Key facts
- Date
- 1688
- King replaced
- James II
- New monarchs
- William III and Mary II
- Key document
- Bill of Rights 1689
- Why "Glorious"
- No major bloodshed
The Glorious Revolution of 1688 was a peaceful transfer of power that permanently changed the relationship between the Crown and Parliament.
Background
King James II (reigned 1685-1688) was a Catholic monarch who:
- Promoted Catholics to high positions
- Tried to give religious freedom to Catholics and dissenters
- Had a son, threatening a Catholic dynasty
- Ignored Parliament
Protestant leaders in Parliament feared James would return England to Catholicism.
The Revolution
In 1688, seven prominent Englishmen invited William of Orange (ruler of the Netherlands and married to James's Protestant daughter Mary) to invade.
Key Events
- November 1688 - William lands with an army at Torbay
- James's support collapses; his army deserts
- James flees to France
- No major battle is fought - hence "Glorious" (bloodless)
- 1689 - William and Mary crowned as joint monarchs
The Bill of Rights 1689
Parliament required William and Mary to accept the Bill of Rights:
- Parliament must consent to laws and taxation
- Free elections must be held regularly
- Freedom of speech in Parliament
- No cruel or unusual punishment
- No standing army in peacetime without Parliament's consent
- Protestants may bear arms for self-defence
- Monarchs cannot be Catholic or marry Catholics
Legacy
The Glorious Revolution established:
- Constitutional monarchy - The King rules with Parliament, not above it
- Parliamentary sovereignty - Parliament is supreme
- Religious settlement - Protestant succession guaranteed
- Foundation for modern British democracy
The Bill of Rights influenced the American Bill of Rights and other democratic constitutions worldwide.
Why it comes up in the test
Know the date (1688), that it was "bloodless," and the Bill of Rights 1689.
Common traps
- Confusing the Bill of Rights 1689 with Magna Carta
- Not knowing why it was called "Glorious"
- Forgetting that William and Mary ruled jointly
The Glorious Revolution 1688: common questions
Related topics
- The English Civil WarA series of civil wars fought between 1642 and 1651, primarily between Parliamentarians (Roundheads) and Royalists (Cavaliers), over governance of England.
- UK ParliamentThe supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom, consisting of the House of Commons, House of Lords, and the Monarch.
Written from Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents (3rd edition), the only official source for the test. BritPass is not affiliated with the Home Office; if anything here differs from the handbook, the handbook is right.
