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Year 8

The Bill of Rights and constitutional monarchy

I can describe how the Bill of Rights limited the power of the monarchy and increased the power of Parliament.

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New
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Year 8

The Bill of Rights and constitutional monarchy

I can describe how the Bill of Rights limited the power of the monarchy and increased the power of Parliament.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. William III of Orange was concerned that England may form an alliance with Catholic France against the Protestant Dutch.
  2. In November 1688 William of Orange, Protestant son-in-law to James II, landed in England and James fled for France.
  3. In 1669 a new Parliament met, which issued the Bill of Rights and offered William and Mary the crown.
  4. This declaration greatly limited the power of the monarchy by creating a constitutional monarchy.
  5. It established frequent Parliaments, free elections, freedom of speech within Parliament and other Parliamentary powers.

Keywords

  • Convention - a meeting of Parliament without a summons from the monarch

  • Bill - a draft of a proposed law presented to Parliament for discussion

  • Constitutional monarchy - a system in which the monarch must use their power in line with established laws

Common misconception

Monarchs need to secure their positions by imprisoning or killing any claimants to the throne.

Although many monarchs have acted in this way, there are countless examples of monarchs who tolerated the freedom of strong claimants to the throne in order to not appear despotic. William III of Orange is a good example.

For Task B, encourage students to think carefully about the symbols and images they use as it can be quite challenging to tell a story without words. Encourage them to explain their choice of images and limit the number of words they can use, as this will get them to think harder about the topic.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Why did James II succeed Charles II?
He was his uncle and Charles had no legitimate sons.
Correct answer: He was his brother and Charles had no legitimate children.
He was his brother-in-law and Charles had no legitimate daughters.
Q2.
Match the keywords to the correct definitions.
Correct Answer:Parliament,an assembly of people with authority to make laws for a country

an assembly of people with authority to make laws for a country

Correct Answer:rebellion,an act of armed resistance to an established government or leader

an act of armed resistance to an established government or leader

Correct Answer:Anglican,person who believes in the faith & practices of the Church of England

person who believes in the faith & practices of the Church of England

Q3.
Complete the sentence: James II expanded the size of the and appointed Catholics to important positions without Parliament's agreement.
Correct Answer: army, Army
Q4.
Which of the following did James do which ensured a peaceful succession when he became king despite his religion?
He successfully led the army during the Anglo-French Wars.
Correct answer: He successfully led the navy during the Anglo-Dutch Wars.
He organised a vaccine during the Great Plague.
Correct answer: He took charge of firefighting operations during the Great Fire of London.
Q5.
Put the following events in chronological order.
1 - James secretly converted to Catholicism.
2 - James married his second wife, a Catholic Italian princess, Mary of Modena.
3 - James agreed to the marriage of his daughter Mary to William of Orange.
4 - Charles II died without fathering any legitimate children.
5 - James called his first Parliament.
6 - James' Catholic son was born.
Q6.
Complete the sentence: When Parliament objected to James' measures in November 1685, James dismissed Parliament and they met again during his reign.
Correct Answer: never, Never

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which keyword describes a system in which the monarch must use their power in line with established laws?
Correct Answer: constitutional monarchy, Constitutional Monarchy, Constitutional monarchy
Q2.
Which keyword describes a meeting of Parliament without a summons from the monarch?
Correct Answer: convention, Convention
Q3.
Complete the sentence: The stadtholder (head of state) of the Dutch Republic was concerned that England may form an alliance with Catholic against the Protestant Dutch.
Correct Answer: France, france
Q4.
On 30th June 1688, the ‘Invitation to William’ was sent by the Earl of Romney. Who was the William it was addressed to?
William Shakespeare
William the Conqueror
Correct answer: William of Orange
William Wallace
Q5.
Which of the following did the 1688 Bill of Rights establish?
Correct answer: free elections
restrictive speech within Parliament
frequent Parliaments
infrequent Parliaments
Correct answer: freedom of speech within Parliament
Q6.
Who was William married to?
James’ youngest daughter, Mary
Correct answer: James’ eldest daughter, Mary
James’ eldest daughter, Anne
James’ youngest daughter, Anne

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