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From 1688 to 1689 a revolution took place in England which saw the Catholic king James II for overthrown from his throne and was replaced by his Protestant daughter Mary and her Dutch husband, William of Orange.
This revolution was called the Glorious Revolution which is also called “The Revolution of 1688” and even “The Bloodless Revolution.”
Political and religious concerns made the motive of this
revolution more complex. The revolution ultimately changed how England was
governed, monarchical structure got nerfed and Parliament got more power which
helped planting seeds for the beginnings of a political democracy.
Religious Background:
For almost thousand years, Rome influenced the Church of England; Catholicism infiltrating and affecting almost every aspect of life: trade, contracts, marriage etc. A century before the fantastic Revolution, England, under the rule of King Henry VIII adopted its own sort of Catholicism namely Anglicism.
During the 17th century, the entire of Europe was inflamed
with war and under a continuing struggle to determine a unified church under a
unified empire. The Holy Roman Empire slowly lost its grip on distant
countries, and with it, control.
During King Charles II’s 25 year reign over England, shortly before the
revolution, tensions slowly began to grow being that he didn't have a
legitimate issue to become heir to the throne.
That implied that the crown would pass to his Catholic brother James who successively incited the fear of absolute rule, popery, slavery, and subjugation to France and Rome.
Poet Laureate Dryden to composed what would become a “menacing masterpiece” named “Absalom and Achitophel” which wove together “the Bible and contemporary politics” as a bit of propaganda which was an order commissioned by King Charles II.
It ultimately cost him his position after the revolution commenced.
Political Background:
King James II brought many tensions between the people of England due to the political changes that he made while he reigned as king. The people feared popery and Catholic tyranny which become their immediate concerns when a Catholic came into power.
However, he assured the folks that he beliefs wouldn't contribute to his manner in leading the country.
Soon after the start of his reign, all that began to vary. First, King James II allowed Catholics to carry place as officers within the soldiers in November of 1685. Next, the king suspended the Test Acts and thus allowed him to appoint Catholics as members of his council.
The Declaration of Indulgence Act which removed all laws against the rights of the Catholics was passed by King James in April of 1687. All of those acts led people to start to oppose the reign of King James II.
Many people rebelled like seven leading bishops who refused
the king’s orders to read his second Declaration of Indulgence. These bishops
were arrested their rebellion. All of this leads the people of England to look
for a replacement leader in fear of a Catholic monarchy.
King James II:
In 1685, during a time when relations between Catholics and Protestants were tense King James II took the throne in England. The monarchy and the British Parliament were having a tussle of their own during that time.
James appointed Catholic officers to the army. James was Catholic and supported the freedom of worship for Catholics. He also had close ties with France which concerned many of the English people.
King James II issued a Declaration of Indulgence, which granted acceptance of some Protestant dissenters and suspended penal laws against Catholics in 1687.
The king attempted to create a new Parliament that would support him unconditionally while formally dissolving his previous parliament later in that same year.
The rightful heir to the throne was James’s daughter Mary, a Protestant, until 1688 when James had a son, James Francis Edward Stuart, whom he announced would be raised Catholic.
Many feared a Catholic dynasty in England was imminent as the birth of James’s son changed the line of succession. The Whigs were especially outraged they were the main group that opposed Catholic succession.
The king’s elevation of Catholicism, his close relationship
with France, his conflict with Parliament and uncertainty over who would
succeed James on the English throne led to whispers of a revolt—and ultimately
the fall of James II.
William of Orange:
In 1688, the Dutch leader, William of Orange was addressed by seven of King James’s peers, pledging their allegiance to the prince if he invaded England. The letter served as an additional propaganda to William who was already in the process of taking military action against England.
In November 1688 William of Orange landed in Torbay, Devon with an impressive armada for the invasion. King James left London to bring his forces which he himself had prepared for military attacks to meet the invading army.
But several of James’s own men, including his relations, deserted him and defected to William’s side. In addition to the present setback, James’s health was deteriorating.
On 23rd November James decided to retreat back to London. He was making plans to flee the country due to concerns for his own safety though he soon announced that he was willing to agree to a “free” Parliament.
King James made an attempt to escape but was captured in
December 1688. He made another attempt later that month and successfully fled
to France, where his Catholic cousin Louis XIV held the throne and where James
eventually died in exile in 1701.
Bill of Rights:
The now-famous Convention Parliament met in January 1689. Parliament agreed to a joint monarchy after significant pressure from William with William as king and James’s daughter, Mary, as queen.
The two new rulers accepted more restrictions from Parliament than any previous monarchs, causing an unprecedented shift within the distribution of power throughout British realm.
The Declaration of Rights was signed by both king and queen, which became known as the Bill of Rights.
This document acknowledged several constitutional principles, including the proper for normal Parliaments, free elections and freedom of speech in Parliament. Additionally, it forbade the monarchy from being Catholic.
Many historians believe the Bill of Rights was the primary
step toward a constitutional monarchy.
Bloodless Revolution:
The Glorious Revolution is usually dubbed the English Revolution and Blood Revolution, although this description isn’t entirely accurate. The revolution led to significant loss of life in Ireland and Scotland though there was little bloodshed and violence in England.
The term “Glorious Revolution” was first coined by John
Hampden in 1689 while Whig historians prefer the phrase “Bloodless Revolution.”
Legacy of the Glorious Revolution:
One of the most important events leading to Britain’s transformation from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy was believed to be the Glorious Revolution. The monarchy in England would never hold absolute power again after this event.
The regent’s power was defined, written down and limited for the first time with the Bill of Rights. In the years following the revolution parliament’s function and influence changed dramatically.
The event also had an impression on the 13 colonies in North America. The colonists were temporarily freed of strict, anti-Puritan laws after King James was overthrown.
When news of the revolution reached the Americans, several uprisings followed, including the Boston Revolt, Leisler’s Rebellion in New York and therefore the Protestant Revolution in Maryland.
Since the fantastic Revolution, Parliament’s power in Britain has continued to extend, while the monarchy’s influence has waned. There’s little question this important event helped set the stage for the United Kingdom’s present-day form of government and government.
Written by: Gourav Chowdhury
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