Final answer:
The English Bill of Rights 1689 aimed to establish a constitutional monarchy, affirm the rights of English citizens, including fair trials and freedom of speech, and place checks on the monarch’s power after the Glorious Revolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of the English Bill of Rights 1689 was to establish a constitutional monarchy and cement the liberties of English subjects after the Glorious Revolution. This vital document was an act to declare the rights and liberties of the subject and settle the succession of the crown. Not only did it require that the crown seek Parliament's approval before raising money through taxes, but it also outlined numerous protections for citizens, including the requirement of a fair trial and prevention against unjust imprisonment.
The Bill of Rights protected parliamentary independence from the monarchy and ensured the preservation of individual rights such as freedom of speech, the right to regular elections, and the right to petition the king. Additionally, it held significant importance in the context of limiting the monarch's power, marking a shift towards democracy, and laying the groundwork for the principles that would later be echoed in the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Moreover, this document reflected the British commitment to the protection of natural rights and served as a response to previous intrusions upon these rights by the Stuart dynasty, emphasizing the right to 'life, liberty, and property' for all Englishmen. It has been a cornerstone in the development of the legal framework upholding democracy and individual freedoms.