English Revolution (1640-1689)

The English Revolution (The Glorious Revolution) 1640-1689

The English Revolution refers to a series of events in Britain that led to the collapse of feudalism and destroyed absolutism and serfdom in Great Britain. There were a 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 monarchy was abolished in 1649 but the king was restored as the head of the state.

The revolution was also characterized by 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:

1. Any English monarchy must be a member of the Anglican
2. It declared that there should be frequent parliamentary

Causes of the English Revolution

1. 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.

2. Principle of divine right of the king. The king argued that he was 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.

3. Role of English philosophers. The English philosophers also contributed to the outbreak of the English Revolution. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. The emergence of classical economists. The emergence of classical economists played a 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 Revolution.

7. 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.

8. Emergence of commercial bourgeoisie class. The emergence 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.

9. 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.

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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 role to support the industrial revolution consequently leading to the rise of capitalism.

4. Abolition of serfdom. The revolution contributed to the abolition of serfdom and absolutism, there was introduction of constitutional rights. The abolition of serfdom created free workers who were needed by capitalist industries thus leading to the rise of capitalism.

5. 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.

6. 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. Shift in Monarchical Power

After the revolution, the monarchy became ceremonial, with the Prime Minister assuming real political power. The monarch no longer controlled the government but held a symbolic position, while the Prime Minister became the head of government under a parliamentary system.

2. End of Absolute Monarchy and Rise of Capitalist Parliamentary Government

The revolution marked the overthrow of absolute monarchy and led to the establishment of a republican government dominated by capitalists. This shift meant that the capitalist class gained both political and economic power, which fundamentally altered the governance of Britain.

3. Economic Changes: Abolition of Taxes and Promotion of Trade

• Abolition of internal taxes: The revolution led to the removal of internal tariffs and barriers, which facilitated free trade within Britain.
• Freedom in farming and enterprise: Capitalist reforms promoted the growth of individual enterprises and free farming, laying the foundation for further economic development.

4. Control of the Military

The Royal Army and soldiers came under the control of the new government, shifting the balance of military power from the monarchy to the parliamentary government led by the capitalists.

5. Government Budget Control by Parliament

The parliament gained significant authority in managing the country's finances. Unlike during the monarchy, where the king controlled government funds, the parliament now had the power to approve government expenditure and determine the national budget.

6. Collapse of Feudalism

The English Revolution led to the complete dismantling of feudalism as a mode of production. With the rise of capitalism, the remnants of the feudal system, including land-based power and obligations, were abolished.

7. Capital Accumulation and Emergence of Free Competition

• The revolution facilitated the accumulation of wealth, sometimes through illegal or exploitative methods such as plundering and looting.
• Capitalism took root with the rise of merchant competition in production, as capitalists and traders started competing for profits in an increasingly market-driven economy.

8. Social and Economic Costs

The revolution came with a heavy cost:

• Loss of lives: Many people died or were injured during the conflicts.
• Destruction of property: Farms, shops, workshops, and other property were destroyed, leading to economic hardship for many.

Contribution of English Revolution to the Rise of Democracy in Britain

1. Emergence of a Multiparty Political System

The revolution led to the development of a multiparty political system in Britain, including the rise of the Conservative and Liberal parties. This system allowed individuals to have the power to select their leaders, contributing to the expansion of democracy.

2. Establishment of Shared Government

The English Revolution of the 17th century facilitated the emergence of a shared government, where the common people had a voice in the political process. This allowed greater participation and collaboration between the people and the existing government.

3. Freedom of Worship

One significant outcome of the revolution was the freedom of worship. People gained the right to worship freely according to their beliefs, without being restricted by any religious authorities. This shift helped foster a more inclusive and tolerant society.

4. Respect for Human Rights

The revolution laid the groundwork for the respect of human rights, which was a significant departure from the earlier feudal monarchies. Under feudalism, human rights were often overlooked, but the revolution empowered individuals to claim their inherent rights and freedoms.

5. Creation of a Realistic Constitution

The revolution resulted in the creation of a realistic constitution that aimed to govern the country based on the rule of law. This constitution ensured that all state matters were conducted according to established principles and laws, helping to formalize the governance structure and protect individual rights.

6. Freedom of Debate and Expression

The political changes of the revolution greatly enhanced the freedom of debate and expression. The parliament gained a prominent role in debating bills, amending laws, and discussing political issues openly. This process helped establish democratic practices and principles that would be used in many countries around the world.