The Glorious Revolution in North America

Abstract

The Glorious Revolution of 1688-89 is one of the most famous instances that brought institutional change in world history. It has duly fascinated historians because of the role it played in New England and North American colonies. A series of uncountable events followed this revolution. The Glorious Revolution represented a critical change in institution by declaring parliamentary sovereignty in England. Some notable changes even occurred in the North American colonies at the governmental level. These changes with their own good and bad sides and every significant event that followed the revolution have been discussed in this paper.

Table of Contents

The Glorious Revolution1

Introduction1

Reasons of the Glorious Revolution1

Consequences of the Glorious Revolution3

The Glorious Revolution Impact on New England4

Before Revolution4

After Revolution4

Impact on Massachusettes5

Impact on Maryland and New York6

Impact on Plymouth6

Impact on Rhode Island7

Impact on Connecticut7

Political development of British North American Colonies8

Colonial System before Revolution8

Trend of Assemblies in Colonies9

Influence of Colonial Leaders9

Solidity of Assemblies10

Conclusion10

Endnotes13

The Glorious Revolution

Introduction

The Glorious Revolution in North America refers to the deposition of second successor of Charles I, King James II during the last decades of the seventeenth century. He lost his throne and power to his Protestant daughter Mary II of England and his nephew William of Orange. King James was a Catholic by religion. His being Catholic was a very major concern for the public at the time of his succession. As feared, the King James attempts of securing his religious objectives received great opposition from the public and finally led to his removal from the throne. This revolution is also known as bloodless revolution.

Reasons of the Glorious Revolution

When King James came into power, his religious beliefs posed a threat to the English Parliament. They feared that under his rule, the colonies would end up being Catholic. They thought that England would become a Catholic tyranny, a satellite state under his influence. Their fears settled down a little when he gave his word of holding up the existing government in church and state.

But soon their approval of his kingship took a turn, when he passed the declaration of Indulgence in April 1687 which ordered to suspend penal laws against Catholics. Using his power he issued this declaration to extend protection to his Catholic beliefs. Moreover, later that year he dissolved the parliament. All these acts received severe opposition from the seven bishops, prominently from William Sancroft and Archbishop of Canterbury. After reviewing the declaration, issued by the King, they declared it against the principles of the Parliament.They stated it as illegal and refused to believe it, pressuring the king to take back his declaration. He also formed the Commissioners of Ecclesiastical Causes which further provoked them to revolt against him. After detailed negotiations, this whole thing settled down. King James II had no legal male heir to success his throne, and it was obvious that his protestant daughter Mary and her husband William of Orange would be receiving the power after him, but soon it turned out that the catholic wife of the king James ...