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Queen Elizabeth never married and had no heirs.  After her death in 1603, her cousin James Stuart, King James VI of Scotland, took the English throne as James I.  The King James Version of the Bible, first published in 1611, was the magnificent English translation funded by his reign.  This stunning work greatly influenced the development of the English language for centuries to come.  But unlike Elizabeth, James I fought frequently with Parliament.   

Queen Elizabeth never married and had no heirs.  After her death in 1603, her cousin James Stuart, King James VI of Scotland, took the English throne as James I.  The King James Version of the Bible, first published in 1611, was the magnificent English translation funded by his reign.  This stunning work greatly influenced the development of the English language for centuries to come.  But unlike Elizabeth, James I fought frequently with Parliament.   

It was during the reign of James I in 1605 that the “Gunpowder Plot” was discovered. It supposedly consisted of a conspiracy to assassinate the Anglican King James I and his ministers at the State Opening of Parliament by exploding of barrels of gunpowder placed in the cellar of the building. Amazingly, perhaps too amazingly to be credible, the barrels of gunpowder were "discovered" just beforehand (possibly because one of the plotters tipped off a relative about the plans) and Catholic Guy Fawkes was executed along with other Catholics for an alleged conspiracy. The ''Oxford Dictionary of World History'' notes the the possibility that the Protestant statesman Robert Cecil (who helped install James I to the throne) “manufactured the plot” to influence public opinion at a time of religious conflict.<ref>Oxford Dictionary of World History, p. 262 (paperback ed. 2001).</ref> English people commemorate this event annually on November 5th, with festivities that include bonfires, fireworks and burning effigies.

It was during the reign of James I in 1605 that the “Gunpowder Plot” was discovered. It supposedly consisted of a conspiracy to assassinate the Anglican King James I and his ministers at the State Opening of Parliament by exploding of barrels of gunpowder placed in the cellar of the building. Amazingly, perhaps too amazing to be believed, the barrels of gunpowder were "discovered" just beforehand, and Catholic Guy Fawkes was executed along with other Catholics for an alleged conspiracy. The ''Oxford Dictionary of World History'' notes the possibility that the Protestant statesman Robert Cecil (who helped install James I to the throne) “manufactured the plot” to influence public opinion at a time of religious conflict.<ref>Oxford Dictionary of World History, p. 262 (paperback ed. 2001).</ref> English people commemorate this event annually on November 5th, with festivities that include bonfires, fireworks and burning effigies.

Charles I became the king in 1625 and conflicts worsened between the Crown and Parliament.  Charles I needed funding in 1628, but Parliament refused unless Charles signed the Petition of Right.  This important document would have limited the powers of the king in four significant ways.  The king could no longer imprison people without good reason, or force people to house soldiers in their private homes, or impose taxes without the consent of Parliament, or impose martial (military) law during peacetime.  The king’s power would be greatly weakened by this Petition.  Charles accepted the Petition, but refused to abide by it.

Charles I became the king in 1625 and conflicts worsened between the Crown and Parliament.  Charles I needed funding in 1628, but Parliament refused unless Charles signed the Petition of Right.  This important document would have limited the powers of the king in four significant ways.  The king could no longer imprison people without good reason, or force people to house soldiers in their private homes, or impose taxes without the consent of Parliament, or impose martial (military) law during peacetime.  The king’s power would be greatly weakened by this Petition.  Charles accepted the Petition, but refused to abide by it.

To this day Cromwell is loved by many in England, but hated by others.  The Irish, which suffered from his brutality in Ireland, vilify Cromwell.  Royalists, or those who love the English monarchy, also hated Cromwell and even dug up his corpse to behead him once the monarchy regained power.  The anger against Cromwell was so great that his severed head was displayed outside Westminster Abbey for over 20 years, from 1661 to 1685, and the remainder of his corpse thrown into a disgraceful pit.

To this day Cromwell is loved by many in England, but hated by others.  The Irish, which suffered from his brutality in Ireland, vilify Cromwell.  Royalists, or those who love the English monarchy, also hated Cromwell and even dug up his corpse to behead him once the monarchy regained power.  The anger against Cromwell was so great that his severed head was displayed outside Westminster Abbey for over 20 years, from 1661 to 1685, and the remainder of his corpse thrown into a disgraceful pit.

After Cromwell’s death, his son Richard became Lord Protector. He was so ineffectual that he became known as "Tumbledown Dick" for his indecisive character. The older son of Charles I took the throne as Charles II and instituted the Restoration (of the monarchy) in 1660. Richard Cromwell was allowed to retire to his estate in Huntingdonshire (perhaps a sign that the monarchy had nothing to fear from him). Charles ruled until his death in 1685, during which he established the rights of prisoners not to be held unless there was a good reason.  This was the Habeas Corpus Act, passed in 1679, which became a basic right under the U.S. Constitution, Article One, Section Nine (“The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.”).  Also during the reign of Charles II the first political parties developed, known as the Whigs, a party which favoured free trade, limits on the power of the monarch and tolerance of non-conformist protestants, and Tories, an aristocratic party which supported the King and the Church of England.  Those same political parties have given rise to current parties in England, although ironically, the philosophy of the Whigs is closest to that of the modern Tories or Conservatives.

After Cromwell’s death, his son Richard became Lord Protector. He was extremely ineffective and indecisive. The older son of Charles I took the throne as Charles II and instituted the Restoration (of the monarchy) in 1660. Richard Cromwell was allowed to retire to his estate in Huntingdonshire (perhaps a sign that the monarchy had nothing to fear from him). Charles ruled until his death in 1685, during which he established the rights of prisoners not to be held unless there was a good reason.  This was the Habeas Corpus Act, passed in 1679, which became a basic right under the U.S. Constitution, Article One, Section Nine (“The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.”).  Also during the reign of Charles II the first political parties developed, known as the Whigs, a party which favored free trade, limits on the power of the monarch and tolerance of non-conformist protestants, and Tories, an aristocratic party which supported the King and the Church of England.

James II, a Catholic, was the second son of Charles I and succeeded Charles II to the throne.  The Catholic-Anglican conflict had been ongoing for over a hundred years, and many Protestants were unhappy about having a Catholic rule the country.  Even now in England there are laws prohibiting a Catholic or a person married to a Catholic from becoming King or Queen. In 1688, the Protestants in Parliament asked Mary, the Protestant daughter of James II, to rule England (and Scotland) along with her Protestant husband William of Orange.  James II was forced to flee to France, where he died in exile in 1701.

James II, a Catholic, was the second son of Charles I and succeeded Charles II to the throne.  The Catholic-Anglican conflict had been ongoing for over a hundred years, and many Protestants were unhappy about having a Catholic rule the country.  Even now in England there are laws prohibiting a Catholic or a person married to a Catholic from becoming King or Queen. In 1688, the Protestants in Parliament asked Mary, the Protestant daughter of James II, to rule England (and Scotland) along with her Protestant husband William of Orange.  James II was forced to flee to France, where he died in exile in 1701.

The term “United Kingdom” refers to the combination (union) of “Great Britain” and “Northern Ireland,” which is part of the island of Ireland.  There is conflict to this day between Unionists, who are mostly Protestant, and Nationalists, who are mostly Catholic, as to whether Northern Ireland should remain part of the United Kingdom on the one hand or be united with the Republic of Ireland (Northern Ireland and the Republic share the same island) on the other. This dispute still very occasionally spills over into violence.

The term “United Kingdom” refers to the combination (union) of “Great Britain” and “Northern Ireland,” which is part of the island of Ireland.  There is conflict to this day between Unionists, who are mostly Protestant, and Nationalists, who are mostly Catholic, as to whether Northern Ireland should remain part of the United Kingdom on the one hand or be united with the Republic of Ireland (Northern Ireland and the Republic share the same island) on the other. This dispute still very occasionally spills over into violence.

The United Kingdom was formed in 1800 in response to the movement towards independence by Ireland. Although Ireland had a large majority of Catholics at the time and the other countries of the UK had even larger Protestant majorities, many leaders of the early Irish independence movement, notably [[Wolfe Tone]], were Protestant. Catholicism in Ireland became strongly aligned with Republicanism over a century later, with the formation of the [[Fianna Fail]] party by [[Eamon de Valera]] after the [[Irish Civil War|Civil War]] in the 1920s. ([[Erskine Childers]] and [[Sir Roger Casement]] were among the notable Protestants who supported the [[Easter Rising]] in 1916.)

The United Kingdom was formed in 1800 in response to the movement towards independence by Ireland. Although Ireland had a large majority of Catholics at the time and the other countries of the UK had even larger Protestant majorities, many leaders of the early Irish independence movement were Protestant. The movement culminated in the [[Easter Rising]] in 1916 and the Irish Civil War in 1920.

Within Great Britain, the people of Scotland and Wales take offense at being called "English".  The Scottish, for example, pride themselves at being different to the English.

Within Great Britain, the people of Scotland and Wales take offense at being called "English".  The Scottish, for example, pride themselves at being different to the English.