Glorious Revolution

Question 1

Immortal 7 invite William to England

Answer 1

• Due to birth of Prince of Wales earlier that year
• William accepts due to threat of France and England- England wealthier and better navy
• Takes 4 months to plan

Question 2

Glorious Revolution

Answer 2

8 November 1688
- 20,000 soldiers, 500 vessels
- Proclaimed he was to “preserve and maintain established laws, liberties, and customs”
- Many English nobles and officers took his side leaving James defenseless
- James flees to France, abdicating the throne

Question 3

Glorious?

Answer 3

• William had not entered England with intention of taking over, but to pressure James into stopping Catholic policies
• Called “glorious” by Whig historians, emphasizing lack of fighting (in England) and the defense against James’ attempt at popery and arbitrary government
• Recent historians emphasize the negative sides; blood shed in the three kingdoms, William more interested in Dutch purposes rather than advancing England, limited religious toleration

Question 4

Convention Parliament

Answer 4

• Declared James had abdicated the throne, offering the crown to William and Mary (jointly)

Question 5

Toleration Act

Answer 5

• May 1689
• As long as dissenters denied transubstantiation they were free to enjoy religion
• Pleased William (tolerant) and Parliament (hated Catholics)
• Licensed dissenters were exempt from penal laws; 1689-1710 +3600 meeting houses were licensed
• Less wide ranging than 1687 but a step forward
• John Locke heavily praised this- toleration established by law
• Test Act still in force, dissenters still banned from office; led to occasional conformity which Tories wanted to make illegal in 1702
• Non-Jurors- 3.5% of clergy, 61 MPs, ~50% of Bishops

Question 6

Declaration of Rights

Answer 6

1689
- 7 heads declared many practices of Stuarts illegal (raising money without consent, standing army, etc)
- Negotiable and weaker than Scottish Claim
- Basis of constitutional monarchy
- Signed December

Question 7

Scottish Claim of Right

Answer 7

• 1689
• Bound King to contractual theory of government
• Condemned episcopacy; Scots only willing to accept Presbyterianism as official religion
• Harsher than English Bill