Relations and issues with parliament

• Charles I had a changing relationship with Parliament
• There were arguments about finance and tax
• There were arguments about religion
• There were arguments about war and foreign policy
• James, Duke of York, became a Catholic
• There was an increasing fear of Catholicism
• The Popish Plot led to anti-Catholic hysteria
• The Rye House Plot was a conspiracy to murder James, Duke of York, and the King
• Titus Oates

  • He went to say that he had uncovered a Catholic plot
  • He gave evidence that was completely fabricated
• People feared Catholicism and did not want a Catholic on the throne
• Charles II had no legitimate heir, so the succession was uncertain
• Attempts to exclude James, Duke of York, from the succession

  1. First Exclusion Bill

  2. Second Exclusion Bill

  3. Third Exclusion Bill (Oxford Parliament)
• The Exclusion Bills were rejected and Charles II ruled without Parliament 1681-1684
• Anthony Ashley-Cooper, Lord Shaftesbury


  • Fought for Parliament in the Civil War but supported Charles II
  • In favour of the Declaration of Indulgence and toleration for dissenters
  • Member of the Cabal, later leader of the Whigs
  • Introduced bills to prevent James, Duke of York, from becoming king
• What was the corporation act and when?

  1661

  Anyone who held public offence,must swear an oath supporting the king and Church of England
• what and when was the act of uniformity?

  1662

  Book of common prayer was made compulsory

  Any clergymen who disagreed rejected and replaced
• what and when was the five mile act?

  1665

  Priests who had been ejected from church, could not hold services or teach within 5 miles from their old church
• what and when was the conventicle act?

  1664

  Groups of more than five people could not worship together

  Unless in Church of England
• what and when was the test act?

  1673

  Anyone holding position of authority had to declare they were not Catholic

  Anyone that was to resign from that position
• What and when was the declaration of indulgence?

  1662

  Charles promised, toleration for dissenters

  Forced to change when parliament delayed granting him money
• what was Charles’s first parliament?

  The convention Parliament, 1660 to 1661

  Split between royalists and parliamentarians

  Agreed to give Charles money each year to run the government
• what was Charles’s parliament from 1661 to 1667

  Clarendon ministry

  The MP supported the king

  Still arguments over religion, foreign policy and money
• what and when was the triennial act?

  1664

  Stated the king only had to queue parliament once every three years

  There was no consequence if you didn’t

  Weekend, parliaments power

  In return, he had to agree to laws, limiting religious toleration
• Who were the cabal?

  powerful group of ministers

  Members of the House of Lords

  Agreed to fund the army

  Agreed to grant Charles money

  Disagreed among themselves on religious toleration of parliaments powers
• what is the Danby ministry consists of?

  Wigs and Tories
• Who were the whigs?

  Disapproved of Kings lavish lifestyle

  wanted toleration for dissenters

  Feared Catholics

  Didn’t want to James Duke of York to succeed
• Who were the Tories?

  Supported the king

  Supported Anglican church

  Thought James should succeed
• what and when will the exclusion Parliaments?

  1679 to 1681

  Many arguments over the succession issue