My Revision Notes Answers Page 9 Test yourself 1. The problems that Charles I faced on his restoration were that there were religious and political divisions, Parliament was now more powerful and he would have to take their advice, and he had to deal with those who had fought against his father in the English Civil War. 2. In the Declaration of Breda, Charles II promised to take advice from Parliament that he would allow peaceful religious beliefs, that he would pay the army their wages and that those who had fought against the king in the Civil War would not be prosecuted. Key events There are several events you might have mentioned. You could choose from: 1649 Charles I was executed 1649 England became a Commonwealth 1653 Parliament was disbanded and Oliver Cromwell ruled as Lord Protector. 1658 Oliver Cromwell died 1658 Richard Cromwell took over 1659 The Long Parliament April 1660 Charles signed the Declaration of Breda May 1660 The restoration of the monarchy Spot the mistakes After Charles I was executed, Oliver Cromwell ruled with the help of the Rump Parliament. Cromwell had been an important Parliamentarian leader during the English Civil War. During Oliver Cromwell’s rule, Charles II was in exile with his French cousin Louis XIV who was a Catholic. In the Declaration of Breda, Charles II promised that he would not punish all those who had fought against his father in the English Civil War. Page 11 Test yourself 1. Charles II and Parliament disagreed over religion, foreign policy/wars and money/taxes. 2. The poll tax and the hearth tax. 3. Whigs disapproved of the lavish lifestyle of the king and his court and believed in freedom of worship for Protestant dissenters. They wanted to prevent James, Duke of York, from becoming king. Tories supported the king and the Church of England. They approved of James, Duke of York, as Charles’ heir. 4. The Treaty of Dover was signed in 1670. It was a public alliance with Louis XIV and Catholic France against the Protestant Dutch. Charles also signed a secret Treaty of Dover, promising to become Catholic if Louis gave him money and agreed to send troops if there were anti-Catholic rebellions in England. Develop the detail 1661 Corporation Act Anyone who held public office must swear an oath supporting the king and the Church of England. 1664 Conventicle Act Groups of more than five people could not worship together unless it was in the Church of England. 1665 The Five Mile Act Priests who had been ejected from the church could not hold services or teach within five miles of their old church. 1673 The Test Act Anyone holding a public office had to declare that they were not Catholic. Practice question Explain what was important about the Clarendon Code. [8 marks] The Clarendon Code was a series of laws that were passed in the 1660s and 1670s and were aimed at regulating religion. It takes its name from Charles II’s chief minister, Lord Clarendon. The 1662 Act of Uniformity was important because any priests who did not agree to use the Book of Common Prayer had to leave and they were replaced by those who were more supportive. The Conventicle Act of 1664 made it illegal to hold church services for more than five people, except in the Anglican Church. This meant that it was virtually impossible for Catholics and Dissenters to hold legal services and many who did were punished. The Five Mile Act of 1665 stopped priests who had been told to leave their churches from holding services, or from teaching in schools, within five miles of their old churches. This made it difficult for those priests to keep in contact with and influence their former congregations. In 1673, the Test Act meant that Catholics could not hold public office. This made it very difficult for many Catholics who had positions of authority as they had to become Protestants or leave their jobs. For example, James, Duke of York, gave up his position as Lord High Admiral. Overall, the Clarendon Code was important because it helped to reinforce a single way of worship that was acceptable to Parliament and it made life difficult for Catholics and Dissenters. This led to religious intolerance and a fear of Catholics. This in turn led to the Popish Plot and the Exclusion Crisis, which aimed to prevent the Catholic James, Duke of York, from becoming king. In the long term, it meant that Britain would not accept a Catholic on the throne. There are three stages to most of the points made in this answer. Firstly, the general point is made (highlighted in red). Then more detail is given, demonstrating a deeper knowledge (highlighted in yellow). The sections highlighted in green develop what has been stated in the previous red and yellow sentences. This describes the importance, effect, impact or consequence of what has been described. When you write a red or yellow statement in your answer, ask yourself ‘so what?’ This might help you to think of the green section. For top marks, your answer will need to reach the green level. Page 12 Test yourself 1. The Rye House Plot • It took place in 1683. • Plotters did not want a Catholic on the throne. • It was a plot to kill Charles II and his brother James. • They wanted to put Charles’ illegitimate son, the Protestant Duke of Monmouth, on the throne instead. • Many believed that the Whigs were behind the plot. • The plot was used as an excuse to arrest and put to death the remaining Whig leaders, Algernon Sidney, Lord Russell and the Earl of Essex. 2. Titus Oates • He had been an Anglican priest. • He went to Spain to train as a Jesuit priest but was expelled when they found he had lied about his qualifications. • He gave evidence to the Privy Council about the fictitious Popish Plot, claiming that Catholics, including members of the House of Lords, were plotting to kill the king. Page 13 Eliminate irrelevance Write an account of the ways in which the Popish Plot affected Restoration England. (8 marks) You only have a short time to write your answer, so there is no need to add detail that is not going to gain you any additional marks. In 1678 Charles II was going for a walk. A man called Kirby told him that there was a plot to kill him. Although you do need to include enough information to explain what the plot was, the additional background does not add anything to the answer or help to explain the importance of the plot and its effect on Restoration England. Israel Tongue claimed that over one hundred Jesuits were conspiring to kill the King. Lord Danby and the Privy Council investigated and Titus Oates gave evidence to the Privy Council. Oates was born in Rutland and went to Cambridge University. You have not been asked to write a biography of Oates. This background does not help to answer the question. The dead body of Sir Edmund Godfrey, one of those who had questioned Oates, was found on Primrose Hill in London. Exactly where the body was found does not add to the answer. People feared that Catholics had murdered him. Members of the House of Lords whom Oates had accused were arrested. In England, Catholics were very unpopular and it was feared that Catholics would cause political and religious problems. The Catholic religion was the official way of worship in countries such as Spain and France. The Pope was the head of the Catholic Church. For the purposes of this answer, you can assume that your reader has some basic knowledge of who the Catholics were. It might be possible to make the comment about France being Catholic relevant by including more detail about fear of the power of France, but as it stands, this sentence adds nothing to the answer. There was a great deal of anti-Catholic feeling and violence against Catholics because people believed Oates. Key events There are several events you might have mentioned. You could choose from: August 1678 Charles was told of a plot to kill him. Israel Tongue reported that one hundred Jesuits were going to kill the king. Titus Oates made up detailed evidence about the Popish Plot and told the Privy Council. Magistrate Sir Edward Godfrey was found dead in London Oates accused five members of the House of Lords and they were arrested. There was widespread anti-Catholic feeling and violence against Catholics. Charles II’s Chief Minister, the Earl of Danby, was forced to resign when it was discovered that he had been negotiating to get money for the king from Catholic France. Thirteen people were executed for their part in the plot, even though the plot had been invented to stir up hatred of Catholics. Page 15 Test yourself 1. The possible successors to Charles II were: Charles’ brother James, Duke of York Mary, the Protestant daughter of James The Duke of Monmouth, Charles’ eldest illegitimate son A child of Charles II by a new wife Develop the explanation Lord Shaftesbury played an important part in the Exclusion Crisis – he was the leader of the Whigs, who were in favour of exclusion, and he put the first Exclusion Bill before Parliament in 1679. Charles II stopped the Exclusion Bills being passed – he did this by refusing to call Parliament or by dissolving Parliament. Charles II was able to rule without Parliament – he could do this because trade was good and he had support from France, so he did not need Parliament to raise taxes.