How did King James leaving England result in the Glorious Revolution?
Parliament could choose the next monarchs, with conditions.
The absolute monarchy of England ended with him.
Parliament was able to declare England a Commonwealth.
After that, monarchs of England weren’t powerful enough to stop Parliament.
King James leaving England played a significant role in the Glorious Revolution for a few key reasons:
1. The Protestant-Catholic Tensions: King James, who was a Catholic, faced growing opposition from Protestant factions in England. His religious policies, such as granting religious freedom to Catholics and appointing Catholics to important positions, fueled fears of a return to Catholicism. This created tensions between the king and Protestant Parliamentarians who sought a Protestant succession.
2. The Birth of James's Catholic Heir: King James's wife, Mary of Modena, gave birth to a Catholic son, James Francis Edward Stuart, who would become the heir to the throne. This further escalated concerns among the Protestant Parliamentarians about a Catholic dynasty and potential alteration of the established Protestant order.
3. The Invitation to William of Orange: In response to these concerns, a group of influential Parliamentarians and Protestant nobles extended an invitation to William of Orange, a Protestant Dutch stadtholder, to invade England and secure the Protestant succession. William, who was married to James's Protestant daughter, Mary, accepted the invitation.
4. The Glorious Revolution: In 1688, William of Orange led an invasion of England with a considerable military force, meeting little resistance. King James II, faced with little support, fled to France. This event, known as the Glorious Revolution, marked a significant turning point in English history.
5. The Declaration of Rights: Upon William and Mary's ascension to the throne, Parliament issued the Declaration of Rights, which outlined the powers and limitations of the monarchy. This document stated that the monarch's power was subject to parliamentary approval and established a constitutional monarchy, ending the absolute rule of the English monarch.
6. Increased Power of Parliament: The Glorious Revolution ultimately resulted in the increased power of Parliament over the monarchy. From that point forward, monarchs of England were restrained by parliamentary law and could no longer override the decisions of Parliament. This shift marked the end of absolute monarchy in England and paved the way for the development of a constitutional government.