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The Glorious Revolution of 1688

Study note

By 1688 many leading Protestants in England had lost patience with the Catholic king James II and feared he would keep the throne for a Catholic dynasty. They invited William of Orange, who ruled the Netherlands and was married to James's Protestant daughter Mary, to come over and take the crown. Remember the name: William of Orange, not Normandy or any other place.

William sailed to England and landed with his forces, but met little real resistance, so James II simply fled abroad rather than fight. Because the throne changed hands with so little bloodshed, this event of 1688 became known as the Glorious Revolution. It is one of the most important dates in British history because it settled that the country would have a Protestant monarchy and paved the way for new limits on the power of the king.

Memory tip: 1688. Protestants invite William of Orange; Catholic James II flees. The 'Glorious Revolution'.

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Question 1 of 6

Who was invited to take the English throne in the Glorious Revolution of 1688?

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Show all questions and answers for The Glorious Revolution of 1688(6 questions with explanations)

The Glorious Revolution of 1688: questions, answers and explanations

  1. 1. Who was invited to take the English throne in the Glorious Revolution of 1688?

    • Bonnie Prince Charlie
    • George I
    • Oliver Cromwell
    • William of Orange

    Correct answer: William of Orange

    Protestants invited William of Orange, ruler of the Netherlands, to take the throne in 1688.

  2. 2. Why did English Protestants invite William of Orange to become king in 1688?

    • They wanted to end Parliament
    • They did not want a Catholic king to continue ruling
    • They wished to unite with France
    • They wanted to abolish the monarchy

    Correct answer: They did not want a Catholic king to continue ruling

    They opposed the Catholic king James II and wanted a Protestant monarch instead.

  3. 3. By what name is the change of monarch in 1688 known?

    • The Reformation
    • The Glorious Revolution
    • The Civil War
    • The Restoration

    Correct answer: The Glorious Revolution

    The events of 1688 are called the Glorious Revolution.

  4. 4. Which of these statements is correct?

    • In the Glorious Revolution of 1688, the Catholic king Charles II fled abroad
    • In the Glorious Revolution of 1688, the Catholic king James II fled abroad

    Correct answer: In the Glorious Revolution of 1688, the Catholic king James II fled abroad

    It was James II who fled in 1688, not Charles II.

  5. 5. William of Orange faced little resistance when he arrived to take the throne in 1688.

    • True
    • False

    Correct answer: True

    True. William met no serious resistance and James II fled abroad.

  6. 6. In 1688, Protestants invited William of where, ruler of the Netherlands, to become king?

    • Aragon
    • Normandy
    • Lancaster
    • Orange

    Correct answer: Orange

    William of Orange, ruler of the Netherlands, was invited to take the throne in 1688.

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