June 7 - The Petition of Rights is Passed

This Day in History: 7 June 2020

 

7 June 1628

 

392 years ago, today, the Petition of Rights was passed, severely limiting the power of King Charles I. This was an English document that helped to promote the civil rights of the King's subjects and is one of England's most famous constitutional documents. It was written by Parliament as an objection to an overreach of authority by the king, which English citizens saw as a major breach of their civil rights. The Petition contained four main points: no taxes could be levied without Parliament's consent; no English subject could be imprisoned without cause; no quartering of soldiers in citizens' homes; and no martial law may be used in peacetime.

 

This document was part of a wider conflict between Parliament and the Stuart monarchy that eventually led to the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, which was ultimately resolved in the 1688 Glorious Revolution. Following a series of disagreements with Parliament over taxes, Charles imposed 'forced loans' and imprisoned those who refused to pay, without trial. In 1628, martial law was used to force private citizens to feed, clothe and accommodate soldiers and sailors. This implied that the king could take any person's freedom without the need to justify it. It united opposition in society, particularly those who the monarchy depended on for financial support. The document also reportedly influenced elements of the 3^rd, 5^th and 7^th Amendments of the United States constitution, and remains in force today in the United Kingdom and parts of the Commonwealth.

 

Want to find out more about the Petition of Rights? Click here for more information.