## Learning Outcomes

- Explain why James II was removed and why William of Orange and Mary were invited to rule
- Recall the key dates of 1688–1689 and why it is called the Glorious Revolution
- Identify what the Bill of Rights 1689 changed about the monarch’s powers
- Understand how these events created a constitutional monarchy and stronger Parliament
- Describe Jacobite resistance in Ireland and Scotland and why it mattered

## Life in the UK Test Syllabus

For the Life in the UK Test, you are expected to understand how the Glorious Revolution and the Bill of Rights changed the relationship between the monarch and Parliament, with a focus on the following syllabus points:

- Know that James II (James VII in Scotland) was a Roman Catholic king and why this caused political conflict
- Recall that William of Orange invaded in 1688 and James II fled to France, leading to William III and Mary II ruling jointly
- Explain why the change of monarch is called the Glorious Revolution (no fighting in England and Parliament’s power was secured)
- Know the main effects of the Declaration of Rights and the Bill of Rights 1689 (limits on royal power; Parliament’s rights confirmed)
- Understand that after 1689 the monarch had to govern with Parliament, including agreeing taxation and renewing military funding
- Recognise the continuing support for James II in Ireland and Scotland and the term Jacobites

## Test Your Knowledge

_Attempt these questions before reading this article. If you find some difficult or cannot remember the answers, look more closely at that area during your revision._

1. Why did many Protestants in England fear the reign of James II?
2. What happened in 1688 when William of Orange arrived in England?
3. What is meant by “constitutional monarchy” after 1689?
4. Name two powers the Bill of Rights 1689 prevented the monarch from using without Parliament.
5. Who were the Jacobites, and where did they have support?

## Introduction

The Glorious Revolution (1688–1689) was a change of monarch that permanently altered how the country was governed. James II, a Roman Catholic king, was removed and replaced by his Protestant daughter Mary and her husband William of Orange.

For the Life in the UK Test, the main point is the long-term result: after 1689, the monarch could not govern as an absolute ruler. Parliament’s role in law-making, taxation, and national policy was strengthened through the Bill of Rights 1689.

> **Key Term: Glorious Revolution**
> The events of 1688–1689 in which James II was replaced by William III and Mary II, leading to stronger control by Parliament over the monarchy.

### Why religion and succession caused a crisis

In the late 1600s, religion and politics were closely connected. Most of the political and religious leaders in England were Protestant, and they were suspicious of Roman Catholic power in Europe. When James II became king in 1685, many people worried he would push the country back towards Roman Catholic rule.

James II did several things that increased opposition:

- He favoured Roman Catholics in government and the army.
- He acted as if he could override or ignore laws made by Parliament.
- He clashed with leaders of the Church of England, including bishops.

At first, some people tolerated James II because his heirs were his Protestant daughters, Mary and Anne. Many expected that the monarchy would return to Protestant rule soon.

The crisis became much sharper in **June 1688**, when James II’s wife gave birth to a son. A male heir meant a possible future **Catholic dynasty**—a Catholic line of kings continuing for many years.

> **Key Term: succession**
> The process by which the next monarch inherits the throne.
>
> **Test Tip:** In exam questions, look for the trigger event: the **birth of James II’s son in 1688** is often used to explain why opposition to him quickly increased.

### William of Orange’s invasion (1688)

Mary, James II’s elder daughter, was married to **William of Orange**, the Protestant leader of the Netherlands. In 1688, leading Protestants in England asked William to come to England with an army.

William landed in England in **November 1688**. The key detail for the test is what happened next:

- There was **no major fighting in England**.
- James II lost political support and **fled to France in December 1688**.
- William and Mary took control and were later accepted as joint monarchs.

This change of monarch is remembered as “glorious” mainly because it involved **little violence in England** and because it led to a legal settlement that protected Parliament’s authority.

> **Key Term: William of Orange**
> The Protestant ruler of the Netherlands who invaded England in 1688 and became King William III (and William II in Scotland), ruling jointly with Mary II.
>
> **Test Tip:** “Glorious” does not mean there was no fighting anywhere. England saw little conflict, but there was serious violence later in **Ireland** and some conflict in **Scotland**.

### The Declaration of Rights and the Bill of Rights 1689

When William and Mary were accepted as joint monarchs, Parliament set out conditions for their rule. At their coronation, a document called the **Declaration of Rights** was read. This stated that the monarch must govern according to the law and in cooperation with Parliament.

Later in 1689, Parliament passed the **Bill of Rights**, which confirmed and strengthened these rules in law.

The Bill of Rights 1689 is central to the Life in the UK Test because it changed the balance of power between monarch and Parliament permanently. It limited what the monarch could do without Parliament’s agreement.

Key changes included:

- The monarch could not **raise taxes** without Parliament.
- The monarch could not **administer justice** as if above the law; the legal system had to work according to Parliament and courts.
- Parliament gained stronger control over who could be monarch, and the monarch had to be **Protestant**.
- Parliament had to meet regularly, and elections were required at set intervals.

The Bill of Rights also addressed military funding:

- Each year, the monarch had to ask Parliament to **renew funding for the army and navy**.

> **Key Term: Bill of Rights 1689**
> A law passed after the Glorious Revolution that confirmed Parliament’s rights and limited the monarch’s powers, helping create a constitutional monarchy.

### What “constitutional monarchy” means in the UK

After 1689, the monarchy remained important, but it could not rule by personal choice alone. This new system is described as a constitutional monarchy.

A constitutional monarchy means the monarch:

- Rules within a legal framework (a constitution in the broad sense, not a single written document)
- Must work with Parliament, especially on law-making and taxation
- Cannot simply ignore Parliament’s decisions

This did not create modern democracy immediately. Voting rights were still very limited:

- Only a small number of **men who owned property** could vote.
- **No women** could vote.
- Some constituencies had very few voters or were controlled by a powerful local family (often described as “rotten boroughs” and “pocket boroughs”).

So, the big change in 1689 was about **who held political power at the top**: Parliament gained lasting authority over the Crown, but most ordinary people still had no vote.

> **Key Term: constitutional monarchy**
> A system where the monarch’s powers are limited by law and Parliament, so the monarch cannot govern without Parliament’s consent.

### The rise of ministers and early party politics

Because the monarch now needed Parliament’s cooperation to govern effectively, the monarch relied more on advisers who could manage Parliament and secure support in the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

These advisers became known as **ministers**. Over time, ministers became more influential than the monarch in day-to-day government.

This period also saw the growth of organised political groupings in Parliament, especially:

- **Whigs**
- **Tories** (a name still commonly used for the Conservative Party)

This is often described as the beginning of party politics in Britain.

Another important development was the growth of a freer press:

- From **1695**, newspapers could be published without a government licence.
- More newspapers were printed and read, helping political ideas spread.

For the test, remember the direction of change: after 1689, political power moved away from personal royal authority and towards Parliament, ministers, and public political debate.

### Resistance and conflict in Ireland after 1688

Although there was little fighting in England during William’s takeover, conflict continued elsewhere. James II did not accept losing the throne and attempted to regain it.

With help from a French army, James went to **Ireland**, where many people supported him. William fought to defeat James.

The most famous battle was the **Battle of the Boyne** in **1690**, where William defeated James. James fled back to France.

After this, many restrictions were placed on the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland, and Irish Catholics were prevented from taking part in government. The legacy of these events has remained important in Irish and Northern Irish history.

> **Test Tip:** If a question links William III to Ireland, the answer is usually **the Battle of the Boyne (1690)** and its continuing significance for some in Northern Ireland.

### Scotland: Jacobites, oaths, and the Glencoe massacre

James II also had supporters in **Scotland**, where he was known as **James VII**. Some Scots believed James was still the rightful king.

An armed rebellion in support of James was defeated at **Killiecrankie** in **1689** (often remembered as a quick defeat overall, even though the battle itself is complex historically). After this, Scottish clans were required to accept William as king by taking an oath.

One event from this period is remembered especially strongly: the **massacre of the MacDonalds of Glencoe** in **1692**. The MacDonalds were late in taking the oath of loyalty, and many were killed. The memory of Glencoe contributed to distrust of the new government among some Scots.

> **Key Term: Jacobites**
> Supporters of James II (James VII in Scotland) and his heirs, who believed the Stuart line was the rightful royal family.

### Understanding the different royal titles (England and Scotland)

A common source of confusion is that the same monarch could have different numbers in different parts of the British Isles, because England and Scotland counted their monarchs separately until the crowns and later the states became more united.

For this period, the test may expect you to recognise the numbering:

- **James I** in England was **James VI** in Scotland.
- **James II** in England was **James VII** in Scotland.
- **William III** in England was **William II** in Scotland.

These differences reflect separate royal histories, even though the countries were ruled by the same person after 1603.

> **Test Tip:** If a question uses “James VII” or “William II,” it is referring to **Scotland**, not a different person.

## Key Point Checklist

_This article has covered the following key knowledge points:_

- James II (James VII in Scotland) was Roman Catholic and faced strong Protestant opposition
- The birth of James II’s son in June 1688 increased fears of a Catholic royal line
- William of Orange landed in England in November 1688 and James II fled to France in December 1688
- William III and Mary II ruled jointly after the Glorious Revolution
- The Glorious Revolution is called “glorious” because there was little fighting in England and Parliament’s power was secured
- The Declaration of Rights was read at William and Mary’s coronation and was followed by the Bill of Rights 1689
- The Bill of Rights 1689 limited royal power, including taxation and governing without Parliament, and required a Protestant monarch
- After 1689, the UK developed as a constitutional monarchy, with Parliament holding greater long-term power than the monarch
- James II tried to regain the throne in Ireland but was defeated by William at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690
- James’s supporters were called Jacobites and had support in Scotland and Ireland
- In Scotland, clans were required to take an oath to William; the MacDonalds of Glencoe were massacred in 1692
- Party groupings (Whigs and Tories) and a freer press expanded in the years after the Revolution settlement

## Key Terms and Concepts

- Glorious Revolution
- succession
- William of Orange
- Bill of Rights 1689
- constitutional monarchy
- Jacobites


Stuarts and the Union - Glorious Revolution and Bill of Rights 1689