Conflicts between king and parliaments, 1665-81

Question 1

Who dominated political life in the early 1660s?

Answer 1

Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon - but he gave little attention to managing parliament on the king’s behalf.

Question 2

What was Edward Hyde held responsible for?

Answer 2

England’s humiliating defeat in the Second Anglo-Dutch War of 1665-67, when the Dutch attacked the English fleet in the river Medway.

Question 3

Charles II, after the Second Anglo Dutch War, directed parliament’s anger against…

Answer 3

Clarendon, who fled to France in 1667.

Question 4

The removal of Clarendon as chief minister led to a…

Answer 4

group of diverse ministers fulfilling his role.

Question 5

Who replace Clarendon as chief minister?

Answer 5

Ministers (the ‘Cabal’) such as:

• Clifford
• Arlington
• Buckingham
• Ashley
• Lauderdale

Question 6

In 1670, what did Charles II and Louis XIV conclude? Why were MPs unhappy?

Answer 6

The Secret Treaty of Dover, in which Charles II agreed to join France in any future war against the Dutch. MPs were unhappy with this agreement as they were suspicious of Charles’ relationship with the absolutist and Catholic Louis, and most sympathised with the Protestant Dutch.

Question 7

What did Charles agree in secret terms of the Treaty of Dover?

Answer 7

That he would convert to Catholicism when he felt the time was right, in return for a pension from the French.

Question 8

What did Charles II start in 1672?

Answer 8

A Third Anglo-Dutch War in 1672.

Question 9

What effectively made the war very unpopular with parliament and the people?

Answer 9

Propaganda by the Dutch ruler, William of Orange.

Question 10

Why did anger against Charles II only increase during the Third Anglo-Dutch War?

Answer 10

When he issued the Declaration of Indulgence of 1672 - which granted a substantial measure of religious freedom to Catholics and dissenters.

Question 11

What happened to Charles as a result of the Third Anglo-Dutch War? What was this known as?

Answer 11

He had to declare himself bankrupt, known as the Stop of the Exchequer.

Question 12

When did Charles II withdrew the Declaration of Indulgence?

Answer 12

1673.

Question 13

What, and when, was the Test Act?

Answer 13

1673 - required all office holders to declare their opposition to Catholic religious doctrines.

Question 14

What was the effect of the Test Act on Charles II’s brother James, Duke of York?

Answer 14

He was excluded from high office.

Question 15

What was a result of the Test Act on the Cabal? What was the subsequent impact?

Answer 15

It fell, and the subsequent emergence of Thomas Osborne, Earl of Danby as Charles II’s new chief minister.

Question 16

Explain the Exclusion Crisis? When was it?

Answer 16

1678-81:

• A number of wild allegations were made against Catholic nobles and even the queen herself, claiming that they were planning to murder the king and place the Duke of York upon the throne
• Although, the ‘Popish Plot’ was completely fabricated, it gave parliament the opportunity to denounce the king’s ministers, forcing Charles II to dissolve the Cavalier Parliament in January 1679

Question 17

When did the two ‘Exclusion Parliaments’ meet in London?

Answer 17

Between 1679 and 1681.

Question 18

What did the two ‘Exclusion Parliaments’ do?

Answer 18

• They each proposed a bill to exclude the Duke of York form the succession of the throne
• The issue general widespread political debate, supported by mass demonstrations in favour of exclusion

Question 19

What did Charles II do in response to demands for exclusion?

Answer 19

Refused to consider the proposed measure, and dissolved each parliament after just a few months.

Question 20

When, and where, did a Third Exclusion Parliament meet?

Answer 20

March 1681 in Oxford.

Question 21

Who dominated the Third Exclusion Parliament?

Answer 21

It was a royalist stronghold.

Question 22

By the time of the meeting of the Third Exclusion Parliament, Charles II received a large…

Answer 22

financial subsidy from Louis XIV, allowing him greater independence from parliament - therefore he was able to refuse all of parliament’s demands, dissolving it after just a few weeks.

Question 23

Which two political groupings did the Exclusion Crisis led to the emergence of?

Answer 23

The Whigs and the Tories.

Question 24

Who were the Whigs?

Answer 24

• Those who supported exclusion - they claimed that toleration of Catholics would cause a drift towards royal absolutism, on the French model
• They championed popular sovereignty and the defence of England’s religion

Question 25

Who were the Tories?

Answer 25

• MPs who were strong believers in the power of the monarch, the hereditary succession and respect for authority
• They attacked the Whigs as closet republicans, whose beliefs could destabilise the country and possibly lead to renewal of civil war