Jonah Patel
William III and Mary II were England's first and only joint sovereigns, with Mary sharing equal status and power. They came to the throne after the Glorious Revolution of 1688, a largely peaceful transition of power, when Mary's father, James II, was deposed for trying to enforce Catholic tolerance in England. William and Mary were crowned joint sovereigns in 1689, an unprecedented event in British history. They ruled under a new Bill of Rights, which greatly limited royal power and broadened constitutional law, granting Parliament more control over the monarch.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Joint rule | William III and Mary II were England's first and only joint sovereigns, with Mary sharing equal status and power |
| Rule duration | William and Mary ruled jointly from 1689 until Mary's death in 1694 |
| Rule established | The "Glorious Revolution" of 1688, when Mary's father, James II, was deposed for trying to enforce Catholic tolerance in England |
| Constitutional development | The Bill of Rights, which defined many basic civil rights and limited royal power, particularly without the consent of parliament |
| Constitutional requirements | The Crown must seek the consent of the people as represented in Parliament |
| Limitations on monarch's power | The Bill of Rights barred Roman Catholics from the throne of England and granted Parliament control of finances and the army |
| Rights established | Individual rights, including the prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment and the right not to pay taxes levied without the approval of Parliament |
| Influence on US Constitution | The US Constitution's Eighth Amendment, which prohibits excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment, is a near-verbatim reproduction of the corresponding article in the Bill of Rights 1689 |
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What You'll Learn
The Glorious Revolution
On 13 February 1689, Parliament offered the crown to William and Mary as joint monarchs, on the condition that they accepted the Declaration of Rights (later a Bill), which limited the Sovereign's power, reaffirmed Parliament's control over taxation and legislation, and provided guarantees against the abuses of power committed by James II and the other Stuart Kings. The Bill of Rights also excluded all Roman Catholics from the throne, requiring the Sovereign to swear to maintain the Protestant religion and the Church of England (and, after 1707, the Church of Scotland).
While William focused on military and foreign affairs, Mary managed domestic governance, ensuring stability. Their combined strengths made their joint rule effective and harmonious, setting a precedent for a more balanced and constitutional monarchy that continues to influence the British political system today.
VP Eligibility: Born in the US?
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The Bill of Rights
William III and Mary II were England's first and only joint sovereigns, with Mary sharing equal status and power. They came to the throne after the Glorious Revolution of 1688, when Mary's father, James II, was deposed for trying to enforce Catholic tolerance in England. William and Mary were offered the throne as joint monarchs on the condition that they accepted the Bill of Rights, which greatly limited royal power and broadened constitutional law.
In addition to the Bill of Rights, William and Mary also presided over the Act of Settlement, which further restricted the powers of the Crown. Under this Act, parliamentary consent was required for the Sovereign to engage in war or leave the country, and judges were granted independence from royal influence. The Act of Settlement reinforced the principles established by the Bill of Rights, strengthening the role of constitutional advisers in government.
The reign of William and Mary set a precedent for a more balanced and constitutional monarchy that continues to influence British governance today. Their partnership, both personal and political, defined their reign. While William focused on military and foreign affairs, Mary managed domestic governance and ensured stability. Their combined strengths made their joint rule effective and harmonious.
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The Act of Settlement
William III and Mary II were England's first and only joint sovereigns, ruling from 1689 until Mary's death in 1694. They came to the throne after the "'Glorious Revolution'" of 1688, when Mary's father, James II, was deposed for trying to enforce Catholic tolerance in England.
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The Declaration of Rights
William III and Mary II were England's first and only joint sovereigns, ruling from 1689 until Mary's death in 1694. They were offered the throne on the condition that they accepted a Declaration of Rights (later a Bill of Rights), which greatly limited royal power and broadened constitutional law.
The financial settlement reached with William and Mary made them dependent on Parliament, and Parliament tightened control over the king's expenditure. The king was forbidden to maintain a standing army in peacetime without Parliament's consent. The Bill of Rights added further defences of individual rights, forbidding the king from establishing his own courts or acting as a judge, and forbidding courts from imposing excessive bail or fines, or cruel and unusual punishments.
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The Toleration Act
William III and Mary II were England's first and only joint sovereigns, ruling from 1689 until Mary's death in 1694. They came to the throne after the Glorious Revolution of 1688, which deposed Mary's father, James II, for trying to enforce Catholic tolerance in England.
The Act allowed non-conformists to have their own places of worship, teachers, and preachers, as long as they accepted certain oaths of allegiance. It demonstrated that the idea of a "'comprehensive' Church of England had been abandoned" and that the only hope was to tolerate division. This legally endorsed an unprecedented level of religious diversity in England and was considered the most significant religious reform since England's break with the Roman Catholic Church in the 1530s.
The Act did not remove all social and political disabilities for non-conformists, who were still denied political office and access to universities. It also did not apply to Anglicans who supported a return to the Stuart monarchy, the line of James II. The Occasional Conformity Act of 1711 imposed fines on those who, after receiving Anglican communion, were found to be worshipping at non-conformist meeting houses.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Mary and William III ruled under a constitutional monarchy. They were England's first and only joint sovereigns, with Mary sharing equal status and power.
Their reign marked a turning point in British history, setting a precedent for a more balanced and constitutional monarchy that continues to influence Britain's political system today.
Their rule was marked by a significant shift in power dynamics between the monarchy and Parliament, with the latter assuming a more prominent role and limiting the monarch's power. The Bill of Rights, which they accepted, broadened constitutional law and granted Parliament more control over taxation, legislation, and royal expenditure.
