What the Glorious Revolution Changed Flashcards
Whig Historians
It put the country on the road towards parliamentary religious monarchy, stability and religious toleration. The Glorious Revolution marked a sharp break from authoritarian personal monarchy, political upheavals and religious intolerance that had been hallmarks of Britain before 1688.
Other Historians
Aims of opponents of James II were conservative - they merely wanted to put a stop to his innovations - once James gone they were anxious to restore political order as soon as possible - this interpretation argues that 1688-89 brought not a major dividing line in British history but merely a change of monarchs.
Scotland
1689 the Scottish convention parliament demanded repeal of the 1669 Act of Supremacy - had brought the Kirk under English control, the abolition of bishops and the abolition of Lords of Articles.
William’s first reaction was to block these demands but within months he had to concede all.
Triumph for Presbyterians in Highlands whose support William needed against Jacobite enemies in the Lowlands.
Ireland
James’s invasion of Ireland in March 1689 ignited an explosion of Catholic militancy
Dublin ‘Patriot Party proclaimed itself independent of England - William’s campaign was prompted less by this by than his concerns prevent Jacobite invasion of England from Ireland)
Battle of the Boyne
Victory - July 1690
The Glorious Revolution changed the succession to the English throne not only in 1689 but in the future.
non-jurors - Few tories who refused recognise a monarchy other than James II
What did many Tory MPs try to support initially?
Regency (with James retaining title of king) and then the idea of Queen Mary as sole monarch (with William as consort)
Why did they abandon this idea?
William made clear that he would not rule as regent or be subordinate to his wife.
What compromising did the Whigs have to do?
Abandoning their insistance that James had been deposed in 1688 and to accept he had abdicated
Bill of Rights
December 1689 - when the succession after the heirs of William and Mary (if they had any) was said to rest with the heirs of Mary’s sister, Anne, excluding all Catholics or anyone married to a Catholic.
The Glorious Revolution limited the new monarchs’ powers in England.
William and Mary had to swear an oath, unlike their precessors, that they were bound to rule ‘according to the statutes in Parliament agreed on’.
What did the Declaration declare illegal?
1) The power to suspend parliamentary statues
2) The power to dispense individuals from parluamentary statutes
3) The right to maintain a standing army in peacetime.
What was the financial situation of William and Mary in 1690
They were granted an inadequate financial settlement - the excise for life but customs for only 4 years - so crown could not act independently and would have to call parliament regularly.
