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Questions about Glorious Revolution

Short answers, pulled from the story.

What was the Glorious Revolution and when did it happen?

The Glorious Revolution was the deposition of King James II of England in November 1688 and his replacement by his daughter Mary II and her Dutch husband William III of Orange. The two ruled as joint monarchs of England, Scotland, and Ireland until Mary's death in 1694.

Why did William III of Orange invade England in 1688?

William III's primary motive was to bring England into an anti-French alliance and prevent James II from aligning English resources, especially the Royal Navy, with France during the Nine Years' War. He was formally invited by seven prominent English figures who signed the Invitation to William on the 30th of June 1688.

Who signed the Invitation to William in 1688?

The Invitation was drafted by Henry Sydney and signed by seven figures chosen to represent a broad political spectrum: Sydney, Edward Russell, Charles Talbot (12th Earl of Shrewsbury), William Cavendish (4th Earl of Devonshire), Thomas Osborne (1st Earl of Danby), Richard Lumley (2nd Viscount Lumley), and Henry Compton, Bishop of London. It was carried to The Hague on the 30th of June by Rear Admiral Herbert, disguised as a common sailor.

Why did James II lose support from his own Protestant backers?

James's Protestant supporters accepted his personal Catholicism but turned against him when his policies appeared to undermine the supremacy of the Church of England and Church of Scotland. He suspended Parliament in November 1685, dismissed judges who disagreed with his use of the royal prerogative, and attempted to force Catholics into public office, including an episode at Magdalen College, Oxford, in April 1687. The birth of his son James Francis Edward Stuart on the 10th of June 1688 raised the prospect of a permanent Catholic dynasty.

What were the main outcomes of the Glorious Revolution for Parliament?

The revolution established the primacy of Parliament over the Crown in both England and Scotland. The Declaration of Right, incorporated into the Bill of Rights in December 1689, made it illegal for the monarch to maintain a standing army, suspend laws, levy taxes, or make royal appointments without parliamentary consent. The Coronation Oath Act 1688 also codified the obligations owed by the monarchy to the people.

How did the Glorious Revolution affect the Dutch Republic?

The Dutch Republic gained England as a military ally against France, improving its strategic position, but the long-term costs were severe. By the end of the War of the Spanish Succession in 1712, the Republic was financially exhausted and its fleet deteriorated. Between 1688 and 1720, world trade dominance shifted from the Dutch Republic to Great Britain, partly because major Dutch trading and banking houses relocated much of their activity from Amsterdam to London after 1688.