Glorious Revolution

When was the Glorious Revolution?

1688-1701

Give a quick summary of the Glo Rev

APRIL 1687 —> James I issued a Declaration of Independence, suspending penal laws against Catholics and allowing for some religious toleration for dissenters. After 7 bishops refused to read another Declaration of Indulgence in MAY 1688, their acquittal after they were arrested was met with public rejoicing.

Seven leading political figures, terrified at the prospect of a Catholic heir after James’ wife became pregnant, sent an invitation to William of Orange to bring a force against James, who fled the country. It was decided by a Convention Parliament in JAN 1689 that William would rule jointly with his wife, a Protestant. William pushed for a Toleration Act passed in MAY 1689, granting many Protestant groups, but not Catholics, religious freedom.

James attempted to amass a force in Ireland in order to take back the throne, which led to him defeated by Williams army in 1690. 1694 —> parliament secured the passing of a Triennial Act, which ensured parliament would be called regularly. Bank of England created same year to finance W’s war with France, ended 3 years later. 1698 —> creation of civil list, giving Will a fixed financial allowance that could only be approved by parl. Parl able to scrutinise public spending in a way they had not been able to before.

ACT OF SETTLEMENT 1701 —> eliminated fears of a potential Catholic succession and ended divine right monarchy

What was necessary for the Glorious Revolution to take place and why?

James resigning the throne voluntarily. Necessary as although it was likely that the Commons would have managed to secure a majority against James’ continued reign, the Lords would probably have rejected any proposal. The clergy would also have disapproved of a forceful change in monarch due to beliefs in divine right

What was the Whig argument for the deposal of James II?

He had broken a solemn contract with his people

Why was the Bill of Rights significant? What were the clauses?

Cited as a document of equal importance to the Magna Carta.

Most of the clauses referred to specific abuses of the royal prerogative under Charles II and James II. The important clauses calling for election to be both regular and free reflected resentment among MPs at attempts by the crown to intimidate them and tamper with elections.

Made certain the legal position of the army, which had been in some doubt. Clauses stating a force could not be raised or kept in times of peace without the consent of parliament was inserted in direct reaction to forces created by Charles II, which could have been used to enforce absolutism.

How did parliament ensure they would meet regularly with the king?

From 1689, Mutiny Acts were passed ensuring that the king could not court martial at will without the consent of parliament. As each Act was only valid for a year, the king had no choice but to turn to parliament regularly for approval.

What did Marxist philosopher Christopher Hill criticise about the Bill of Rights?

• It was vague and references in particular to holding frequent parliaments could still allow for absolutism for creep in

• The Bill made no provision for ensuring that elections were regular or free and made no definition of what ‘free’ actually meant.

• HOWEVER the vagueness would be partially removed by the Triennial Act of 1694.

• Bill of Rights not as significant as one might suggest, as it was a statute law that could be revoked by any future parliament

• Did not create a procedure by which arbitrary monarchs could be removed

• Monarch still free to decide issues on war, peace, and foreign policy, and William was still able to choose his own advisers

What was the significance of the Act of Settlement? When was it?

• 1701

• Act of Settlement stated that in order to bypass potential Catholic heirs to the throne, the succession would be vested in the House of Hanover, a German royal dynasty. The HoH was linked to the Stuarts through James I’s granddaughter Sophia + William and Mary had no surviving children.

• The Act not only provided a SMOOTH SUCCESSION, but enabled a number of legislative proposals first put forward in 1689 to finally reach the statute book —> E.G judges could no longer be dismissed without the consent of parliament (a reaction to James’ removal of disloyal members of the judiciary)

• No future FOREIGN monarch was allowed to enter England into a war in order to defend the monarch’s home country without consent of parliament (CLEAR response to potential threat of William, who had entered England into the expensive Nine Years’ War in 1688)

After the Bill of Rights was passed, it was no longer possible for monarchs to claim that…?

Their power came from God, as their authority was approved by the people through their representatives in parliament

How was a religious settlement established after the Glorious Revolution?

Toleration Act - dissenters were exempted from punishments if they took the oath of allegiance to the Crown and accepted the 1678 Test Act, meaning they could not enter public employment without swearing loyalty to Anglican Church.

• Dissenters were not expected to attend an Anglican Church, but their meetings were closely monitored and the doors of their meeting places could not be locked

• Special dispensation for certain dissenters —> Quakers who refused to take oaths were allowed to declare, rather than swear, that they denied the Pope’s authority

• Act made it easier for dissenters to freely worship. By 1714, there were around 400,000 dissenters in England

How was the Anglican Church undermined after the Glorious Rev?

• The power of Church courts, which had been crucial in upholding the authority of the confessional state, was severely restricted by the Toleration Act

How did the Anglican Church still play an important role?

• To gain public employment or join parliament, there was no choice but to swear allegiance to the Crown and take Anglican Communion

• Further Toleration Acts were passed in Scotland and Ireland, and these did NOT give dissenters the opportunity to participate in national or local government

Role of Parliament 1688-93: Privy Council Relations

• William immediately used his prerogative powers to form a Privy Council of his own choosing. Lord Halifax led the HoL, he was not loyal to either Tory or Whig parties so a good balanced choice. The rest of Pricy Council also relatively balanced, but they struggled to command respect of Commons

• First session of 1690 Parliament saw a strengthening of Privy council over parliament + an opposition attempt to create a commission to investigate government accounts was REJECTED

War in Ireland (James held a Catholic majority there)

• Became known an Williamite War, 1689-91

• Over 80,000 soldiers fought on both sides

• Although William achieved a relatively swift victory, some historians use the war as evidence that the Revolution was NOT peaceful:

• Over 8000 people died, and HALF of James’ soldiers were killed or captured

• Cost of the war in Ireland was a concern for parliament and the Whigs

What was the Whig Junto, what did they do?

• A group of Whig rebel leaders who influenced direction of policy. Influential between 1692-3.

• Favoured a strong executive and supported William’s war.

• Attempt to push through a triennial bill in order to ensure regular parliaments, passed by BOTH houses and William was forced to use royal veto to deny bill becoming law.

What was Rage of Party

Period from 1690-1715, where there was political instability caused by frequent elections. However with more regular elections came a renewed interest in politics, the electorate were better informed as well due to the lapsing of the Licensing Act of 1695 which had led to heavy censorship of the press