Dr Tomasz Skirecki, IFA, UAM History of Britain and the USA 1 BA, 2011-12 LECTURE TEN Stuarts Part I House of Stuarts (1603 1714) " 17th century - crucial period for the development of modern British political system " 1603 - The Union of the Crowns - personal union of England and Scotland under James I (James VI Stuart in Scotland) " separate Parliaments until 1707 " absolute inclinations of the monarchs - leading eventually to England becoming a parliamentary monarchy James I (1603-1625) " James VI of Scotland becomes James I of England " first king of all four countries of the British Isles " believing in Divine Rights of the kings " personal extravagance Religion Three strongly marked religious parties in the country: 1. Episcopalians maintaining the status of the Church of England 39 Articles and Books of Common Prayer 2. Roman Catholics wishing to restore Mass and the Pope in England 3. Puritans - for simplicity and radical Protestantism - growing influence in Parliament Main events: 1605 - the Gunpowder Plot Robert Catesby, Guy Fawkes Roman Catholic plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament and the king discovered and the plotters punished - celebrated today on Nov 5 1611 - Authorized (King James) Version of the Bible Bible translation accepted by all religious groups in the country huge impact on the language still popular today. Since 1611 - Ulster Plantation - giving lands to English and Scottish protestants in Ulster 1 Dr Tomasz Skirecki, IFA, UAM History of Britain and the USA 1 BA, 2011-12 LECTURE TEN Stuarts Part I Constant troubles with Parliament over taxes and the divine rights of the king. Attacks on king's monopolies and practices. James I dies in 1625 leaving the country in huge debt 2