How did the developments in England strengthen democracy?
The beginnings of democracy in England can be traced the the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215 between King John and the leading feudal lords of England. The Magna Carta stipulated that the King could not impose any tax without the approval of the council of feudal lords. This council gradually developed into Parliament.
In the subsequent centuries, the English Parliament gradually limited the power of the monarch and began to assert its own authority. A critical moment in the evolution of democracy was English Civil War between forces loyal to Parliament and those loyal to the King. The Civil War ended with the execution of King Charles I in 1649 marking the triumph of Parliament. After a short experiment with a republican form of government, England became a constitutional monarchy in 1688 through the Glorious Revolution when Parliament installed its own choice of William and Mary as the King and Queen of England. It was now clear that Parliament was the supreme power in England and the monarch could act only with the approval of Parliament.
The eighteenth and nineteenth century saw the further strengthening of democracy in England with the extension of voting rights to the common people. Earlier, voting was restricted to the aristocratic landowning classes. The evolution of democracy was complete with the granting of voting rights to women in 1928. With this, all adult citizens in Britain could vote and the English Parliament became a true representative of the British people.
In the subsequent centuries, the English Parliament gradually limited the power of the monarch and began to assert its own authority. A critical moment in the evolution of democracy was English Civil War between forces loyal to Parliament and those loyal to the King. The Civil War ended with the execution of King Charles I in 1649 marking the triumph of Parliament. After a short experiment with a republican form of government, England became a constitutional monarchy in 1688 through the Glorious Revolution when Parliament installed its own choice of William and Mary as the King and Queen of England. It was now clear that Parliament was the supreme power in England and the monarch could act only with the approval of Parliament.
The eighteenth and nineteenth century saw the further strengthening of democracy in England with the extension of voting rights to the common people. Earlier, voting was restricted to the aristocratic landowning classes. The evolution of democracy was complete with the granting of voting rights to women in 1928. With this, all adult citizens in Britain could vote and the English Parliament became a true representative of the British people.