James II Flashcards
James II background and personality
- Reign characterised by absolutism and papery
- Given post of high admiral in 1660
- 1688 eldest son was born
- Married Anne Hyde who was the daughter of earl of Clarendon - then married Catholic Mary of Modena
Was there any opposition to James II succession
No, virtually no opposition
How did James intend to govern
in a parliamentary way - would respect the Anglican church settlement as established by law
What were the serious signs of trouble
2 poorly coordinated rebellions, one in Scotland led by Argyll and on in the West country led by Monmouth
What did Monmouth do
Intended to gather a large following and trigger a rebellion - failed to do this and was executed
Bloody Assize of Justice Jeffries
Hundreds executed in the West country with little evidence against them - many were low-born men and women who posed little threat - Whigs saw this as evidence of absolutism in the reign of James II
James II absolutism catholic Tyrant evidence - Refusal to stand down the army after defeat of Monmouth
Raised fears army might be used against the King’s political opponents - made worse after he dismissed protestant officers and replaced them with Catholics
James II absolutism catholic Tyrant evidence - Raising the issue of repealing the test acts and Corporation acts 1685
Made it obvious this is what he wanted to do - Prorogued after 2 weeks as parliament led opposition against it
James II absolutism catholic Tyrant evidence - Removing Halifax from the privy council 1685
- Warned dissenters they would be suppressed after Catholics gained power
- Also objected idea of challenging the test acts and corporation act - removed by James II
James II absolutism catholic Tyrant evidence - Closeting members of the court to convert to Catholicism
James II held one-to-one interviews to try to convert individuals to Catholicism - not successful with only one person converting to Catholicism
James II absolutism catholic Tyrant evidence - Godden vs Hales
- Outcome was already determined before the trial
- majority found 11/1 in Hales’s favour
- Created by the crown to increase his dispensing power
James II absolutism catholic Tyrant evidence - Suspension of Compton in July 1686
- Refused to discipline Sharp so was suspended from the court as a result of not following the King’s orders
James II absolutism catholic Tyrant evidence - Campaign to force Magdalen college, Oxford to accept a Catholic president
Went against what the university believed
James II absolutism catholic Tyrant evidence - 1687 deceleration of indulgence
Attempt to gain support from the Dissenters - failed s dissenters felt they would be suppressed in the future
James II absolutism catholic Tyrant evidence - Intimidation of local magistrates and a renewed Quo warranto campaign
All JP’s questioned to see how they would respond to the repeal of the test and corporation acts - quo warranto would then let the king dismiss those who didn’t agree with his plans - 25% of all local official’s would become Catholic
James II absolutism catholic Tyrant evidence - 2nd Deceleration of indulgence 1688
7 Bishops refused to read out the new declaration and arrested - however not found guilty which shows the majority of the populations view regarding the new policies = they disliked them generally
James II absolutism catholic Tyrant evidence - Birth of Son 10th June 1688
Secures a catholic dynasty - Both Tories and Whigs wrote to William of Orange stating they would offer him support if he invaded England
Louis XIV role in the glorious revolution
Revoked the Edict of Nantes - 1000s of Huguenot refugees now spread tales of persecution which led to negative public opinion against France
Immortal 7
Those who wrote to William of Orange offering their support if he invaded - made up of Tories and Whigs
How did William of Orange successfully invade England - William was well prepared
- Skilful diplomacy minimised risk that France would attack the united provinces (Netherlands etc) when he was away in England
- Assembly of the fleet and army was thorough
- Wasn’t relying on popular uprising in England
- Army was very big = 463 ships and 40,000 men
How did William of Orange successfully invade England - William had support in England
- Dutch launched a propaganda campaign to undermine loyalty to James II - focused on the rumours that James II wasn’t legitimate
- 10th October he made a deceleration that James II planned to give England a similar government to Ireland which was Pro-Catholic and Autocratic
- Anti-Catholic riots in London also helped him
How did William of Orange successfully invade England - James II had problems when trying to prepare
- The English population didn’t rally behind James II
- James frantically made concessions to try and regain support but it was too late
- Campaign of intimidation in chartered towns failed - officials responsible for raising the country’s militia refused to cooperate
How did William of Orange successfully invade England - James didn’t fight William
- Decided at Salisbury not too fight William
- James II decided to flee to France - Neither the Whigs or Tories wanted to put the king on trial and so let him go into exile in France
