Unit 3 Quiz: The English Revolution
Guide to Responding
This guide is intended to help you evaluate your performance on the “Unit 3 Quiz.” It
lists the most important terms and concepts that should appear in your answers.
Instructions: For each question, check whether the information listed below is included
in your answer. If you find that some of your answers do not have the key concepts and
terms listed here, go back to the relevant subunits (listed with each question) and
review the information by either re-reading the materials or listening to the lectures one
more time.
If your answers include terms and ideas that do not appear here and you are not sure
whether they correctly answer the questions, use the sub-unit cross-references below to
go back to the relevant course materials and check that your additional information is
correct.
1. What chronological periods do historians distinguish between 1640 and 1688 in
England?
•
1640-1660: The Long Parliament
• 1642-1659: Civil War, which ended with the execution of Charles I
•
1649-1660: The Commonwealth and Protectorate under Oliver Cromwell
•
1160-1688: Restoration of the monarchy, Charles II on the throne
•
1688-1689: The Glorious Revolution, which brought William and Mary to the throne
Reference: Sub-subunit 3.2.2
2. What was the “Glorious Revolution”?
• Rebellion of the parliament against King James II.
• It had both political and religious causes.
• Invasion of England by William of Orange (from the Dutch Republic), who was asked
to invade by opponents of James II in the parliament.
• Provoked by fears of the establishment of a Catholic dynasty in England and by James
II’s close ties with France.
• Fueled by fears of a Catholic conspiracy.
• Whig politicians opposed attempts that James II made to allow Catholics to hold public
offices.
• James II dissolved the parliament in 1687.
• After James II fled and William of Orange became England’s ruler, the ‘convention
parliament’ met in 1689.
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• William and Mary became English monarchs, but they had to accept the Bill of Rights
prepared by the parliamentarians.
• The Glorious Revolution imposed limits on the powers of the monarchy and increased
the powers of the parliament.
Reference: Sub-subunits 3.2.1 and 3.2.2
3. What does the English Bill of Rights (1689) say about the freedom of speech?
• There is to be freedom of speech in parliamentary debates and proceeding.
• This freedom cannot be undermined by any institution external to the parliament.
• The Bill of Rights does not deal with the question of the universal freedom of speech of
all citizens.
Reference: Sub-subunit 3.3.1
4. What are some of the most important rights and freedoms protected by the
English Bill of Rights?
• Many of the rights and freedoms protected by the Bill of Rights are the rights and
freedoms of the parliament.
• The king cannot suspend or execute laws without the consent of the parliament.
• The parliament has the right to control the collection of taxes.
• Citizens have the right to petition the king.
• The king has to receive the parliament’s permission to raise a standing army in time of
peace.
• Protestant citizens can bear arms to defend themselves.
• There should be free elections to the parliament.
• There should be freedom of speech in parliamentary debates.
• There should be no excessive bail, fines, or cruel and unusual punishment.
Reference: Sub-subunit 3.3.1
5. What is a constitutional monarchy?
• A monarchy whose prerogatives are limited by the powers of an elected legislative
body, such as a parliament.
• A constitution outlines the powers of both the monarchy and the elected legislative
body.
• The elected legislative body meets regularly and has the power to control taxation.
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• In England, an important step toward establishing a constitutional monarchy was taken
in 1689 when William and Mary had to accept the Bill of Rights before they could
ascend to the throne.
Reference: Sub-subunit 3.2.2
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