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The sharing of power between the King of England and the Parliament caused continual conflict, some of it religious in nature.  The religious disagreements between the Church of England, the Puritans, the Quakers and other Christian faiths caused many to flee to the new colonies in America to establish religious communities free from persecution in England.  But note that many of these Christian denominations, such as the Puritans, did not believe in religious freedom for others any more than the Church of England did.

The sharing of power between the King of England and the Parliament caused continual conflict, some of it religious in nature.  The religious disagreements between the Church of England, the Puritans, the Quakers and other Christian faiths caused many to flee to the new colonies in America to establish religious communities free from persecution in England.  But note that many of these Christian denominations, such as the Puritans, did not believe in religious freedom for others any more than the Church of England did.

After the founder of the Church of England (King Henry VIII) died in 1547, there were three noteworthy monarchs: Elizabeth I, James I and Charles I.  Queen Elizabeth took the throne in 1558, about a decade after King Henry Vhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Button_reflink.pngIII, and remains the most popular English monarch in history.  She ruled for nearly 45 years, until her death in 1603, and had two remarkable accomplishments:  she deftly managed Parliament and many religious conflicts, and she crushed the massive Spanish Armada that attempted to invade England in 1588.  A Protestant who was formally excommunicated by the Catholic Church, Elizabeth obtained the “Religious Settlement” from Parliament in 1559 that funded the Church of England and set many rules for it (like the ability of its clergy to marry) that remain to this day.  Queen Elizabeth’s successful rule is known as the “Elizabethan Age.”

After the founder of the Church of England (King Henry VIII) died in 1547, there were three noteworthy monarchs: Elizabeth I, James I and Charles I.  Queen Elizabeth took the throne in 1558, about a decade after King Henry Vhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Button_reflink.pngIII, and remains the most popular English monarch in history.  She ruled for nearly 45 years, until her death in 1603, and had two remarkable accomplishments:  she deftly managed Parliament and many religious conflicts, and she crushed the massive Spanish Armada that attempted to invade England in 1588.  A Protestant who was eventually excommunicated by the Catholic Church, Elizabeth obtained the “Religious Settlement” from Parliament in 1559 that funded the Church of England and set many rules for it (like the ability of its clergy to marry) that remain to this day.  Queen Elizabeth’s successful rule is known as the “Elizabethan Age.”

Queen Elizabeth was known as the "Virgin Queen." It was during her reign that Sir Walter Raleigh received a charter to establish the first English settlement in North America.  This first charter named the region "Virginia" in 1584 in honor of the "Virgin Queen." Notice how few Americans learn this origin of the name of the state of Virginia.<ref>http://www.e-referencedesk.com/resources/state-name/virginia.html</ref>

Queen Elizabeth was known as the “Virgin Queen.” It was during her reign that Sir Walter Raleigh received a charter to establish the first English settlement in North America.  This first charter named the region “Virginia” in 1584 in honor of the “Virgin Queen.” Notice how few Americans learn this origin of the name of the state of Virginia.<ref>http://www.e-referencedesk.com/resources/state-name/virginia.html</ref>

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.

Charles I became the king in 1625 and conflicts worsened between King Charles I 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, and Charles refused to sign it.

It was during the reign of James I in 1605 that the “Gunpowder Plot” was

discovered consisting of barrels of gunpowder in the cellar of Parliament allegedly set to be ignited by Catholics to murder the Protestant James I and all of Parliament at an official opening.  Guy Fawkes and others were executed for this plot, and British Protestants commemorate this event annually on November 5th, though the Oxford Dictionary of World History notes that it has been suggested that Protestant Earl Robert Cecil (who helped install James I to the throne) “manufactured the plot.”

Charles also refused to give religious freedom to Puritans in England and Presbyterians in Scotland.  This led to the religious English Civil War from 1642 to 1649, whereupon the Puritan leader Oliver Cromwell emerged victorious.  King Charles was then tried and publicly executed.  This was the first execution of a king by his own people in history, setting an example that future revolutions imitated.

 

 

Charles also refused to give religious freedom to Puritans in England and Presbyterians in Scotland.  This and a dispute over the power of the royalty led to the religious English Civil War from 1642 to 1649, whereupon the Puritan leader Oliver Cromwell emerged victorious.  King Charles was then tried and publicly executed.  This was the first execution of a king by his own people in history, setting an example that future revolutions imitated.

An example of the harsh religious conflict in England under Charles I was the experience of the Puritan William Prynne (1600-69).  He wrote and distributed pamphlets, including his famous pamphlet Histrio Mastix (1632) that attacked stage-plays liked by Queen Henrietta Maria.  Prynne’s writings caused him to be tried before the monarch’s Star Chamber and, of course, he was convicted in that unfair tribunal. (To this day the term a “Star Chamber” refers to an inherently unjust proceeding.)  The sentence of Prynne in 1634 was an extremely harsh life imprisonment and also the cropping of his ears (removal of part of his ears to disfigure him).   

An example of the harsh religious conflict in England under Charles I was the experience of the Puritan William Prynne (1600-69).  He wrote and distributed pamphlets, including his famous pamphlet Histrio Mastix (1632) that attacked stage-plays liked by Queen Henrietta Maria.  Prynne’s writings caused him to be tried before the monarch’s Star Chamber and, of course, he was convicted in that unfair tribunal. (To this day the term a “Star Chamber” refers to an inherently unjust proceeding.)  The sentence of Prynne in 1634 was an extremely harsh life imprisonment and also the cropping of his ears (removal of part of his ears to disfigure him).   

But Prynne, even with his ears cropped, continued to write pamphlets.  In 1637 he was further punished by removing the remainder of his ears.  In 1640, the Long Parliament limited the absolute power of the monarch and freed Prynne.  He was then even elected, without ears, to Parliament in 1648.  But in December 1648 the English army led by the Puritan Colonel Thomas Pride) held a coup that excluded more than 100 Charles-friendly members of Parliament from the House of Commons.  That was known as “Pride’s Purge.”  The remaining “rump” Parliament then assembled without these excluded members, and this allowed the execution of Charles I.  It is easy to see why some Puritans decided to come to America during this time rather than stay in England!

But Prynne, even with his ears cropped, continued to write pamphlets.  In 1637 he was further punished by branding the remainder of his ears.  In 1640, the Long Parliament limited the absolute power of the monarch and freed Prynne.  He was then even elected to Parliament in 1648.  But in December 1648 the English army led by the Puritan Colonel Thomas Pride) held a coup that excluded more than 100 Charles-friendly members of Parliament from the House of Commons.  That was known as “Pride’s Purge.”  The remaining “rump” Parliament then assembled without these excluded members, and this allowed the execution of Charles I.  With all the fighting and religious persecution, it is easy to see why some Puritans decided to come to America during this time rather than stay in England!

After defeating Charles I, Oliver Cromwell initially founded the “Commonwealth” (1649-53), which was a republican form of government.  But like other future revolutionaries, Cromwell then decided simply to rule as a military dictator, which he did until his death in 1658.  Most revolutions simply replace one form of dictatorship with another.  The shining exception was the American Revolution, as its leader (George Washington) voluntarily gave up his power for the good of the people.

After defeating Charles I, Oliver Cromwell initially founded the “Commonwealth” (1649-53), which was a republican form of government.  But like other future revolutionaries, Cromwell then decided simply to rule as a military dictator (but not a "king"), which he did until his death in 1658.  Most revolutions simply replace one form of dictatorship with another.  The shining exception was the American Revolution, as its leader (George Washington) voluntarily gave up his power for the good of the people.

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, the older son of Charles I took the throne as Charles II and instituted the Restoration (of the monarchy) in 1659.  He 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 (liberals) and Tories (conservatives).  Today those same political parties exist in England, although the Whigs are now the Labour Party (note the English spelling of “labor”, which represents common or union workers).

After Cromwell’s death, the older son of Charles I took the throne as Charles II and instituted the Restoration (of the monarchy) in 1659.  He 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 (liberals) and Tories (conservatives).  Today those same political parties exist in England, although the Whigs have been replaced, though not directly, by the Labour Party and the less-popular Liberal Democratic Party (note the English spelling of “labor”, which represents common or union workers).

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 is a law prohibiting a Catholic from serving in a top position.  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 is a law prohibiting a Catholic from serving in a top position.  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 impact of the new balance of power, the legitimacy of the monarchies and the specific nation-building was enormous throughout the West.  A lasting peace in Europe resulted.  France lost power, while Great Britain and Prussia (the future Germany) gained power.  Latin American governments established as colonies of European powers felt confident to declare their independence.  Finally, and perhaps most of all, nationalism grew in Europe.  A century later, this nationalism would result in the worst wars in the history of the world.

The impact of the new balance of power, the legitimacy of the monarchies and the specific nation-building was enormous throughout the West.  A lasting peace in Europe resulted.  France lost power, while Great Britain and Prussia (the future Germany) gained power.  Latin American governments established as colonies of European powers felt confident to declare their independence.  Finally, and perhaps most of all, nationalism grew in Europe.  A century later, this nationalism would result in the worst wars in the history of the world.

 

==Other Revolutions==

==Other Revolutions==

The movements towards revolution and nationalism spread to China.  [[Sun Yixian]] was just one of the many Chinese inspired by the unified nations arising in Europe.  A rebellion arose in 1911, which ended the rules of the Qing (also known as Manchu) dynasty.  Confucianism was rejected by the reformers, who viewed it as old-fashioned, and reforms were sought to give more rights to workers and the poor.  The revolutions did not resolve much, but marked the beginning of a period of strife and unrest for China in the early 1900s, which would lead to its establishment as a Communist nation in later decades.

The movements towards revolution and nationalism spread to China.  [[Sun Yixian]] was just one of the many Chinese inspired by the unified nations arising in Europe.  A rebellion arose in 1911, which ended the rules of the Qing (also known as Manchu) dynasty.  Confucianism was rejected by the reformers, who viewed it as old-fashioned, and reforms were sought to give more rights to workers and the poor.  The revolutions did not resolve much, but marked the beginning of a period of strife and unrest for China in the early 1900s, which would lead to its establishment as a Communist nation in later decades.

 

==Revolutionary Art and Literature==

==Revolutionary Art and Literature==

[[Image:Monet Impressionsunrise.jpg|right|thumb|280px|Impression Sunrise (need a high resolution color printer to fully appreciate this!)]]

[[Image:Monet Impressionsunrise.jpg|right|thumb|280px|Impression Sunrise (need a high resolution color printer to fully appreciate this!)]]