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William and Mary and the Rise of Constitutionalism in England

Since the restoration of the Stuart King monarchy in 1660, England had been knee-deep in authoritative issues between King and Parliament. Those refusing to conform to the Anglican Church were denied basic liberties. Only upon the expulsion of King James II and the “Glorious Revolution” that followed, placing King Willam III and Queen Mary on the throne, did the idea divine-right monarchy come to an end. Under the English Bill of Rights of 1689, William and Mary of England prompted an era of English Constitutionalism by changing government authority and granting individual and religious liberties.
Before William and Mary could ascend to the throne of England they had to accept the English Bill of Rights as well as changes in governmental structure. This 1689 doctrine established the principal that power was divided between King and Parliament, the core belief of a constitutional government. All law was to be made in this representative body, which had to be called upon at le...

Posted by: Gabrielle Gooch

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