The Glorious Revolution and its effects

1
The Glorious Revolution and its effects

• England 1688

2
Aims of the lesson

• By the end of this lesson you will
• Understand the reasons why the Glorious
  Revolution occurred in 1688
• Describe the events of the revolution
• Evaluate the consequences of the revolution
  during the 18th century and today

3
The Background

• In 1660 Charles II became King and ruled for 25
  years until he died in 1685
• Charles reign was peaceful but was dominated by
  the man who was due to follow him James, the
  Prince of Wales
• James was a Catholic who promised to make England
  a Catholic country again and this worried many
  protestants

4
James II

• Pig headed and insensitive
• Tried to covert his daughter, Anne to Catholicism
• Married but had no children this was a comfort
  to the Protestants who could endure James but did
  want a Catholic on the throne after him

5
The warming pan baby 1688

• In 1688 James had a son it was a miracle as it
  was thought that his wife could have children
• The succession was now firmly Catholic
• Protestants were horrified and spread a rumour
  that it was not James and was smuggled in, in a
  warming pan

6
William and Mary

• There was an alternative to James his daughter,
  Mary who was married to the ruler of Holland,
  William of Orange
• A group of powerful Protestants wrote to William
  to invite him over to England and to force James
  off the throne.

7
November 1688

• William landed in Torbay on the south coast of
  England
• He marched to London and gained support on his
  way there off Protestants
• James furious but could do nothing and eventually
  fled to France
• No fighting in England a bloodless revolution

8
The settlement

• William agreed to become King only as long as he
  and Mary were recognised as joint monarchs
• Parliament agreed to this and to accept Mary's
  sister Anne as the heir
• William accepted the Bill of rights of 1689 and
  the Triennial Act of 1694

9
The Bill of Rights 1689

• The basis of today's British constitution
• Parliament will decide the level of taxes
• Parliament will make all laws
• No army unless Parliament agrees
• No one will be sent to prison without a proper
  trial
• The King and Queen of England must be Protestant

10
The Triennial Act 1694

• There must be elections for a new Parliament
  every three years
• This has since been changed to every five years