HOW GLORIOUS WAS THE GLORIOUS REVOLUTION - VIEW POINTS

Question 1

What is the Whig/20th century interpretation of the Glorious Revolution?

Answer 1

That is was little more than a change of dynasty, peaceful Protestant and conservative succession

• Act of Settlement ensured a smooth Protestant succession in line with most of what happened during the 17th century
• Bill of Rights was England reverting to an “ancient constitution”
• The Toleration Act still excluded non-Trinitarians and Catholics ensuring Protestant Supremacy

Question 2

What is the revisionist interpretation of the Glorious Revolution?

Answer 2

Radical and revolutionary

• Events after 1688 had a certain violence and radicalism, Williamite War in Ireland , Scotland and Nine Years’ War
• No divine right, the ‘Association’ was signed by thousands of ordinary people
• Financial settlement seriously undermined the King’s economic independence

Question 3

What are some key Angela Anderson quotes about the Glorious Revolution?

Answer 3

• “A reaction to the immediate concerns and pressures rather than a coherent restructuring of the monarchy”
• “Parliamentary monarchy unlocked resources that a divine right monarch could only dream of”
• The events of 1649, “created a backlash that restored monarchy without addressing them effectively. They therefore re-emerged in the years of 1688, which laid the foundation for constitutional monarchy in Britain”

Question 4

What did Steven Pincus mean by his interpretation that “the English revolutionaries created a new kind of modern state”?

Answer 4

The revolutionaries did not want to drastically change the role of the monarch instead they wanted:

• Political participation rather than absolutism
• Religious toleration
• Promoting English manufacturers rather than a landed empire
• They pursued moderate and gradual change rather than the extreme left or right

Question 5

What have Historian said about the financial changes during William’s reign?
Marxist- Chris Hill

Answer 5

Marxists: Christopher Hill interpreted parliamentary financial control as a move to benefit the propertied classes. e.g. MPs = Monied interest played an important role in politics, and no future party could hope for success without the support of the City of London.

Question 6

What have Historian said about the financial changes during william’s reign?
Douglas North and Barry Weingast

Answer 6

Douglas North and Barry Weingast interpreted parliamentary control over finance as beneficial to the economy. Those previously reluctant to invest in government now had new confidence as parliament underwrote the Bank of England.

Question 7

What have Historian said about the financial changes during william’s reign?
Tony Claydon

Answer 7

Tony Claydon argued that William saw parliament as the only solution, would do anything to secure funds for the war against France.
(William did not want P to have more power but he had no choice)

Question 8

counter-revisionist interpretation

Answer 8

most recent perspective
GR = popular, violent and radical
gr took place over years rather than months
long term causes found in protestant reformation an actions of charles 1
revolutionaries inc the thousands of troops in ireland (not just the political elite)
constitutional settlement confirmed the ending of divine right
bill of rights = important
independent judiciary
religious settlement paved way for greater dissent and freedom
financial settlement = crown no longer to control finances alone
bank of england = victory for economic progress

Question 9

revisionist interpretation

Answer 9

Jogn morril
agrees with whigs that at first was peaceful
but plays down significance of glorious revolution
simply a bloodless noble revolt or coup d’etat
any revolution was countered by the tory role in events
only major change was crown had changed hands by discussion
declaration of rights = nothing new