Part 8: William & Mary - Revolution and Reinvention - 1689 - 1702

Question 1

What happened with regards to parliament after James fled?

Answer 1

January 1689 – The Convention Parliament Convenes -
* With James’s flight, a Convention Parliament assembled to determine the nation’s governance.

Question 2

Composition of Convention Parliament?

Answer 2

319 Whigs and 232 Tories. Some tension although much less since exclusion and a general consensus between Whigs and Tories that secured a settlemnet via a pragmatic compromise.

Question 3

What was the hereditary term that meant the Lords accepted William and Mary as joint monarchs?

Answer 3

If Mary died and William remarried, any new children would come behind Mary’s sister Anne in succession.

Question 4

What was the decleration of rights?

Answer 4

Declaration of Rights - 1689

• No suspending of laws without Parliament’s consent (a direct rebuke of James II’s suspending powers e.g. Declaration of Indulgence)
• No levying of taxes without parliamentary approval (echoing the Petition of Right from 1628).
• Free elections and freedom of speech within Parliament must be preserved.

No Roman Catholic can be king or queen.
It permanently codified Protestant succession.

Read out to them at their coronation - this evolved into the BILL OF RIGHTS

Question 5

What was the 1689 Toleration Act?

Answer 5

Gave dissenters exemption from penal laws if they took an oath of allegiance.

Question 6

What did the decleration of rights turn into?

Answer 6

Later on in 1689 - it became the bill of rights.

This limited royal prerogative, created free speech in parliament and parliamentary approval / right over tax and dispensing power.

Question 7

What was the 1689 Mutiny Act?

Answer 7

“The 1689 Mutiny Act required annual parliamentary approval for the maintenance and discipline of the army, establishing civilian control over the military and reinforcing the post-revolution settlement that curtailed royal prerogative.”

Parliament controlled the army.

Question 8

Explain the financial revolution of the glorious revolution?

Answer 8

In 1690 - £1.2M / year granted to the Crown - 50% for war - 50% for civil government.

Question 9

Why did the attitude to Dissenters change with the toleration act?

Answer 9

After James II’s pro-Catholic regime, many MPs and church leaders saw Catholicism as the real threat.

• Tolerating Protestant dissenters was seen as a way to unite all Protestants under the new regime and prevent future Catholic resurgence.

Dissenters were now the lesser evil compared to Catholics.

Question 10

What was the Grand Alliance?

Answer 10

The Grand Alliance was a military and diplomatic coalition formed by England, the Dutch Republic, and the Holy Roman Empire, later joined by other European powers. It aimed to contain France, stop Louis XIV’s territorial aggression, and maintain the balance of power in Europe.

Question 11

Where did James go after France ?

Answer 11

With money and troops from Louis XIV - he went to Ireland - his most loyal powerbase.

James saw Ireland as a springboard to invade England, regain his crown, and rally Catholic support across the British Isles.

Question 12

What did the Scottish do initially in response to William?

Answer 12

The Scottish Convention Parliament met in 1689 to resolve the constitutional crisis.

Though it was convened to consult on governance, it quickly turned revolutionary. Deeply dissatisfied with James VII’s pro-Catholic policies and his attempt to re-impose bishops on the Presbyterian Church, the Convention declared that James had forfeited the Scottish throne.

Question 13

Despite William winning the Scottish Convention parliaments debates - what happened in Scotland?

Answer 13

The settlement was not universally accepted. In 1689, the Jacobites, still loyal to James, scored a victory at the Battle of Killiecrankie . Though they won the battle, their leader was killed, and the rebellion soon lost momentum.

Question 14

What was the settlement produced by the Scottish?

Answer 14

William and Mary were then offered the Scottish crown, but only after agreeing to support Presbyterianism.

Later that year, the Convention Parliament abolished episcopacy, ending royal control over the Scottish Church and restoring the Presbyterian Kirk.

Question 15

Once James landed in Ireland, what happened?

Answer 15

Raised a Catholic army and took over Dublin. He was claiming various lands across Ireland until William arrived.

• William’s forces (around 36,000) outnumbered and outmaneuvered James’s Jacobite-French army (about 25,000).

James’s army was defeated, and James fled the battlefield.

The conflict ended with the Treaty of Limerick in 1691.

Question 16

What did William do in Scotland AFTER the battle of Killiecranckie?

Answer 16

He offered clans forgiveness in return for loyalty being pledged. Most compied after harsh winters but some delayed.

For instance, the Glencoe Massacre in 1692 killed hundreds of highland scottish.

Question 17

What was the Treaty of Limerick

Answer 17

1691 - Jacobites who pledged alliance to William would be left in peace.

Question 18

Summarise the 3 revolutions in the 3 kingdoms:

Answer 18

• England = Bloodless, conservative but wide ranging implicit revolution
• Scotland = Radical revolution that led to conflict but ultimate peace offerings from William.
• Ireland = Counter revolution from Jacobites + James + Catholics.

Question 19

Summarise what the Bill of Rights meant?

Answer 19

Bill of Rights - 1689

Parliament was finally transformed from an event into a permanent instituion.

Crown income became national income raised and managed by parliament.

Crown NEEDED parliamentary support

Parliament began to oversee foreign policy

Crown accepted the need to have regular parliaments

Question 20

Why was William willing to accept such limitations?

Answer 20

• He Needed the Crown More Than the Crown Needed Him
• He wanted to strengthen HIS nation against the French, a new war was inevatible.
• He saw the crown as a means to an end: defeating Catholic absolutism.
• He was a reluctant king of England - he had the crown elsewhere so he didn’t MASSIVELY care - he never really learnt English or smiled and was very often abroad.

Question 21

Financial revolution overall argument?

Answer 21

**The Financial Revolution was tightly connected to political developments and arguably it would not have been possible without the post-1688 constitutional settlement. **

The ‘fiscal-military state’ model developed describes how Britain, from 1688 onwards, became capable of sustaining long-term military conflict through regularised taxation and public borrowing.

In conclusion, the Financial Revolution was a transformative period that allowed the English state to expand its fiscal capacity and military power. Through the establishment of the Bank of England, the creation of the national debt, and the rise of a professionalised financial market, Britain laid the foundations for modern public finance. These changes, rooted in the constitutional shifts of 1688, not only enhanced government revenue and credit but also marked a shift in the relationship between the state, the economy, and political power.

Question 22

Why was the financial revolution significant in terms of debt repayment?

Answer 22

The credibility of Parliament played a crucial role in reassuring lenders that their money would be repaid – a stark departure from the arbitrary royal finance of earlier Stuart monarchs. Thus, the financial revolution was not merely economic; it was deeply political.

Question 23

What happened to the Whigs and Tories after 1688?

Answer 23

In the aftermath of the Glorious Revolution, these groups became seriously solidified and William included them both in his government.

Question 24

What were the two reasons for the Whigs / Tories divisions / consolidation?

Answer 24

There are two core reasons for the solidification of the Whigs / Tories after 1688:

• Regular Parliamentary sessions after 1689 facilitated the cooperation and sharing of ideas.
• More frequent elections led to the need to organise along party lines to contest the elections.

Question 25

Why were the Whigs crucial to William?

Answer 25

* Strong supporters of Constitional monarchy * Supported his war * Driving force of financial revolution Therefore - from 1690 onwards, William pushed Whigs into parliament while removing Tories.

Question 26

Tories post 1690?

Answer 26

In contrast, the Tories were less reliable allies: while some supported the initial settlement of 1689, many grew suspicious of William’s foreign wars, financial burdens, and his reliance on Whig ministers. Some High Church Tories even flirted with Jacobite sympathies, viewing William as a foreign usurper.

Question 26

Who were the Whig Junto?

Answer 26

**The Whig Junto was a powerful group of elite Whig politicians who dominated English government and policy-making during the late 1690s**, particularly under William III, from around 1694 to 1699. They were central to shaping the Financial Revolution, prosecuting the war against France, and consolidating Parliamentary power in the wake of the Glorious Revolution. Charles Montagu - Chancellor of the Exchequer was pivotal.

Question 27

Explain the resurgence of Tories?

Answer 27

**The Tories came into power after the Treaty of Ryswick in 1697 because the end of the war undermined the justification for Whig policies like high spending and a standing army**. * The Tories, **who had opposed these measures all along**, gained public and parliamentary support by calling for peace, lower taxes, and a return to traditional Church and constitutional values. With William’s popularity falling and elections shifting against the Whigs, the political tide turned in the Tories’ favour. To bring cooperation and stability, the monarchs began promoting Tories in parliament.

Question 28

Summarise the Treaty of Ryswick?

Answer 28

**9 years war ends with Treaty of Ryswick - 1697** * It was the result of military exhaustion, financial strain, and shifting political priorities across Europe — especially in England and France. **In England, public support for the war was fading. Taxes were high, debt was rising, and many MPs — especially Tories — were pressuring William to end the war.** * The Triennial Act (1694) meant frequent elections, and war fatigue became a major political issue. * William III’s Whig ministers began to lose influence, and the mood shifted toward peace and retrenchment.

Question 29

What was the Licesnsing Act of 1695?

Answer 29

While it expired in 1679, it was somewhat renewed in 1685 and was up for formal review in 1695. MPs permantley dismissed it after calls for more tranceparncy after 1688. **It marked the birth of a free press in England. For the first time, printers and publishers could publish without needing government approval.** * This led to an explosion in political writing, pamphlets, newspapers, and journals — contributing to what some historians call the “print revolution.” * It also helped fuel the **“****Rage of Party”** (1690s), as both Whigs and Tories used the press to attack each other and influence public opinion.

Question 30

What was the Fenwick Plot?

Answer 30

**FENWICK PLOT - 1696** **The Fenwick Plot was a Jacobite conspiracy in 1696 to assassinate King William III and restore James II to the throne.** * The plot was uncovered by the government's increasingly effective intelligence network, and its exposure sparked national alarm. He was captured, and parliament used a bill of attainder on him as there was only 1 witness - legal obstacle. * **Justified the fiscal-military state: It helped legitimize high taxation and the national debt, which were being used to fund both war and domestic security.** **The use of a Bill of Attainder against Fenwick raised fears about Parliamentary overreach, but also showed how the state was willing to bypass traditional legal protections in defence of revolution principles.**

Question 31

Death of Queen Mary significance?

Answer 31

Mary (died in 1694) gave the joint monarchy a degree of legitmacy. **Her death left William to rule alone, which made his position more politically isolated and fragile, especially as he lacked Mary’s ability to bridge divisions between Parliament, the Church, and the monarchy. It also reignited succession anxieties, as the royal couple had no surviving children, eventually leading to the Act of Settlement (1701) to secure a Protestant succession.**

Question 32

Argument for NOT only consitutional measures prevent dissolution of parliament?

Answer 32

Not only did constitutional measures, such as the Bill of Rights (1689) and the Triennial Act (1694), prevent the monarch from ruling without Parliament, **but the political climate of the "Rage of Party" further entrenched Parliament's central role**. Frequent elections and **intense party rivalry normalised Parliament’s constant presence, making it a vital institution in national life**. As a result, had William III attempted to dissolve or sideline Parliament, **it would likely have provoked exceptional public and political outrage.**

Question 33

Why did William dissolve his first parliament?

Answer 33

After they tried to impeach Danby.

Question 34

What was the landscape like for Williams second parliament?

Answer 34

Opposition to the war developed, as well as opposition to the Junto Whigs who were helping William fund and run the war. This "country" opposition focussed on the high tax and presence of the BoE which undermined their strengh.

Question 35

In Williams second parliament - what did the Junto Whigs have over the Tories?

Answer 35

The Fenwick Plot of 1696 resulted in an Oath of allegiance of all office holders that required them to pledge "William was the lawful and rightful king" - this meant that many tories could not bring themselves to swearing it as they saw William as a de facto king. This allowed the Whigs to replace them. ## Footnote This allowed them to hold onto their influence until 1697

Question 36

1694 Trinneal Act?

Answer 36

Required parliament to meet annually and to hold general elections every 3 years.

Question 37

What was the Treaty of Ryswick?

Answer 37

1697 - ended 9 years war. This undermined the postition of the Junto Whigs because it removed their key hold over William, **which was their ability to finance and organise his war.**

Question 38

Explain Williams third parliament?

Answer 38

1698 - 1700 - By the time of Williams third parliament, most MPs rallied around the reduction of the standing army due to the treaty of Ryswick in 1697. This led to the Disbanding Bill of 1699 which reduced the standing army to 7000. ## Footnote He dissolved after the Tories began to try and exclude all foreigners (williams dutch advisers) from his councils

Question 39

Civil List Act?

Answer 39

In 1698, parliament voted taxes worth £700,000 per year for the Crowns government costs. This ended the long held idea that the Crown should "live off its own" and started the funding of the monarchy by the taxpayer.

Question 40

Explain Williams last parliament?

Answer 40

1701 - Act of Settlement. Prompted by the Death of Anne's last surviving child - William. The act excluded 57 Catholic heirs to the throne. **Excluded all Catholics from the throne permanently.** Said monarchs: * Must be Protestant * Must not marry a Catholic * Must govern through Parliament (i.e., can't leave the country or go to war without Parliament’s consent)

Question 41

Explain Williams 5th and final parliament?

Answer 41

1702 - Arburation Act required all MPs to deny allegiance to James II and his descendants. William passed away in March and Mary's sister suceeded william and became Queen Anne.

Question 42

Summarise the reason for development of a limited monarchy?

Answer 42

Wiliam's primary focus was on his conflict with Louis XIV's France, designed to PROTECT the Netherlands. This meant that he was willing to allow the development of parliamentary power as a means to fund his war.

Question 43

What else did the Act of settlment do?

Answer 43

**1701** - No monarch was allowed to leave England without P permissio - 57 Catholic heirs exluded from the throne - NO ONE RECIEVING GOVERNMENT PENSIONS COULD BE AN MP - DANBY...