War and Democracy
In England, between 1688 and 1689, a Catholic king James II was overthrown and was replaced by Mary and William of Orange, both of whom were Protestants. It is referred to as the Bloodless Revolution or commonly known as The Glorious Revolution. The objectives of the revolution were complex as it changed how England was governed. The process gave parliament more power compared to the monarchy leading to political democracy.
Democracy is a form of government where people have the authority to choose their governing legislation. The main issues concerning democratic theory are who people are and how authority is shared. The cornerstones of democracy include; freedom of speech and assembly, right to life, voting, membership, equality, and minority rights. There are two types of democracy, direct and representative. In a direct democracy, people decide and deliberate on legislation, while in representative type, people choose representatives to decide and deliberate on legislation. A parliament or presidential democracy is an example of a representative type of democracy. Democracy makes all forces struggle continuously to realize their interests and devolves power from groups to rules. In most cases, the powers of the majority are enforced within the framework of representative democracy. John Merriman demonstrates representative democracy in his book ‘A history of Modern Europe’ which a true picture of the Glorious Revolution. After the England parliament summoned a new king, it passed the Bill of Rights in 1689. The bill enriched the rights of English people and most property owners.
According to Merriman, religion was a major threat to political unity. When Stuarts returned to power, policies were enforced, which were against the parliament. It was a fight between the parliament and religious kings since they had not come into concession. From William the Orange view, Protestantism was the English constitution[1]. The coronation oath of Mary and William was about governing England’s people according to the statutes, laws, and customs set out in parliament rather than the religious rules. The Bill of Rights ended the constitutional battles which had lasted for decades. Merriman states that the bill reaffirmed the existing rights of parliament and guaranteed property owners’ rights to self-government and the accused to the rule of law[2]. The protestants enforced the Toleration Act, which kicked out Catholics from the throne and excluded them from state positions.
Merriman demonstrated the importance of democracy when he revealed that the Glorious Revolution reassured the gentry’s political domination, whose interests parliament represented above all. He also adds that the revolution benefitted the middle classes. Parliament imposed new land rates on the gentry and aristocracy and shifted the tax burden away from commercial classes. The revolution created a more efficient England and brought religious pluralism. Despite the prolonged monarchy wrangles with the government, parliament worn the English Civil War since it represented peoples’ rights in their economic and social lives.
Books and articles have been written similar to Merriman’ History of Modern Europe’. An article on political change in Great Britain, published in a newspaper, related the same theory of parliament opposition during the Glorious revolution. Both the article and Merriman book talk about the threat of Catholicism in government policies. The parliament felt much relief as Protestants turned back the Catholic rulers[3]. Both show that after parliament gained authority, the country was invaded by outsiders. In the Hanoverians and the Stuarts in Great Britain, religious conflicts are also revealed. In all the cases, Protestants won against Catholics, which gives rise to freedom and unity in the states. It is also clear that Catholics were excluded from government positions. The article portrays the aristocratic consensus, which brought majors changes in British political life. The interests of property owners were represented in the House of Lords and parliament in Britain and England respectfully. In the article, the Merriman, politics, and states have long ago been ruled by outright patronage and family ties. In Britain, we had the House of Commons, which was not the case in England. In 1766, Pitt was a prime minister in Britain, unlike England, where Merriman does not reveal any prime minister in the government setting[4]. After the Glorious Revolution, Catholics were only excluded from government positions in England, while in Britain, Catholics were restricted from being lawyers and merchants. They were also not supposed to vote. Catholics were subjected to a special tax, could not be admitted to Cambridge University, possess any weapon, or worship freely. Merriman explains the Stuart religious designs, where he depicts how Catholics initially ruled England.
Nonconformists had to take an oath that they would not try to go against or alter the established church order and State of England[5]. This was against peoples’ will, which leads to the Glorious Revolution.
In conclusion, war and democracy go hand in hand. The society is always fighting since the rich majority want to live as they wish without considering the less fortunate. Merriman clearly shows that representative democracy is the way to go. The minority is well represented, and everyone has freedom of expression and life. Family ties in politics always breed conflict, and without governing rules, society cannot live in unity. Furthermore, religion cannot rule a state.
Bibliography
Harris, Tim. “The people, the law, and the constitution in Scotland and England: a comparative approach to the glorious revolution.” Journal of British Studies 38, no. 1 (1999): 28-58.
Hempton, David. Religion and political culture in Britain and Ireland: From the Glorious Revolution to the empire’s decline. Cambridge University Press, 1996: 418-424
Merriman, John M. A History of Modern Europe: From the Renaissance to the age of Napoleon. Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic, 2005 233-249.
[1] Merriman, John M. A History of Modern Europe: From the Renaissance to Napoleon‘s age. Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic, 2005 234.
[2] Merriman, John M. A History of Modern Europe: From the Renaissance to the age of Napoleon. Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic, 2005 235.
[3] Merriman, John M. A History of Modern Europe: From the Renaissance to Napoleon‘s age. Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic, 2005 235
[4] Harris, Tim. “The people, the law, and the constitution in Scotland and England: a comparative approach to the glorious revolution.” Journal of British Studies 38, no. 1 (1999): 29
[5] Hempton, David. Religion and political culture in Britain and Ireland: From the Glorious Revolution to the empire’s decline. Cambridge University Press, 1996: 421