The Joint Monarchy of William and Mary-The Origin and Growth of Political Parties: The Whigs and the Tories

 

The Joint Monarchy of William and Mary-The Origin and Growth of Political Parties: The Whigs and the Tories

The Joint Monarchy of William and Mary (1689-1702)


The joint monarchy of William III and Mary II was a defining period in British history, marking the establishment of a constitutional monarchy. Their reign began with the Glorious Revolution of 1688, which saw the overthrow of King James II, largely due to his unpopular policies favoring Catholicism and absolute monarchy.


The Glorious Revolution and the Ascension of William and Mary

  • James II, a staunch Catholic, attempted to reinstate Catholic dominance in England, which alienated Protestant nobles and Parliament.
  • His policies led to unrest, prompting a group of influential English politicians to invite William of Orange, a Protestant and husband to James II’s daughter Mary, to intervene.
  • In November 1688, William arrived in England with a fleet, and James II, facing little resistance, fled to France.
  • William and Mary were offered the throne under the Declaration of Rights (1689), later formalized as the Bill of Rights (1689).

Key Features of Their Rule

  • Constitutional Monarchy: The monarchy’s power was limited by laws, ensuring that the sovereign could not rule without the consent of Parliament.
  • Bill of Rights (1689): This document established principles such as:
    • The monarch could not suspend laws without Parliament’s consent.
    • No taxation without parliamentary approval.
    • Free elections and regular parliaments were required.
    • The right to petition the government was guaranteed.
    • No standing army could be maintained without Parliament’s consent.
  • The Toleration Act (1689): Provided religious freedom to Protestant nonconformists but still excluded Catholics.
  • The Mutiny Act (1689): Limited the power of the monarch over the army.

William and Mary ruled jointly until Mary’s death in 1694. William continued to rule alone until his death in 1702, after which Mary’s sister, Anne, took the throne.

The Origin and Growth of Political Parties: The Whigs and the Tories

During the late 17th century, the English political landscape became increasingly divided between two emerging political factions: the Whigs and the Tories. These groups were not formal political parties in the modern sense but were organized factions with distinct political ideologies and interests.

Origins of the Whigs and Tories

  • The terms Whig and Tory first emerged during the Exclusion Crisis (1679-1681), when Parliament debated whether to exclude James, Duke of York (later James II), from the line of succession because of his Catholic faith.
  • The Whigs supported the exclusion of James, favoring a constitutional monarchy and the supremacy of Parliament.
  • The Tories opposed exclusion, supporting the hereditary right of James II to the throne and favoring a strong monarchy.

Characteristics and Ideologies of the Whigs and Tories

Feature

Whigs

Tories

Key Beliefs

Favored constitutional monarchy, parliamentary sovereignty, and religious tolerance (for Protestants).

Supported strong monarchy, divine right of kings, and Anglican supremacy.

Religion

Protestant Dissenters, anti-Catholic but more tolerant of Nonconformists.

Anglican loyalists, often viewed as more sympathetic to Catholics.

Support Base

Wealthy merchants, financiers, and emerging capitalist class.

Aristocracy, landowners, and the rural gentry.

Foreign Policy

Pro-William III, supported war against Catholic France.

Often opposed foreign wars, leaned towards peace with France.

Growth and Evolution of Political Parties

  • Under William and Mary, the Whigs and Tories evolved into more structured political entities.
  • The Whigs gained favor with William III, as they supported his war against France and the Protestant cause.
  • The Tories remained influential but were more skeptical of William, as many still had royalist sympathies and were uncomfortable with the foreign-born king.
  • Over time, both factions would lay the groundwork for modern British political parties, with the Whigs eventually evolving into the Liberal Party and the Tories into the Conservative Party.
Prepared by
Jacob Eapen Kunnath
Dept. of English, CMS College Kottayam (Autonomous)

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