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The Glorious Revolution of 1688 Essay

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The Glorious Revolution of 1688 The theme of “autonomy and responsibility” is prevalent in many major wars of revolution throughout the history of the world and especially in the events that occurred in England during the seventeenth century. Autonomy is defined as self-government and existing or functioning independently. Responsibility is having obligations or duties to something and being able to distinguish between right and wrong. In England, the political leaders drove King James II out of the country in order to end his oppressive rule as an absolute monarch. The Dutch Prince William of Orange, James’ son-in-law, invaded England to rule. Parliament gave the throne to William and his wife Mary but placed restrictions on …show more content…

They wanted them to come to England and take over the throne. Hearing the news of William’s invasion, James and his family fled to France. The Parliament chose to “treat his flight as an abdication” of the throne and William and Mary took the throne.3 The people of England, acting through Parliament, decided that they wanted to have more autonomy in government decisions. They disposed of the absolute monarchy, which oppressed their voice in decision-making in government. Parliament gave the throne to William and Mary with certain restrictions on their sovereignty that gave Parliament more responsibility in the government. Prince William of Orange William came to England because he wanted to head the government. He “would settle for nothing less than the crown.”4 William and his army landed in England at Torbay in November of 1688. He made promises to protect England’s liberty and the Protestant religion. William made his way to London without meeting any opposition.5 Although William wanted all of the executive power, he allowed his wife Mary to share the title in order to stay on the good side of the Tory party. A dual monarchy was created and the crown was formally offered to William and Mary in Westminster Abbey in April. The two shared the dignity of the title equally, for “it was made clear that when one of them died, the other would become sole ruler.”6 However, while William was alive,

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