Glorious Revolution

Definition

The Glorious Revolution was a bloodless coup d'état in 1688-89 that overthrew the Catholic King James II of England and replaced him with the Protestant joint monarchs William III and Mary II. This event had significant implications for the English colonies in America, as well as the broader English Empire.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Glorious Revolution marked the end of the Stuart dynasty and the beginning of the Hanoverian dynasty in England.
2. The revolution was sparked by King James II's attempts to increase his own power and promote Catholicism, which alarmed many Protestants in England.
3. William of Orange, a Dutch prince, was invited by a group of English nobles to invade England and assume the throne, which he did with little resistance.
4. The Bill of Rights, passed by the English Parliament in 1689, limited the power of the monarchy and established certain civil and political rights.
5. The Glorious Revolution had a significant impact on the English colonies in America, as it led to increased colonial autonomy and a shift away from the absolute rule of the monarch.

Review Questions

• Explain how the Glorious Revolution was related to the concept of absolutism in the English monarchy.
  • The Glorious Revolution was a direct challenge to the concept of absolutism, which was the belief that the monarch's power should be unchecked and unlimited. King James II's attempts to increase his own power and promote Catholicism alarmed many Protestants in England, who saw this as a threat to their civil and political rights. The invitation of William of Orange to assume the throne, and the subsequent passage of the Bill of Rights, marked a significant shift away from the absolute rule of the monarch and towards a more limited, constitutional form of government.
• Describe the impact of the Glorious Revolution on the English colonies in America.
  • The Glorious Revolution had a significant impact on the English colonies in America. The overthrow of the Stuart dynasty and the establishment of the Hanoverian dynasty led to increased colonial autonomy, as the new monarchs were less inclined to exert direct control over the colonies. Additionally, the Bill of Rights, which limited the power of the monarchy, helped to establish a precedent for colonial self-governance and the protection of certain civil and political rights. This shift away from absolute rule and towards a more limited, constitutional form of government had far-reaching consequences for the development of the American colonies and their eventual path to independence.
• Analyze how the Glorious Revolution and the subsequent changes in the English Empire influenced the economic policies and practices of the American colonies.
  • The Glorious Revolution and the subsequent changes in the English Empire had a significant impact on the economic policies and practices of the American colonies. The shift away from the absolute rule of the monarch and the establishment of the Bill of Rights led to increased colonial autonomy, which allowed the colonies to pursue their own economic interests more freely. This, in turn, challenged the mercantilist policies that had previously dominated the relationship between the colonies and the mother country. The colonies began to develop their own manufacturing and trade networks, often in defiance of the restrictive Navigation Acts and other mercantilist regulations. This gradual shift towards greater economic independence laid the groundwork for the eventual American Revolution and the establishment of the United States as a sovereign nation.

Related terms

Absolutism: A form of monarchical power that is unrestrained by constitutional or other legal limits, in which the ruler's power is absolute and unchecked.

Bill of Rights: An act passed by the English Parliament in 1689 that limited the power of the monarchy and established certain civil and political rights.

Mercantilism: An economic policy that aims to maximize the trade surplus, typically by encouraging exports and discouraging imports, and increasing the country's store of gold and silver.