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As Christianity continued to grow in the 1700s, many around the world came to the same conclusion: they wanted their own country rather than taking orders from a king.  But kings resisted these demands for independence by the people, and revolutions became necessary to overthrow kings.

As Christianity continued to grow in the 1700s, many around the world came to the same conclusion: they wanted their own country rather than taking orders from a king.  But kings resisted these demands for independence by the people, and revolutions became necessary to overthrow kings.

During the 1600s in England, there was some of the worst religious persecution in the history of the world, as Protestants harshly persecuted each other and there was also continuous conflict between Protestants and Catholics.  The conflict between Anglicans (in America and Anglican is called an Episcopal) and Puritans in England was particularly severe, causing many Puritans to flee to New England.  Quakers were also persecuted in England, and William Penn founded the state of Pennsylvania in the late 1600s after being persecuted in England for his Quaker faith.  In 1688, a “bloodless” revolution known as the “Glorious Revolution” replaced a rare Catholic English King (James II) with a King and Queen who were Anglican (William and Mary).

During the 1600s in England, there was some of the worst religious persecution in the history of the world, as Protestants harshly persecuted each other and there was also continuous conflict between Protestants and Catholics.  The conflict between Anglicans and Puritans in England was particularly severe, causing many Puritans to flee to New England. (In the United States the Anglican Church is known as the Episcopal Church, due to a name change that resulted from the American Revolution.) Quakers were also persecuted in England, and William Penn founded the state of Pennsylvania in the late 1600s after being persecuted in England for his Quaker faith.  In 1688, a “bloodless” revolution known as the “Glorious Revolution” replaced a rare Catholic English King (James II) with a King and Queen who were Anglican (William and Mary).

In the 1700s, all the revolutions were quite bloody, entailing violence and great losses of life and limbs.  Nearly every region of the world saw violent revolutions.  There was the American Revolution, which began with bloodshed in 1775 (Lexington and Concord and the ride of Paul Revere), and then the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, and ultimately the conclusion with the Treaty of Paris in 1783.  There were also many other revolutions, including ones in Mexico, Haiti, South America, China and France.  We will learn about all of them here, spending most of our time on the French Revolution.

In the 1700s, all the revolutions were quite bloody, entailing violence and great losses of life and limbs.  Nearly every region of the world saw violent revolutions.  There was the American Revolution, which began with bloodshed in 1775 (Lexington and Concord and the ride of Paul Revere), and then the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, and ultimately the conclusion with the Treaty of Paris in 1783.  There were also many other revolutions, including ones in Mexico, Haiti, South America, China and France.  We will learn about all of them here, spending most of our time on the French Revolution.

After Cromwell’s death, his son Richard became Lord Protector. He was so ineffectual that he became known as "Tumbledown Dick" for his indecisive character. The older son of Charles I took the throne as Charles II and instituted the Restoration (of the monarchy) in 1660. Richard Cromwell was allowed to retire to his estate in Huntingdonshire (perhaps a sign that the monarchy had nothing to fear from him). Charles ruled until his death in 1685, during which he established the rights of prisoners not to be held unless there was a good reason.  This was the Habeas Corpus Act, passed in 1679, which became a basic right under the U.S. Constitution, Article One, Section Nine (“The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.”).  Also during the reign of Charles II the first political parties developed, known as the Whigs, a party which favoured free trade, limits on the power of the monarch and tolerance of non-conformist protestants, and Tories, an aristocratic party which supported the King and the Church of England.  Those same political parties have given rise to current parties in England, although ironically, the philosophy of the Whigs is closest to that of the modern Tories or Conservatives.

After Cromwell’s death, his son Richard became Lord Protector. He was so ineffectual that he became known as "Tumbledown Dick" for his indecisive character. The older son of Charles I took the throne as Charles II and instituted the Restoration (of the monarchy) in 1660. Richard Cromwell was allowed to retire to his estate in Huntingdonshire (perhaps a sign that the monarchy had nothing to fear from him). Charles ruled until his death in 1685, during which he established the rights of prisoners not to be held unless there was a good reason.  This was the Habeas Corpus Act, passed in 1679, which became a basic right under the U.S. Constitution, Article One, Section Nine (“The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.”).  Also during the reign of Charles II the first political parties developed, known as the Whigs, a party which favoured free trade, limits on the power of the monarch and tolerance of non-conformist protestants, and Tories, an aristocratic party which supported the King and the Church of England.  Those same political parties have given rise to current parties in England, although ironically, the philosophy of the Whigs is closest to that of the modern Tories or Conservatives.

James II, a Catholic, was the second son of Charles I and succeeded Charles II to the throne.  The Catholic-Anglican conflict had been ongoing for over a hundred years, and many Protestants were unhappy about having a Catholic rule the country. This is understandable because the monarch of England is the head of the Anglican Church; there are laws prohibiting a Catholic or a person married to a Catholic from becoming King or Queen because of this fact. To Anglicans having a Catholic King and a Catholic head of the Anglican Church would be like having a muslim be Pope for Catholics. In 1688, the Protestants in Parliament asked Mary, the Protestant daughter of James II, to rule England (and Scotland) along with her Protestant husband William of Orange.  James II was forced to flee to France, where he died in exile in 1701.

James II, a Catholic, was the second son of Charles I and succeeded Charles II to the throne.  The Catholic-Anglican conflict had been ongoing for over a hundred years, and many Protestants were unhappy about having a Catholic rule the country. Even now in England there are laws prohibiting a Catholic or a person married to a Catholic from becoming King or Queen. In 1688, the Protestants in Parliament asked Mary, the Protestant daughter of James II, to rule England (and Scotland) along with her Protestant husband William of Orange.  James II was forced to flee to France, where he died in exile in 1701.

This transfer in power during 1688-1689 became known as the “Glorious Revolution,” or the bloodless revolt.  But while the ouster of James II itself was bloodless, it was incited in part by the execution of 300 persons (and sale into slavery of another 800) who participated in the 1685 revolt against James II known as (Duke) Monmouth’s Rebellion.   

This transfer in power during 1688-1689 became known as the “Glorious Revolution,” or the bloodless revolt.  But while the ouster of James II itself was bloodless, it was incited in part by the execution of 300 persons (and sale into slavery of another 800) who participated in the 1685 revolt against James II known as (Duke) Monmouth’s Rebellion.