The Bill of Rights and constitutional monarchy | History

Starter quiz

Why did James II succeed Charles II?
- He was his uncle and Charles had no legitimate sons.
- He was his brother and Charles had no legitimate children. ✓
- He was his brother-in-law and Charles had no legitimate daughters.
Match the keywords to the correct definitions.
- Parliament
  
  ⇔
  
  an assembly of people with authority to make laws for a country ✓
- rebellion
  
  ⇔
  
  an act of armed resistance to an established government or leader ✓
- Anglican
  
  ⇔
  
  person who believes in the faith & practices of the Church of England ✓
Complete the sentence: James II expanded the size of the ______ and appointed Catholics to important positions without Parliament's agreement.
- 'army' ✓
Which of the following did James do which ensured a peaceful succession when he became king despite his religion?
- He successfully led the army during the Anglo-French Wars.
- He successfully led the navy during the Anglo-Dutch Wars. ✓
- He organised a vaccine during the Great Plague.
- He took charge of firefighting operations during the Great Fire of London. ✓
Put the following events in chronological order.
- 1
  
  ⇔
  
  James secretly converted to Catholicism.
- 2
  
  ⇔
  
  James married his second wife, a Catholic Italian princess, Mary of Modena.
- 3
  
  ⇔
  
  James agreed to the marriage of his daughter Mary to William of Orange.
- 4
  
  ⇔
  
  Charles II died without fathering any legitimate children.
- 5
  
  ⇔
  
  James called his first Parliament.
- 6
  
  ⇔
  
  James' Catholic son was born.
Complete the sentence: When Parliament objected to James' measures in November 1685, James dismissed Parliament and they ______ met again during his reign.
- 'never' ✓

Exit quiz

Which keyword describes a system in which the monarch must use their power in line with established laws?
- 'constitutional monarchy' ✓
Which keyword describes a meeting of Parliament without a summons from the monarch?
- 'convention' ✓
Complete the sentence: The stadtholder (head of state) of the Dutch Republic was concerned that England may form an alliance with Catholic ______ against the Protestant Dutch.
- 'France' ✓
On 30th June 1688, the ‘Invitation to William’ was sent by the Earl of Romney. Who was the William it was addressed to?
- William Shakespeare
- William the Conqueror
- William of Orange ✓
- William Wallace
Which of the following did the 1688 Bill of Rights establish?
- free elections ✓
- restrictive speech within Parliament
- frequent Parliaments
- infrequent Parliaments
- freedom of speech within Parliament ✓
Who was William married to?
- James’ youngest daughter, Mary
- James’ eldest daughter, Mary ✓
- James’ eldest daughter, Anne
- James’ youngest daughter, Anne

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Lesson Details

Key learning points

William III of Orange was concerned that England may form an alliance with Catholic France against the Protestant Dutch.
In November 1688 William of Orange, Protestant son-in-law to James II, landed in England and James fled for France.
In 1669 a new Parliament met, which issued the Bill of Rights and offered William and Mary the crown.
This declaration greatly limited the power of the monarchy by creating a constitutional monarchy.
It established frequent Parliaments, free elections, freedom of speech within Parliament and other Parliamentary powers.

Common misconception

Monarchs need to secure their positions by imprisoning or killing any claimants to the throne.

Although many monarchs have acted in this way, there are countless examples of monarchs who tolerated the freedom of strong claimants to the throne in order to not appear despotic. William III of Orange is a good example.

Keywords

Convention - a meeting of Parliament without a summons from the monarch
Bill - a draft of a proposed law presented to Parliament for discussion
Constitutional monarchy - a system in which the monarch must use their power in line with established laws