Charles II Flashcards
When was the restoration of the monarchy?
1660
What happened after the restoration of the monarchy?
English social life changed considerably
How different was Charles II from his father?
He was intelligent, gay and liked entertainment
What did Charles II support?
The newly established Royal Society
Why did Charles II support the Royal Society?
For the Advancement of Science
Who were the members of the Royal Society?
Sir Christopher Wren, Isaac Newton, John Milton, John Locke
In what year was Parliament called?
In 1661
How was the relationship between Charles II and Parliament early in his reign?
They agreed on most points
In what year was the Act of Uniformity passed?
In 1662
What did the Act of Uniformity change?
The Church of England was re-established and the Prayer Book was to be used in all churches
How was the religion in 1662?
All other forms of worship were forbidden
How were called the ones who didn’t attend the Church of England?
Dissenters or non-Conformists
Who was Charles’ first adviser?
The Earl of Clarendon
Who was the King’s second adviser?
Earl of Shaftesbury
By who was Charles influenced in his reign?
By the French king Louis XIV
In what years was England in a war with Holland?
1664 - 1667
What big disasters forced Enland to make peace during the war with Holland?
Plague and the Great Fire in 1666
What country did England gain during Charles’ reign?
New Amsterdam in America
How did Charles rename the New Amsterdam and why?
New York - after his brother James, Duke of York
Who did Charles II marry?
The Portuguese princess Catherine
What did Catherine receive?
Tangiers, Bombay as a dowry
What happened in 1670?
Charles made a secret treaty at Dover with Louis XIV
What did Charles promise Louis in the secret treaty in 1670?
That he will join France again in the war against Holland and declare himself a Roman Catholic
What did Louis promise Charles in return?
money and help in case of trouble
What happened in 1672?
Charles issued the Declaration of Indulgence without consulting Parliament
What did the Declaration of Indulgence grant?
freedom of worship to everybody, freeing both non-Conformists and Roman Catholics from oppression
Into what resulted the Declaration of Indulgence?
a storm of protest
What happened with the Earl of Shaftesbury after the Declaration of Indulgence?
He started working against Charles II and built up a party in Parliament to oppose the king
How was called the Earl of Shaftesbury’s party?
Country Party
Why was the party called the Country Party?
Because it was made up of landowners, merchants and manufacturers
How did opponents call the members of the Country Party?
the Whigs
Where did they take the name the Whigs from?
From a group of wild Republicans in Scotland
How was called the party of supporters of King?
Court Party
Who were the members of the Court Party?
The nobles and the clergy
How did their opponents call the members of the Court Party?
Tories
Where did the name Tories come from?
It was after a gang of wild Irish rebels
What document did the Parliament pass in 1673?
the Test Act
What did the Test Act require?
All who held any government position be members of the Church of England
What was one of the biggest achievements of the Parliament?
Habeas Corpus Act
When was the Habeas Corpus Act?
1679
What was the Habeas Corpus Act about?
Made it illegal to imprison a man without trial
When did the real crisis for Charles II come?
1678
What was the crisis in 1678 about?
The Parliament began to believe the stranger Titus Oates that the Catholics wanted to murder the King, make his Catholic brother a king and force everbody to become Catholic
What did the Shaftesbury advice the King after the crisis?
To divorce his wife and marry another woman who would give him a heir
What was the second advice of Shaftesbury to the King?
To declare his illegitimate son, the Duke of Monmouth, who was a Protestant
Did Charles take any of the Shaftesbury’s advices?
No, he refused
When did the Parliament introduce the Exclusion Bill?
1679
What was the Exclusion Bill about?
It was supposed to prevent James from becoming king, bbecause he was a Roman Catholic
What did Charles do to prevent the bill of being passed?
He dissolved Parliament and never called another
What did Shaftesbury try to do after Charles dissolved Parliament?
He tried to rouse the country to a rebellion, failed and then fled to Holland
What happened to Titus Oates?
He was imprisoned
What did Charles make James do?
He made him to marry his elder daughter to William of Orange - Protestant and his younger daughter Anne to the Danish king Goerge - Protestant
How were the four last years of Charles’ reign?
peaceful
When did the Charles II die?
1685
What did the Charles II do before he died?
Declared himself a Roman Catholic
Who became king after Charles II?
His brother James
