held the upper hand.
1. Ordinary vs. Extraordinary Revenue
• Ordinary Revenue: The monarch’s regular, day-to-day income (from Crown lands, customs duties, and traditional feudal dues). The monarch was expected to "live of his own".
• Extraordinary Revenue: Special taxes granted by Parliament for emergencies, particularly foreign wars.
2. Charles I and Financial Expedients (1629–1640)
During his eleven-year Personal Rule (1629–1640), Charles I ruled without calling Parliament. To survive financially, he relied heavily on non-parliamentary financial expedients:
• Ship Money: A traditional coastal levy for naval defense that Charles I controversially extended to inland counties during peacetime. This caused widespread political outrage and resistance.
3. The Financial Settlement of 1690
The financial dynamic shifted decisively following the Glorious Revolution. Under William III and Mary II, the Financial Settlement of 1690 established that the crown would be granted tax revenues on a regular, restricted basis. Because the monarch now required annual parliamentary grants to fund government and military operations, Parliament became a permanent, indispensable part of English government.
Key Takeaway: By moving from irregular royal expedients like Ship Money to the structured parliamentary Financial Settlement of 1690, Parliament gained permanent control over national taxation.
Core Theme 3: Religious Tension and the Fear of "Popery"
Religion was intimately tied to politics. In 17th-century England, religious changes were often seen as direct threats to national independence and individual liberties.
1. Arminianism and Puritan Dissent (1620s–1640s)
• Arminianism / Laudianism: Under Charles I, Archbishop Laud promoted ceremonial, high-church practices. Many Puritans and MPs feared this was a back-door route to restoring Roman Catholicism.
• Puritan Backlash: Opponents saw Charles I's religious policies as tyrannical and ungodly, leading to serious friction in the Long Parliament (1640–1642) and contributing directly to the outbreak of the Civil War.
2. Catholic Fears Under Charles II and James II
• Charles II: Suspicions lingered throughout his reign regarding pro-Catholic sympathies and French alliances.
• James II: An open Catholic whose policies alienating the Anglican establishment and promoting Catholic appointments triggered intense fears of "Popery" and arbitrary rule.
• The Act of Settlement (1701): Ensured that the English Crown could only be inherited by Protestants, barring Roman Catholics from the throne forever.
Key Takeaway: Fear of Catholicism ("Popery") and high-church practices consistently united parliamentary opposition, culminating in the 1701 Act of Settlement which legally secured a Protestant crown.
Core Theme 4: The Rise of Political Parties (Whigs and Tories)
Modern party politics was born during the late Stuart period, transforming how Parliament functioned.
1. The Exclusion Crisis (1679–1681)
The catalyst for party division was the attempt to exclude Charles II’s Catholic brother, James, from succeeding to the throne. This bitter dispute divided politicians into two camps:
• The Whigs: Led by the Earl of Shaftesbury. They favored excluding James, defended parliamentary supremacy, and advocated for religious tolerance for Protestant dissenters.
• The Tories: Defended hereditary succession, upheld the Divine Right of Kings, and fiercely protected the Church of England.
2. Long-Term Impact
The emergence of Whigs and Tories meant that monarchs could no longer manage individual MPs casually; they had to navigate organized party factions in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords through the reigns of William III and Queen Anne.
Key Takeaway: The Exclusion Crisis established the Whig and Tory parties, creating an organized parliamentary framework that permanently constrained royal power.
Key Chronological Benchmarks (1625–1714)
When writing your synoptic essay, use this timeline to ensure you cover the entire 89-year span:
• 1625–1629: Early conflict between Charles I and Parliament; influence of royal favorites like the Duke of Buckingham; the Petition of Right (1628).
• 1629–1640: Charles I’s Personal Rule (Eleven Years' Tyranny); reliance on advisers like Archbishop Laud and the Earl of Strafford; collection of Ship Money.
• 1640–1642: The Long Parliament meets; passing of the Triennial Act (1641) and the Grand Remonstrance; breakdown into the Civil War.
• 1649: Execution of Charles I; abolition of the monarchy; establishment of the Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell.
• 1660: The Restoration of Charles II via the Declaration of Breda.
• 1679–1681: The Exclusion Crisis and the rise of Whigs (led by Shaftesbury) and Tories.
• 1688–1689: The Glorious Revolution; overthrow/flight of James II; accession of William III & Mary II; passage of the Bill of Rights (1689).
• 1690: The Financial Settlement establishing regular parliamentary control of funds.
• 1701: The Act of Settlement establishing Protestant succession and permanent limits on prerogative under Queen Anne and future monarchs.
Mastering the A2 1 Synoptic Exam: Common Pitfalls to Avoid
To score high marks (Level 4/5) in Assessment Objective 1 (AO1), avoid these common student mistakes:
• Avoid the "Mini-Biography" Trap: Do NOT write one paragraph on Charles I, one on Cromwell, one on Charles II, and one on James II. Instead, structure your essay around themes (e.g., Finance, Religion, Royal Prerogative, Political Parties) and show how each theme evolved from 1625 through to 1714.
• Do Not Neglect the Later Period (1688–1714): Many students run out of time and stop around 1660 or 1688. Make sure to discuss the Bill of Rights (1689), the Financial Settlement (1690), and the Act of Settlement (1701) under William III, Mary II, and Queen Anne.
• Avoid the "Whig Interpretation" Bias: Do not describe the period as a simple, uninterrupted, "inevitable" march toward democracy. Show that it was full of volatile crises, reversals, and pragmatic compromises.
• Do Not Oversimplify the 1660 Restoration: Remember that while Charles II regained the crown in 1660, he did not get back absolute power or arbitrary courts, and he remained dependent on Parliament for taxation.
Quick Review Checklist
Can you explain:
• The difference between the Divine Right of Kings and Parliamentary Privilege?
• How Charles I's use of Ship Money differed from the Financial Settlement of 1690?
• Why Archbishop Laud's policies and James II's Catholicism triggered fears of "Popery"?
• How the Exclusion Crisis created the Whig and Tory parties?
• The significance of the 1689 Bill of Rights and the 1701 Act of Settlement?