History a level, Stuart Britain, James II (1685-88)

State of the government on James' succession

-As a result of fiscal reforms, the royal finances were now in excellent shape.

-The strength of the Tories during Charles' reign meant power lay perhaps just as much with the political nation/parliament as it did with the Crown.

-Parliament has become an event not an institution.

How much opposition did James have when he first came to the throne?

None, thanks to Charles.

Why might there be opposition to James later?

-He was a Stuart.

-He was a known Catholic.

-He could be vengeful.

James' character and outlook

-Stubborn, humourless, but less inflexible than many thought.

-An avid believer in the DROK.

-He was in favour of religious toleration so that a peaceful return to Catholicism could be made.

-A slave to his sexual desires.

-Envied King Louis

-He was prone to place too much trust in reactionary advisors who told him only what he wished to hear, encouraging him to go down the path of absolutism.

James Scott, Duke of Monmouth

-Charles' eldest illegitimate son.

-Was genuinely popular in some circle due to his fervent Protestantism.

-A competent military commander with experience in the army.

William of Orange

-Protestant ruler of Holland.

-A superb military commander.

Mary of Orange

-James II's eldest daughter.

-Was arranged to marry William of Orange in 1677 by Danby.

James' accession

-Little opposition to it.

-Assembled the 'Loyal parliament'.

-James said most of the former Exclusionist would be forgiven if they acquiesced to his rule.

-James and parliament would be on good terms for the first few months.

The Loyal Parliament (May 1685-87)

-There was a Tory landslide in the elections.

-It was a parliament of Tory high Anglicans, ergo, it was not a parliament of court lackeys.

George Jefferies (1st Baron Jeffrys of Whem)

-James' Lord Chief Justice and Lord Chancellor responsible for the judicial repression of those who had participated in the Monmouth rising.

Robert Spencer (2nd Earl of Sunderland)

A diplomat closely linked with pro-French policies.

James and Parliament

-Inherited loyal subjects, who burned bonfires around the country to welcome him.

-There was a 10,000 strong, professional standing army.

-He inherited a loyal parliament.

-They granted him £2.1mil.

-BUT James throws it all away in pursuit of Catholicism.

James miscalculated

-James insisted on giving Catholics positions in the army and administrative office.

-This went against the Test act (1673)

Who was James' power dependent on?

The Tories

James II was politically inept

-His power was dependent on the Tories.

-The Tories were militantly Anglican.

-James was openly Catholic - distrustful.

-However, initially the Tories were fiercely loyal and supportive of the Crown.

Argyll's Rising (May-June 1685)

-Earl of Argyll was hoping to trigger a popular rising of Presbyterians against the Tories in support of the Duke of Monmouth.

-It failed as he attracted too few volunteers and lacked experience.

-Argyll was captured and killed on 30th June.

Monmouth's rebellion (1685)

-Monmouth landed at Dorset on the 11th June 1685.

-His growing army of nonconformists, artisans and farm workers fought a series of skirmishes with militia and regular soldiers.

-Monmouth adopted Sea Green banners.

-His political appeal to the lower classes was successful, but he failed to attract support from any significant section of the political nation.

-Monmouth was defeated at the battle of Sedgemoor on 6th July 1685.

James was vindictive

-He rejected Monmouth's plead for mercy - even when he offered to convert to Catholicism.

-He ignored all of his advisors.

-James said 'Monmouth did not behave as expected'.

When was Monmouth executed?

15th July 1685

Jeffry's Bloody Assizes

-The Autumn Assizes of 1685 began at Winchester, led by Jeffries, who had a vicious temper.

-At Dorchester between 300-500 rebels were hanged, disembowelled and dipped in salt.

-Some were pardoned if they paid off Jeffries.

What did James use Jeffry's bloody assizes to do?

Increase his standing army which soured his relations with parliament.

Quote about James II

'James was so inept he managed to unite a divided nation against him'.

James II and religion

-He was hell-bent on returning England to Catholicism.

-He managed to reunite the Whigs and the Tories - the Whigs never wanted him and the Tories had strongly Anglican values.

-Religion would eventually bring him down.

James' mistakes after the rebellion

-James' standing army increased to 20,00, increasing the fears of absolutism and arbitrary rule.

-He breached the Test Act (1673) as he put Catholics in position of his command. - He said to the Tory majority to simply 'ignore the test act'.

The Dissolution of the Loyal parliament (Nov 1687)

Following a clash over his breach of the Test act by appointing Catholics as army officers, James prorogued parliament in Nov 1687.

James II religious policy

James used the monarch's suspending powers:

-He let out 1200 Quakers out of prison.

-He overruled the suspension of individuals from the Act of Uniformity (1662), which banned Anglicans from academia.

-James infuriated the Anglican gentry.

What did James do in Feb 1687?

-Introduced the first of a series of reforms designed to repeal the existing penal laws for not attending church.

-The Anglican hierarchy was incensed by this measure.

William Sancroft

Archbishop of Canterbury (1677-90).

Sancroft's petition (1688)

-Sancroft and 6 other bishops presented a petition to the king declaring the indulgence illegal.

-James regarded this as rebellion and sedition and promptly had Sancroft put in the Tower of London.

-However, he was acquitted at the trial.

-As head of the church, James saw this as an attack on his prerogative powers.

Why did James remain at this point?

-He was the lawful king.

-Many had fought for his succession.

-He was old and hopefully would die soon.

Birth of James Edward, Prince of Wales (10 Jun 1688)

-James Edward had now replaced Mary of Orange in the line if succession.

-This birth was a trigger for widespread discontent as it confirmed Catholic succession after James.

The immortal seven wrote to William of Orange (Nov 1688)

-Received before 1688, the letter asked William to face the ruling king and Mary become the heir to the throne.

-William obliged and arrived in England on 7th Nov 1688

The end of James II

He decided to flee the country, thus effectively handing over the throne to William and Mary of Orange.

Summary judgement on James II's reign

Given the intrinsic strength of the institution of the monarchy, James in many ways was the architect of his own downfall.