Within 30 years of Charles II's restoration to the throne in 1660, England was once again on the verge of civil war. In 1688 the country was invaded by a foreign army and its King fled, as the Crown was offered by Parliament to his own nephew and son-in-law. These events are usually called the Glorious Revolution. What is 'glorious' about them and why are they often considered a turning point in the development of parliamentary democracy?
The Glorious Revolution, which took place in England from 1688-1689, involved the ousting of King James II.
Both political and religious motives sparked the revolution. Many English citizens were distrustful of the Catholic king and disapproved of the monarchy’s outright power. Tensions were high between the British Parliament and the king, and Catholics and Protestants were also at odds. James II was eventually replaced by his Protestant daughter, Mary, and her Dutch husband, William of Orange. The two leaders formed a joint monarchy and agreed to give Parliament more rights and power. Part of this settlement included signing the English Bill of Rights, which was formally known as “An Act Declaring the Rights and Liberties of the Subject and Settling the Succession of the Crown.” Among its many provisions, the Bill of Rights
condemned King James II for abusing his power and declared that the monarchy could not rule without consent of the Parliament. In general, the Bill of Rights limited the power of the monarchy, elevated the status of
Parliament and outlined specific rights of individuals.James II, detail of a painting by Sir Godfrey Kneller, c. 1685; in the National Portrait Gallery, London. Courtesy of The National Portrait Gallery, London
Some of the key liberties and concepts laid out in the articles include:
Freedom to elect members of Parliament, without the king or queen’s interference
Freedom of speech in
Parliament
Freedom from royal interference with the law
Freedom to petition the king
Freedom of fines and forfeitures without a trial
Freedom to bear arms for self-defense
Freedom from cruel and unusual punishment and excessive bail
Freedom from taxation by royal prerogative, without the agreement of Parliament
Freedom from armies being raised during peacetimes
Other important provisions were that Roman Catholics couldn’t be king or queen, Parliament should be summoned frequently and the succession of the throne would be passed to Mary’s sister, Princess Anne of Denmark, and her heirs (than to any heirs of William by a later marriage).
The English Bill of Rights created a constitutional monarchy in England, meaning the king or queen acts as head of state but his or her powers are limited by law. Under this system, the monarchy couldn’t rule without the consent of Parliament, and the people were given individual rights. In the modern-day British constitutional monarchy, the king or queen plays a largely ceremonial role. An earlier historical document, the 1215 Magna Carta of England, is also credited with limiting the powers of the monarchy and is sometimes cited as a precursor to the English Bill of Rights.he Glorious Revolution was a bloodless coup that took place from 1688-1689, in which Catholic King James II of England was deposed and succeeded by his Protestant daughter Mary II and her Dutch husband, Prince William III of Orange. Motivated by both politics and religion, the revolution led to the adoption of the English Bill of Rights of 1689 and forever changed how England was governed. As the Parliament gained more control over the previously absolute authority of the royal monarchy, the seeds of modern political democracy were sown.
Key Takeaways: The Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution refers to the events of 1688–89 that led to Catholic King James II of England being deposed and replaced on the throne by his Protestant daughter Mary II and her husband William III, Prince of Orange.
The Glorious Revolution arose from James II’s attempts to expand freedom of worship for Catholics in opposition to the desires of the Protestant majority.
The Glorious Revolution resulted in the English Bill of Rights that established England as a constitutional rather than absolute monarchy and served as the model for the U.S. Bill of Rights.
English Bill of Rights
In January 1689, a deeply divided English Convention Parliament met to transfer the crowns of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Radical Whigs argued that William should reign as an elected king, meaning his power would be derived from the people. Tories wanted to acclaim Mary as queen, with William as her regent. When William threatened to leave England if he was not made king, Parliament compromised on a joint monarchy, with William III as king, and James’ daughter Mary II, as queen.
Part of Parliament’s compromise agreement required that both William and Mary sign “An Act Declaring the Rights and Liberties of the Subject and Settling the Succession of the Crown.” Popularly known as the English Bill of Rights, the act specified constitutional and civil rights of the people and gave Parliament far more power over the monarchy. Proving more willing to accept restrictions from Parliament than any previous monarchs, both William III and Mary II signed the English Bill of Rights in February 1689.
Among other constitutional principles, the English Bill of Rights acknowledged the right for regular meetings of Parliaments, free elections, and freedom of speech in Parliament. Speaking to the nexus of the Glorious Revolution, it also prohibited the monarchy from ever coming under Catholic control.
Today, many historians believe the English Bill of rights was the first step in England’s conversion from an absolute to a constitutional monarchy and served as the model for the United States Bill of Rights.
Significance of the Glorious Revolution
English Catholics suffered both socially and politically from the Glorious Revolution. For over a century, Catholics were not allowed to vote, sit in Parliament, or serve as commissioned military officers. Until 2015, the sitting monarch of England was forbidden to be Catholic or to marry a Catholic. The English Bill of Rights of 1689 began the age of English parliamentary democracy. Not since its enactment has an English king or queen held absolute political power.
Perhaps most importantly, the Glorious Revolution served as the basis for constitutional law establishing and defining governmental power, as well as the granting and limitation of rights. These principles regarding the division of powers and functions among well-defined executive, legislative, and judiciary branches of government have been incorporated into the constitutions of England, the United States, and many other Western countries
The English Bill of Rights has had a long-lasting impact on the role of government in England. It’s also influenced laws, documents and ideologies in the United States, Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand and other countries. The act limited the power of the monarchy, but it also bolstered the rights and liberties of individual citizens. Without the English Bill of Rights, the role of the monarchy might be much different than it is today. There’s no question that this one act greatly affected how the English government operates and served as a stepping stone for modern-day democracies.
If we take the revolution to encompass the whole of William III’s reign, it certainly imposed limitations on royal authority. Parliament gained powers over taxation, over the royal succession, over appointments and over the right of the crown to wage war independently, concessions that William thought were a price worth paying in return for parliament’s financial support for his war against France. [But] revolution also failed to limit the power of parliaments and created no body of protected constitutional law. Therefore the Septennial Act of 1716 was able to effectively undermine the terms of the 1694 Triennial Act, ushering in the lengthy rule of a Whig oligarchy.
The revolution also fostered the growth of slavery by ending the Royal African Company’s monopoly on the trade in 1698. For the non-white inhabitants of the British Atlantic empire, the Glorious Revolution represented not the broadening of freedom but the expansion of servitude.
[Some might argue that the Glorious Revolution was not really revolutionary. It was mostly organized by a group of wealthy men who replaced one king with another. The new guy, King William, was no democrat. He merely agreed to provide a few rights for others in order to get the throne of this increasingly powerful kingdom…The English Civil War had ended not in democracy but rather a restored monarchy. The English Bill of Rights was very limited.
Source: Khan Academy]
Revolutions & Early Social Contracts Jigsaw Graphic Organizer
Group 1: Glorious Revolution & English Bill of Rights
Description of Revolution (Causes & Effects)
List Influences, Leaders & Documents
Main Principles & Historical Importance
Successes & Weaknesses
Description of Revolution (Causes & Effects):
The Glorious Revolution of 1688-1689 in England was sparked by political and religious tensions between King James II and the Parliament and the Protestant majority. It resulted in James II being deposed and replaced by his Protestant daughter Mary II and her husband, William III. The English Bill of Rights was enacted, establishing England as a constitutional monarchy.
Influences, Leaders & Documents:
Influences: Tensions between Catholics and Protestants, as well as the power struggle between the King and Parliament.
Leaders: King James II, Mary II, William III.
Documents: English Bill of Rights of 1689.
Main Principles & Historical Importance:
The English Bill of Rights established constitutional and civil rights for the people, limited the power of the monarchy, and gave Parliament more control over the monarchy. It laid the foundation for English parliamentary democracy and influenced the United States Bill of Rights.
Successes & Weaknesses:
Successes: Established a constitutional monarchy in England, limited the power of the monarchy, elevated the status of Parliament, and outlined specific rights for individuals.
Weaknesses: Some argue that the revolution did not go far enough in limiting the power of Parliament and that it failed to protect non-white inhabitants of the British Atlantic empire from servitude.