Personal Rule and the collapse of royal power, 1681-88

Question 1

What steps did Charles II take to strengthen his position, following the Oxford Parliament?

Answer 1

• The Whig leader, Shaftesbury, fled abroad after being charged with treason
• Local government charters were revised in order to remove Whigs from office
• Charles II seized the opportunity to arrest leading Whigs and further weaken his opponents, following the Rye House Plot of 1683
• 1684 - Charles defied the Triennial Act by failing to summon parliament

Question 2

When did Charles II die?

Answer 2

February 1685 - succeeded by his brother, James II.

Question 3

Which party did James II support?

Answer 3

The Tories.

Question 4

James II called a parliament which was very…

Answer 4

Tory in its outlook and which granted him substantial funding.

Question 5

What had James II done, to parliament, in three years following is accession to the throne?

Answer 5

He managed to dissipate their goodwill and destroyed any chances of establishing political stability under the Stuart monarchy.

Question 6

How, in his short reign, did James II display an extraordinary lack of political judgement in supporting Catholicism openly?

Answer 6

• He appointed Catholics to a number of offices, including the Privy Council and university fellowships, and as officers in the army
• Over 200 Catholics replaced Protestants as JPs
• James tried to broaden his support in 1687 with the Declaration of Indulgence, which suspended laws against both Catholics and dissenters

Question 7

Why were the political classes prepared to accept the policies of James II?

Answer 7

Because they hoped that James’ reign would not last long, and that his Protestant daughter and heir, Mary, would reverse his Catholic policies.

Question 8

Which two important events transformed the political scene in 1688?

Answer 8

• April - 7 Anglican bishops refused to allow the Declaration of Indulgence to be read in their churches and were put on trial, charged with sedition - all 7 were acquitted amid widespread public celebrations
• June - birth of a son to Queen Mary threatened the permanent establishment of Catholicism in England

Question 9

What did the two key events in 1688 lead both Whigs and Tories to do?

Answer 9

Invite William of Orange, Princess Mary’s husband, to intervene to protect the English church and the country’s liberties and to ensure the election of a free parliament.

Question 10

When were William and Mary jointly offered the crown?

Answer 10

December 1688.