📖The Glorious Revolution and Bill of Rights

How a Catholic king was replaced and Parliament's power secured.

1. A Catholic king

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   When Charles II died in 1685, his Roman Catholic brother became King James II. He favoured Catholics and did not seek agreement with Parliament.

2. Fear of a Catholic line

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   James's heirs were his two Protestant daughters, but when his wife had a son, it suddenly seemed the next monarch would not be a Protestant.

   and then

3. William invited 1688

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   Important Protestants asked William of Orange, the Protestant ruler of the Netherlands and husband of James's daughter Mary, to invade England.

   so in 1688

4. James flees

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   There was no resistance. James fled to France and William took the throne, ruling jointly with Mary. This was called the Glorious Revolution.

   and when William arrived

5. Bill of Rights 1689

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   The Bill of Rights of 1689 confirmed the rights of Parliament and the limits of the king's power. Parliament took control of who could be monarch.

   the new reign brought

6. Constitutional monarchy

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   This was the beginning of constitutional monarchy. The monarch remained important but could no longer insist on policies if Parliament did not agree.