James II
Definition
James II was the King of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1685 to 1688. He is best known for his strong belief in absolute monarchy and his attempts to create religious liberty for his subjects against the will of the Parliament.
Analogy
Think of James II as a stubborn captain of a ship who insists on steering it in a direction that the crew doesn't agree with. His refusal to change course leads to a mutiny (the Glorious Revolution).
Related terms
Absolute Monarchy: A form of government where the monarch has absolute power among his or her people.
Glorious Revolution: The overthrow of King James II in 1688 by a union of English Parliamentarians with William III.
Religious Liberty: Freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance.
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Practice Questions (4)
Who replaced James II after he was overthrown in England's Glorious Revolution?
How did James II's religious beliefs impact his rule as king?
How might things be different if James II had responded favorably to anti-Catholic sentiments during his reign?
How might the trajectory of England's constitutional monarchy have differed if James II had not been overthrown during The Glorious Revolution?
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