The Restoration

The Restoration

When Charles II crossed the Channel to return to

England in 1660, he took up the throne that had been

vacant since his father was executed.

Charles knew he had to be careful not to disturb Parliament too much, so he was never a strong,

effective ruler.

Charles II had a French mother, Henrietta Maria,

the sister of Louis XIII.

Charles admired French taste and

was very cosmopolitan in

his outlook.

Charles had numerous mistresses and illegitimate children who

would grow up and meddle with the government

London was a “swinging” place

during the restoration.

Though it had a sizeable Puritan

population, Theaters were re-opened and

lively parties ensued. Women

were allowed to be actresses—no

longer did young men take that role.

Trade continued to grow, and it can be safe to say that England

ships dominated the traffic in the English Channel.

Charles II, having spent

years in France, tended to be pro-Catholic. He married a Portuguese Princess.

Though he grew to love her,

they never had an heir. It was just a matter of

time before religion became

an issue.

To discuss Charles II’s reign we must examine his religious leanings and his

relationships with other countries. Let’s examine the English/Dutch Wars

first.

The Dutch -English Conflicts.

The First Dutch War (1652-1654) actually occurred during

Cromwell’s time. Parliament had passed the Navigation Acts which

required that all ships in the English Channel salute English Warship. The Acts also placed

limits on goods entering England. The Acts precipitated conflicts with

the Dutch.

The first Dutch War ends when their commander is killed. The

English are victorious.

The Second Dutch War begins in 1664. Charles II is now on the throne. It also

began over trade conflicts—in the colonies, the Dutch were underselling the English in the slave trade. And in

America, the English take New Amsterdam (New York) from the

Dutch.Start spreading the news, New York is ours!

Charles’ brother, James, the Duke

of York commands the navy and wins

a major battle against the Dutch at Lowestoft. But

the next battle rages for four days and the

English lose 5,000 men. The English

continue with more naval victories.

Despite these victories—England is hit by two disasters

which weaken England and distract the King.

The Plague-and-

The Great Fire of London

An outbreak of the Bubonic Plague begins in London in 1656 and kills

thousands

BRING OUT YOUR DEAD!

Historical Side note: during this time, a student, Isaac

Newton, retreats to the countryside to escape the

plague

While there, he lays down the laws of the universe: gravity, force, action,

and develops calculus

A year later, almost all of London is burned to the ground . This was the

Great Fire 1666.

The Dutch take

advantage of this event.

They harass and burn English

ships, and, at one point,

move up the Thames

River towards London.

The second Dutch War ends with the Treaty of Breda in July of 1667.

The Third Dutch War (1662-1674). This is the most interesting of the

three wars, because it now involves two other major players who have emerged as leaders of

their countries:

Charles is related to both of these kings—he is first cousin

to Louis XIV and uncle to William III!

Charles signs a secret treaty with France (1670) and agrees to support France in its war

against the Dutch. In exchange,

Charles will receive millions of dollars.

This third Dutch war

begins 1672, when the English

support the French in their

war against the Dutch—

the Dutch are only saved when they break the dikes and flood the country around

Amsterdam

But the Dutch, the underdogs, manage some victories. De Ruyter is the great naval commander. He defeats the English and French in

numerous sea battles.

Still, the Dutch are left to fight off both of these great powers. This

time, the Spanish come to the rescue—they form an alliance with

the Dutch to withstand the English/French alliance.

This war ends with the Treaty of Breda

The last Dutch War ends in 1674, but with the end of the Dutch wars—we must go immediately to England and

follow events there.

James, Charles’ brother, converts to Catholicism.

Charles shows that he favors Catholicism by loosening

restrictions on dissenters (as Catholics were known).

Now let us turn to political affairs during this time…

In 1673, Parliament retaliates by passing the Test Act, which

requires all those who are government officials must take the communion (sacrament) of

the Church of England.

Therefore—it is a test of whether you are Catholic or Protestant.

Many Catholics didn’t want to take the communion—therefore, this “Test” excluded Catholics from

holding public office.

There were much plotting underway to support both sides—an Anglican priest

named Titus Oakes said that there was a Popish (Catholic) Plot to turn England Catholic.

Many men were executed under false witness—this

undermines the King.

No doubt, Charles II was under Catholic influence. And he never

had a legitimate son with Catherine of Portugal, despite

fathering many sons out of wedlock.

The big problem, however, was his brother James II. He was a known

Catholic. He had married Anne Hyde and had two daughters. At least those

daughters were Protestant. But England did not want another Catholic

King!

Therefore, many in Parliament came up with the idea to

“exclude” James from the line of succession, and support his

Protestant daughters. These were called Whigs.

The Tories supported the King.

Charles II died in 1688 after a brief illness. He actually converted to

Catholicism on his deathbed! His brother—his Catholic brother—became

King! King James II.

Let’s get the succession right:

James I Charles I (executed)Charles II and James II (both

brothers)(Charles dies without heir—throne

goes to his brother, James, a Catholic)

Mary and Anne (both Protestant)

James liberalized laws against Catholics. Parliament would have none of this. So James began to go back to the pre-civil war idea

that a King could make or unmake laws. This was most unpopular. England would not have another “divine right” monarch dictating

terms.

Hadn’t they already executed a King over

this issue?

James had only been on the throne for two years when another huge complication

developed. You see, after Anne Hyde died,

leaving two daughters (who were raised Protestant), James had married a Catholic. She

became pregnant shortly thereafter-- Breaking News—

a son is born to James II!

A son! Never had the arrival of a baby shook England than the birth of that son. So their Catholic King now had a Catholic son who would

take precedent over his half-sisters.

That was too much—and Parliament unites to

bypass both James II and his son, and

offer the throne to

Mary, James’ Protestant daughter.

Mary, at the time, was not living in England. She was now married to

William of Holland, or known as William of Orange (for his family’s

ruling house).

William and Mary were first cousins: James I was Mary’s

father, and his sister, Mary Stuart,

was William III’s mother. In fact, William’s mother

had died of smallpox when she went to see her brother’s

coronation when he returned to England

as Charles I.

Mary is invited with her husband, William, to be co-rulers of England.

Both William and Mary are grandchildren of the executed

Charles I, so they technically both have claims on the throne.

William lands with his army in England and moves toward

London

James II is forced into exile in France with his family—insisting

he will return someday and his son will claim his rightful throne.

A year later, Parliament

enacts one of its most

important documents:

The English Bill of Rights. This

was the condition for them to take the throne.

And in 1701, things are made

final when the Act of Settlement says

that no King or Queen of England

can ever be Catholic, and all heirs lose their

place in the succession if they become Catholic

or marry a Catholic.

The French and Irish Catholics try to put James back on the throne

immediately, but they are defeated at the Boyne River in

Ireland.

Parliament persuades Scotland to merge with England and

become the United Kingdom of England and Scotland (1707)

The landed classes dominated Parliament and greatly influenced

the decisions that led to this revolution.

Mary died in 1604, and William ruled alone until. We will learn

about his great conflict with Louis XIV shortly.

The Acceptance of the Bill of Rights, the “peaceful” takeover of the throne by William and Mary,

and the idea of a limited monarchy (constitutional) without Catholic

influence is called:

THE GLORIOUS REVOLUTION