Parliamentary Monarchy and Absolutism Differentiate Term Paper

The concept of absolutism was supported by theologians such as Jacques Boussuet who gave religious sanction to the view that kings were God's anointed representatives on earth and to rebel against their authority is to rebel against God.

In contrast to the French model of absolutism, parliamentary monarchy took roots in England in the 17th century. In fact the concept of the 'divine right of kings' had been weakened in England ever since the adoption of Magna Carta in 1215. When King Charles I attempted to gain absolute power in his reign during the 17th century, the parliament opposed him and the King was eventually tried and executed through an Act of the parliament.Later, when King James II again attempted to grab absolute powers, he was overthrown in what became known as the Glorious Revolution of 1688 after which the Bill of Rights was passed in 1689. Since then England has been governed under the system of constitutional monarchy with the monarch having only ceremonial powers.

Reference

Constitutional Monarchy." (2006). From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved on October 17, 2006 at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutional_monarchy.....