Charles II vs. Parliament

Charles II returned to England in 1660, following 11 years of being exiled from his home land.

When Charles II re-entered England, the majority of the power belonged to the Parliament, which did not get through to him.

Charles II promoted his many ideas throughout his country. However the citizens of England did not agree with his new ideas which soon became a conflict.

Soon after Charles had returned, peace was disturbed when the Cavalier Parliament restored the Anglican Church as the official church of England in 1661.

New laws were created to enforce the Catholics and Puritans to conform to the Anglican Church.

Ironically, Charles was sympathetic towards these new laws and had considered Catholicism as his religion.

In 1672, Charles II issued the Declaration of Indulgences which banned the laws that were previously made regarding the Catholics and Puritans.

This law was only passed through Charles II, with Parliament having no part of it

Suspicion was brought about when Parliament had learned that Charles’ brother, James, was a Catholic and did not hide it.

These actions immediately made Charles and James disliked throughout England during the late 1660s.

The angered Parliament soon retaliated with their Test Act in 1673. The Test Act stated that only Anglicans could hold military and civil offices.

This act was significant because it did not give the Catholics any rights for offices.

A Catholic plot to assassinate King Charles and his brother, James, was soon revealed.

This plot provoked the Parliament to pass a bill which would have impacted James’ reign for the throne.

Both of these attempts had failed, resulting in two political parties: the Whigs and the Tories.

They wanted to exclude James and have a Protestant King, along with the toleration of Dissenters.

The Tories supported the king, putting aside their hatred towards James being Catholic.

The Tories felt that the Parliament should not interfere with succession to the throne.

Tories

Charles II dismissed Parliament in 1681.

He solely relied on the French subsidies to rule.

Charles II died in 1685, leaving the throne for his brother, James.

James (1685-1688)

By: Sanam Ghaneeian

Period 6