22. Divisions within the political nation: Whigs and Tories

When did Whig and Tory parties emerge?

From the beginning of William III and Mary II's reign, as William pragmatically introduced both groups into his government

How was the Tory party structured in the 1690s?

The Tories were still loosely structured however they held briefings and exchanged letters

What happened to the Whigs when when the junto Lords took leadership in 1694 to help support war with France?

Their activities became coordinated as they had daily meetings from the late 1690s during Parliamentary sessions and kept in touch when Parliament was in recess

To what extent did Whig and Tory party divisions exist beyond Parliament during William III and Mary II's reign?

Political divisions existed nationwide, as clubs and campaigns become linked with the different parties

What two reasons are there for the increasing divisions between the Whigs and Tories between 1688 and 1689?

-More frequent general elections after 1689 meant that elections needed to be contested along party lines
-An increased franchise meant that the electorate had broader backgrounds, leading to greater variety of conflict

How can Whigs attitudes be described in relation to Tories?

Whigs were more radical

What did the Tory Party believe in regard to the church?

They believed in the Divine Right as well as no further religious toleration

What was the foreign policy of the Tory party?

They supported a limited naval war against France

What was the Whigs policy towards William III's war with the French?

They supported the war against France between 1689-97

What was the Whigs religious policy in the 1690s?

They wanted an extension to the Toleration Act 1689 to allow greater toleration for dissenters

What did the Whigs believe in relation to the William III and Parliament?

They wanted a contract between King and Parliament, with Parliament having the power to remove the monarch if the contract is broken

Who were Jacobites?

Those who wanted James II and his descendants back on the throne. They were mostly Catholic and from the Highlands in the southwest of Scotland

How did the Whigs and Tories view the monarchy in regard to religion?

The Whigs were wedded to the idea of protestant succession, William and Mary, whereas a minority of Tories were Jacobites

How had Tory Jacobites accepted William and Mary?

As 'de facto' monarchs

What was introduced after a 1696 Jacobite plot?

William and Mary introduced an oath of association, demanding that office holders acknowledge them as 'rightful and lawful' monarchs

Why did many Tories struggle to accept the oath of association?

Because it raised the question of Divine Right, as Tories had only accepted William and Mary as De Facto monarchs

How many Tory Lords and MP's refused the oath of association?

-20 Lords
-90 MP's

When and what was the Abjuration Act?

Demanded that all MP's, office holders and clergy denounce the claim of James II's son to the throne

What was the Nine Years War?

War between England, the Dutch and France, which the Dutch had been fighting since the 1660s. William was a massive stakeholder

How much did the Nine Years War cost England?

£36 million

Why did the Whigs help the war effort financially?

Partly due to their commitment to the military effort and partly because they could benefit financially from it

In what two ways did the Whigs financially benefit the Nine Years War?

Through the:
-Million Loan Act, 1693
-Establishment of the Bank of England, 1694, which was at the heart of the 'financial revolution'

Following 1694, what position did Whigs and Tories take?

The new Whigs, junto Whigs, became a central part of William and Mary's government, where as the Tories opposed it

How can William's effective use of the Whigs and Tories be described?

-'Party was the lever by which the King controlled Parliament'
-William's 'willingness to discard one party in favor of the other effectively controlled both parties'

When and what was the Treaty of Ryswick?

-1997
-A temporary end to the wars between William and Louis

How did the Tories use the Treaty of Ryswick to gain support?

-The Tories resonated with the nations feeling against the continuation of high taxes to fund William and Mary's army
-This led to them taking the seats of over confident Junto Whigs in the 1698 elections
-The co-monarchs needed cooperation in Parliament so appointed additional Tories

What four things came from the Tories being in power from 1696?

-A cut in land tax
-A reduction to the army in 1697
-The impeachment of leading Junto Whigs in 1701
-The 1701 Act of Settlement (only Protestants could inherit the throne)

How did personal divisions develop between Whigs and Tories by 1701?

-Whigs became wealthy quickly and were 'monied' men
-This came as a shock to traditional Tories, who were landowners and had to pay high taxes