The English revolution (The glorious revolution) 1640 – 1689 - The Rise Of Democracy In Europe, Topic 2: The Rise Of Democracy In Europe | History 2, THE RISE OF DEMOCRACY IN EUROPE | The RISE of DEMOCRACY | rise of democracy in the world | the rise of democracy in Europe notes | contribution of philosophers to the rise of democracy in Europe | he rise of illiberal democracy in europe brainly, Topic 2. The rise of democracy in Europe, HISTORY 2: FORM SIX: Topic 2 – THE RISE OF DEMOCRACY IN EUROPE
Background to the Rise of Democracy in Europe
Democracy can be defined as a system of government by the people and for the people. It can also be defined as a form of government in which all people can choose their leaders and hold them accountable for their policies and conduct in office.
Democracy entails the key elements of basic human rights, free and fair elections and equality of all people before the law.
Original of Democracy in the World.
Democracy is said to be originated from two Greek words, namely “Demos” which means rule of power or authority. Generally the term democracy can simply mean the rule of people who are divided by their own concern.
Historically Democracy was said to be practiced for the first time in ancient Greek especially during the 300BC years ago which basically was under direct democratic system.
Due to the shortage of number of Authorians in Greek in which who ever in the state had a choice of providing a suggestion so as to promote the social, economic and political matters of the state. Later due to the increase of populations there was a need of indirect democracy (Representatives).
Democracy spread to other ports of the world especially in England and France. It was achieved through revolutions (17th C England and 18th C-France).
Later democracy spread to USA, the rise of democracy in America act as the main bridge to the rise abd spread of democracy in the world.
The principle that governed politics in Europe before the rise of democracy
Absolutism
This was one of the main principles that governed politics in Europe. Throughout Europe in the period before the French revolution of 1789, the government was in the hands of few individuals. The individuals had absolute power and in most cases their positions were hereditary.
In France, the king was above the law and not controlled by it. He had power to have an individual arrested and imprisoned during “the king’s pleasure” through the famous “letter de cachet”.
Divine right of the king.
This was the belief that the power of monarchies was given directly by God and thus monarchs were answerable only to God. Any opposition to the king was an attack on God himself. Thiswas very true in Britain during the reign of king James I. The same situation occurred in France where it was a serious offense to questions the powers of the king, king Louis XIV once remarked that “I am the state”.
Feudal order/ feudalism
Before the rise of democracy, Europe was characterized by feudal order/feudalism and privileged classes. Feudalism as practiced in the kingdom of England was a state of human society which was formally structured and stratified on the basis of land tenure.
The land lords were part and parcel of the government. In France, the ancient regime was characterized by distinctive classes of the clergy and the nobles.
The church and the state were inseparable
There was a strong relationship between the church and the state in Europe before the rise of democracy. The official faith or religion in France was supposed to be Catholics.
The pop could even influence the decisions of the kings of France. In Britain, the official faith or religion was Anglican. All members of the royal family had to be Anglicans.
The English revolution (The glorious revolution) 1640 – 1689
The English revolution refers to series of events in Britain that led to the collapse of feudalism and destroyed absolutism and serfdom in Great Britain.
There were series of conflicts in Britain; the commercial bourgeoisie were determined to destroy feudalism. The bourgeoisie wanted to make the crown an overall leader of England without the assistance of the landlords.
Another conflict was the control of the common land because the monarchy was against the enclosure system. Due to these conflicts, the democracy was abolished in 1649 but the king was restored as the head of the state.
The revolution was also characterized with the replacement of the Roman Catholic king, James II with the protestant one, William III.
There was also the passage of the bill of rights which included the following;
Any English monarchy must be a member of the Anglican Church.
The king has no powers to increase taxes without the general consent of the parliament.
The elections of the members of parliament should be free.
It declared that there should be frequent parliamentary elections.
Causes of the English revolution
- Heavy taxation
The merchants were gaining a lot of influence, hence the king decided to impose heavy taxes on the merchants so as to control their growing influence.
Taxes hindered business activities which forced the merchants to rise up and overthrow the government.
- Principle of divine right of the king.
The king argued that he was an absolute and his power could not be questioned by man.
The British people wanted this principle to be changed because they wanted a king who will be answerable to them.
- Role of English philosophers.
The English philosophers also contributed to the pot break of the English. Their writings enlightened the English people about weakness of old system.
John Locke an English philosopher attacked the monarchy as being autocratic and oppressive in nature. John Locke wanted a king who will be accountable to the people. These writings partly prompted the English people to stage a revolution.
- Role of Oliver Cromwell.
Oliver Cromwell contributed to the outbreak of English revolution by uniting the people to remove the dictatorial monarchy. He was protesting against religious discrimination and all forms of dictatorships in England.
Oliver Cromwell even suggested that King Charles has to be assassinated to pave a way for the establishment of a new government.
- Enclosure system.
The enclosure system was an agreement reached in parliament by wealthy landowners to buy small peasants landless consequently the peasants appealed to the king to stop the process of enclosure.
The king tried to stop the enclosure system but his actions worsened relations between him and the wealthy.
- The emergency of classical economists.
The emergence of classical economists played huge role in the outbreak of the English revolution. Economists such as Adam smith, David Ricardo and Thomas Malthus advocated private property and individual freedom in economic life of a society.
Their views brought awareness among the people thus leading to the English evolution.
- Religious conflicts.
There were religious conflicts in 1531 where king Henry VII declared himself the king of Church of England, this action drew resistance from some of the church which led to the rise of a group known as puritans.
The puritans were dissatisfied with the church and decided to separate themselves from the main stream, the king responded by persecuting them and calling them enemies. This led to the outbreak of the English revolution.
- Emergency of commercial bourgeoisie class.
The emergency of a bourgeoisie class contributed to the outbreak of the English revolution. This class was determined to conduct business activities in England thus any class of people that tried to hinder their goals was overthrown.
The monarchy had failed to introduce liberal economic policies that would support capitalism thus the commercial bourgeoisie joined with the peasants to stage the revolution.
- Maintenance of discriminative classes.
The maintenance of discriminative classes contributed to the outbreak of the English revolution. The nobility and the clergy were the most privileged class.
The middle class consisted of professionals and government officials and the last class consisted of the peasants who were very poor. It was the peasants who united with the commercial bourgeoisie to stage a revolution.
The role of English revolution in the rise of capitalism in England
The English revolution played a great role in the development of capitalism in England. The effects of the revolution paved way for the rise of capitalism.
Introduction of free trade.
The new government pursued the laissez faire policy whereby it did not intervene in economic activities. The government allowed the domestic economy to operate fairly with few controls.
The absence of government interference encouraged the investors to increase production thus leading to the industrial revolution.
Seizure of political power by the merchants.
There was seizure of political power by the merchants; this was a fundamental change in Britain because before the revolution all political powers rested in the hands of the king.
The merchants played a great role in abolishing feudalism and introduced capitalism.
Unification of England.
The unification of England played a great role in the rise of capitalism. The coming together of Britain, Wales, Scotland and
Ireland widened the market thus playing a crucial to support the industrial revolution consequently leading to the rise of capitalism.
Abolition of serfdom.
The revolution contributed to the abolition of serfdom and absolutism, there was introduction of a constitution rights.
The abolition of serfdom created free workers who were needed by capitalist industries thus leading to the rise of capitalism.
Control of the church.
There was confiscation of church land and the church was separated from the state, this created room for the introduction of liberal capitalist ideas which supported the rise of capitalism.
Land consolidation.
The revolution abolished feudal land tenure system and put land in the hands of the capitalists who carried out mechanized agriculture which paved way for the rise of the agrarian revolution. The agrarian revolution played a great role in the rise of capitalism.
IMPACTS OF THE ENGLISH REVOLUTION
1. After the revolution the king became ceremonial title because the one who was given power to control the government was the prime minister under the parliamentary government therefore prime minister became the head of the government and the king became a ceremonial leader.
2. Politically the revolution led to the overthrown of the absolute monarchy and the capitalist formed the republic government based on parliamentary supremacy controlled by the capitalists.
3. The Capitalist who formed parliamentary government possessed both economic and political power in Britain, this causes changes in English economy for example it led to abolition of internal taxes, barriers which led to promote trading activities in England, freedom of farming and individual enterprises.
4. The Royal army and soldiers started to be under the control of the government established by the capitalists.
5. The Government funds started to be controlled and approved by the parliament; this means that the parliament had power to budget the government expenditure as it was during monarchy system of the king.
6. All the feudalism elements that remained were removed (dismantled) that is, feudalism as a mode of production collapsed completely after the English political revolution.
7. The Revolution accumulated wealth, through the illegal ways of accumulating wealth (capital) Primitive accumulation of capital such as; plundering, looting etc and free competition in production was adopted which led merchants to start competing each other in production, this was because of merchants who come into power and who was under the development of capitalism.
8. The revolution caused death; many people were badly wounded and there was massive destruction of people’s properties like farms, shops, and workshops.
Contribution of English Revolution to the Rise of Democracy in Britain
1. It brought multiparty political system, basically in Greet Britain where Conservative party and Liberal party were enacted. This give chance to individuals to select the leader of their wishes, hence rise of democracy.
2. Emergence of shared government. The English revolution of 17th C made the emergence of a shared government between common people and the existing government.
3. It brought much freedom of worship as they were able to worship the way they wish in any sect.
4. Respect of human rights. The English revolution gave room to the respect of human right as opposed from the farmer fudor monorchies which demanded the right of human being.
5. The revolution brought realistic constitution. It led to the country governed by the rule of law, all matters of the state follow the principle and law of the country.
6. Freedom of debate and expression. The England political revolutions played a great role for the rise of democracy in the world. The parliament was given high states of debating bill, to amend laws etc.
7. The revolutions spreed ideas of democracy to other countries such as France.