The Glorious Revolution and
its effects
England 1688
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
The Triennial Act 1694
• There must be
elections for a new
Parliament every
three years
• This has since been
changed to every five
years