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The Glorious Revolution, the Union and the Jacobites
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In 1688 Parliament replaced a king without a war in England. Soon England and Scotland became one kingdom, and new kings came from Germany.
The Glorious Revolution, 1688
James II became king in 1685. He was openly Catholic, which worried many Protestants.
When his son was born in 1688, it looked as if Catholic kings would continue.
Leading politicians invited the Protestant William of Orange (married to James's daughter Mary) to come. William landed in November 1688 and James fled to France.
The Bill of Rights (1689) said the monarch needed Parliament's agreement for taxes and laws, and that no Catholic could be monarch.
When his son was born in 1688, it looked as if Catholic kings would continue.
Leading politicians invited the Protestant William of Orange (married to James's daughter Mary) to come. William landed in November 1688 and James fled to France.
The Bill of Rights (1689) said the monarch needed Parliament's agreement for taxes and laws, and that no Catholic could be monarch.
The Act of Union, 1707
England and Scotland had shared a monarch since 1603, but had separate parliaments.
The Act of Union of 1707 joined them as one country, Great Britain, with one Parliament at Westminster.
Scotland kept its own Church and legal system.
The Act of Union of 1707 joined them as one country, Great Britain, with one Parliament at Westminster.
Scotland kept its own Church and legal system.
Hanoverians and Jacobites
Queen Anne died in 1714 with no surviving children. Her Protestant German relative became George I, the first Hanoverian king.
Jacobites wanted James II's Catholic descendants back on the throne. In 1745 Charles Edward Stuart ('Bonnie Prince Charlie') led a rising and reached Derby.
He retreated, and the Jacobites were crushed at Culloden in 1746.
Jacobites wanted James II's Catholic descendants back on the throne. In 1745 Charles Edward Stuart ('Bonnie Prince Charlie') led a rising and reached Derby.
He retreated, and the Jacobites were crushed at Culloden in 1746.
Why is 1688 called the 'Glorious Revolution'?
- The ruler changed from James II to William and Mary.
- There was little fighting in England, so supporters called it glorious.
- The Bill of Rights then limited the monarch's power, so Parliament became stronger.
Answer: A king was replaced with little bloodshed in England, and Parliament's power grew.
James II, a Catholic, fled in 1688; William and Mary took the throne. The Bill of Rights (1689) limited the monarch. The Act of Union (1707) created Great Britain. George I (1714) began Hanoverian rule. The 1745 Jacobite rising ended at Culloden in 1746.
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