New
New
Year 8

The Whig interpretation of the Glorious Revolution

I can describe how Whig historians have interpreted the events of 1688.

New
New
Year 8

The Whig interpretation of the Glorious Revolution

I can describe how Whig historians have interpreted the events of 1688.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. In the 17th century, a political party known as the Whigs emerged who were opposed to Catholicism and absolute monarchy.
  2. Whig historians share a belief that society developed and made progress over time, leading to constitutional monarchy.
  3. Whig historians see the Glorious Revolution positively, seeing it as significant & underpinned by established tradition.
  4. The Whig interpretation was almost unquestioned for nearly 300 years, but it did contain flaws.

Common misconception

The 'Whigs' gained their name because of the fancy wigs and hairstyles that were the fashion in the 17th and 18th centuries.

'Whigs' has nothing to do with hairstyles, but was instead originally a derogatory term used to describe the 'Country Party', as they were originally known. 'Whig' was a sound Scottish drovers shouted when controlling cattle on the way to market.

Keywords

  • Whig - in history, a term used to describe an historian who believes that societies make progress over time

  • Monarch - a sovereign head of state, such as a king, queen or emperor

For Task A, have students walk around the classroom explaining their three words to other students. Ask students what were the best three words that were explained to them in a class discussion in order to help them gain an understanding of different students interpretations of the Whigs.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

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).

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6 Questions

Q1.
What term did John Hampden coin to describe the takeover of power in 1688?
Correct Answer: The Glorious Revolution, the Glorious Revolution, Glorious Revolution, the glorious revolution, glorious revolution
Q2.
What was the Claim of Right Act (1689)?
a law that meant the English Parliament now had more power than the monarchy
Correct answer: a law that meant the Scottish Parliament now had more power than the monarchy
a law that meant the Irish Parliament now had more power than the monarchy
Q3.
How did the beliefs of Episcopalians and Presbyterians differ about the running of the Scottish Church (the kirk)?
Presbyterians argued the kirk should be run by bishops appointed by the monarch.
Correct answer: Episcopalians argued the kirk should be run by bishops appointed by the monarch.
Correct answer: Presbyterians argued the kirk should be run by Elders elected by the people.
Episcopalians argued the kirk should be run by Elders elected by the people.
Q4.
Who made up the Jacobites in Scotland?
some Presbyterians
Correct answer: some Episcopalians
Correct answer: people with personal ties to James
Correct answer: Catholics
Anglicans
Q5.
Complete the sentence: The Jacobites got their name from ‘Jacobus’ which is Latin for ‘ ’.
Correct Answer: James, 'James'
Q6.
What of the following were not the consequences of the Battle of the Boyne (1690)?
William emerged victorious.
Correct answer: James emerged victorious.
James earned himself the nickname in Ireland of ‘James the Coward’.
Correct answer: William earned himself the nickname in Ireland of ‘William the Coward’.
Louis XIV stopped funding efforts to help James regain his crown.

6 Questions

Q1.
Which keyword in history is a term used to describe an historian who believes that societies make progress over time?
Correct Answer: Whig, whig
Q2.
Which keyword describes a sovereign head of state, such as a king, queen or emperor?
Correct Answer: monarch, Monarch
Q3.
How many years did the Whig interpretation of the Glorious Revolution remain unquestioned for?
nearly 200
Correct answer: nearly 300
nearly 350
nearly 400
Q4.
Complete the sentence: Whig historians share a belief that society developed and made progress over time, leading to monarchy.
absolute
Correct answer: constitutional
limited
mixed
Q5.
What was the Whigs' relationship like with James II?
positive
Correct answer: negative
did not have a relationship
Q6.
Which of the following features of the Glorious Revolution do Whig historians not regard as positive?
Correct answer: increase in the strength of the armed forces
increase in the authority of Parliament
Correct answer: decrease in diplomatic relations with other countries
decrease in the power of the monarchy

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