William- politics Flashcards
(26 cards)
Bill of Rights
1689, signed December
Claim of Right- Scotland
1689
Scottish Articles of Grievances
- 1689
- Demanded abolition of Lords of the Articles
- William reluctant but accepted
First Parliament
- March 1690- May 1695
- First two sessions voted £4.6 mil towards military campaigns
- Halifax key adviser, followed by Sunderdale post 1692: led whig dominance
- Initial balance
> Admiralty dominated by Tories, Treasury by Whigs
> Tories widely dominant: Admiral Russel sacked after disputing orders from Nottingham - Country ran by council of 9 under Queen Mary as regent during William’s military absences
Whig and Tory faction in first Parliament
- Initial balance
- Secretaries of state: Nottingham (T), Shrewsbury (W)
- Military struggles caused Tory grievances
> Land Tax 1692
> Triennial and Place Bill 1693
Beginning of Whig Junto dominance
1693-1697
- Financial knowledge and Tory dislike of William made him turn to Whigs (Despite his dislike of their republicanism)
> Somers made Lord keeper of great seal
> Trenchard made secretary of state
- Refused to go further until Sunderland’s recommendation
Why were Whigs in Court position
- William initially frustrated with their attempts to limit Crown powers
- Ended up seeing them as ideological allies, needed to reinforce his reign
- Wealth and financial expertise (e.g. Bank of England Act) led to more Whig dominance
Queen Mary dies
1694
- Tory agony, lack of direct blood link
- More need for Whigs to maintain William’s power
Triennial Bill
1694- passed
- Tory grievance
- Vetoed in 1693
- Guaranteed permanence of Parliament in session
Second Parliament
November 1695- July 1698
Assassination Plot, oath of loyalty
1696
- Allowed Whigs to try opponents with disloyalty and treason
- Imposed oath of loyalty to William on all MPs
- 90 MPs and 19 peers refused to swear
- Barred many Tories from office
Treason Trials Act
1696
- Strengthened position of accused, chipped away at royal prerogative
Whigs’ increase in power
1696
- Took advantage of assassination plot
- Many Whigs appointed into higher positions
> Somers made Lord Chancellor; Montague First Lord of Treasury
- Dominance did not last due to William’s dislike of Junto
Decline of Whig power
- Treaty of Ryswick 1697 ended the War; making Whigs less useful
- Sunderland resigns in December 1697
- Still useful financially
East India Bill
- 1698
- Secured by Whigs, loan of £2 million
Third Parliament
December 1698- April 1700
- Grievances and acts passed
Tory court position
1699- 1702
- Began with Russel resigns May 1699, ends with Somers resigning April 1700
Disbanding Bill
1699
- Began by Country Tories, later joined by all MPs
- Disbanded standing army- kept taxes high
Place Bill
1699
- Prevents MPs from holding ministerial office
- Previously rejected, William did not want to surrender primary method of managing parliament
- Demonstrated strength of country party for political grievances
Fourth Parliament
February 1701- June 1701
Act of Settlement
1701
- Prompted by death of Anne’s only child- likelihood of Jacobite challenge
- 1700: William agreed to appoint Tory ministry in exchange for an act securing succession
- Act ensured protestant succession (Sophia of Hanover after Anne)
- Restrictions:
> No office holders in Parliament
> No waging war for foreign state or leaving country without Parliamentary consent
Allegiance between England, Dutch Republic, and Holy Roman Empire against France
1702
- Popular with Whigs, Tories suspicious
Fifth Parliament
1701 December- May 1702
War with France restarted
1702
- Louis attacked Netherlands, recognising James II’s son as King
- War with France popular with Whigs
- Tories did not see Stuart restoration too negatively, as long as son converted
