The final years of Charles II

The tory reaction, the accession of James ii, and monmouths rebellionc. 1681-1685 Politics in the early 1680s1. 1681: England is in a potentially revolutionary situation. The majority of the landed elite are increasingly disturbed by the political environment, particularly by the efforts of the Whigs to mobilize public opinion in favor of excluding James, Duke of York, from the royal succession. The Whig party is asserting Parliaments power in relationship to the Crown. Many aristocrats and gentlemen fear that 1641 has come again and that 1648 and 1649 will follow soon thereafter.2. During the early 1680s, the majority of the landed elite decide to support Charles II in his confrontation with the Earl of Shaftesbury, the Whigs, and the supporters of the Exclusion Bill.Politics in the early 1680s, continued3. 1681-1685: the Tory reaction sets in. The Tory party, which includes the majority of the landed elite, joins with Charles II to politically marginalize and stamp out the Whigs. Parliament does not meet between 1681 and 1685.4. 1683: the Rye House Plot, which involves an assassination attempt on Charles II and his brother James, Duke of York, fails. Whigs and republicans, such as Algernon Sidney, are rounded up and executed. Whig leaders and activists, such as the Earl of Shaftesbury and John Locke, flee into exile on the European continent.5. The Whig political-party organization is decimated between 1683 and 1685.

Politics in the early 1680s, continued6. 1685: the Tory reaction is victorious. The Anglican-Royalist consensus of the 1660s returns with a vengeance. The renewed consensus rests on a strong (but not absolute) monarchy, a persecutory Church of England, and the Tory-leaning majority of the landed classes.7. The Court of Charles II and its supporters hope to transform the Anglican-Royalist consensus into an Anglican royal absolutism. The Tories are opposed to creating an absolute monarchy, but they are even more opposed to the Whigs during the first half of the 1680s. The Tories fear another revolution more than they do the creation of an absolute monarchy.

The accession of James II & VII and Monmouths rebellion1. February 6, 1685: Charles II dies and his brother James accedes to the throne as James II of England and James VII of Scotland. Despite being a Roman Catholic, James II promises to uphold the laws of England and to support the legally established Protestant religion (i.e., the Church of England). The king calls for Parliament to meet.2. May 19, 1685: Parliament meets for the first time during the reign of James II.3. May-June, 1685: the Earl of Argyll leads a rebellion against James IIs rule in Scotland.Rebel with a cause: the Duke of Monmouth, Charles IIs illegitimate Protestant son

The accession of James II & VII and Monmouths rebellion, continued4. June 11, 1685: the Duke of Monmouth, Charles IIs illegitimate Protestant son, lands in southwestern England and leads a rebellion against James IIs rule.5. July 5-6, 1685: Monmouths forces are defeated at the Battle of Sedgemoor and both rebellions are brutally crushed.6. As the summer of 1685 draws to an end, James II stands triumphant at home. He is fully supported by the Church of Englands bishops and clergy, by the Tory party, and by the majority of the landed elite.