1. Restoration and 18th Century (1660-1785)

2. Charles II ( )
Restored to the throne after Richard Cromwell abdicated
In an earlier attempt to regain the throne, Charles, in battle against Cromwell, was reportedly forced to hide in an oak tree
Reopened theaters, approved the Royal Society, made every attempt to bring Puritanism to an end
In 1673, the Test Act required everyone to take the sacrament according to the Anglican church; Protestant dissenters and Catholics excluded

3. Charles II Cont.
In 1678, the so-called Popish Plot, largely a rumor that Catholics were trying to rise, led to the attempt of Protestants to make Charles II exclude his Catholic brother James II
Led to the formation of the Whigs (king’s opponents) and Tories (king’s supporters)
Richard Walpole, architect of the Whig policy, became first “prime” minister
Had 16 bastards, but no legitimate heir

4. James II (1685-1688) Fifty-one when crowned
Not personable or popular like his brother; neither Whigs nor Tories were happy with James, who made little attempt to hide his Catholic sympathies
Had two Protestant heirs (Anne and Mary) by his first wife
His second wife, Mary of Modena, was a Catholic
News of Mary giving birth to a son led to the “Glorious” or “Bloodless” Revolution of 1688

5. James II Cont.
Secret negotiations by Protestant enemies led to his daughter Mary and her husband, William of Orange, taking the throne
Fled
Only king to die as an exile

6. William III and Mary II (1689-1702)
Cousins who were married for political purposes when Mary was 15
She wept at the wedding, unhappy at the prospect of marrying her older, dull and hunchbacked cousin
Although they ruled England jointly, Mary’s role was eclipsed by William, who she grew to love
Mary died of smallpox when she was 32

7. William III Cont. Not particularly well-liked
Killed after being thrown from his horse, which apparently tripped over a mole’s hill
Thereafter, some Englishmen began to drink toasts to moles!

8. Anne (1702-1714) The last Stuart monarch
A glorious reign, considering the many brilliant writers who flourished (Swift, Dryden, Pope and others)
Very dull
Liked to drink brandy and entertained herself with a close lady friend, Sarah Churchill (so close that rumors of lesbianism abounded)
When they had an irreparable argument, Anne replaced Sarah with a new favorite

9. Anne Cont.
Obese to the point that she required the help of pulleys and levers to get around
New political tensions began to mount
England participated in the War of Spanish Succession
Whigs dominated for a while but were dismissed in 1710
She then relied on the Tories, but ultimately the Whigs returned to power with the accession of George I

10. The Georges George I (1714-1727)
Son of Anne’s cousin Sophia and first of Hanoverian kings
Protestant
Knew no English
The prime minister, Robert Walpole, gained strength
George II ( )
A good king
England’s military conquests included Canada and India
Died of a heart attack
Hated his son Frederick, who had died playing cricket
George III ( )
Grandson of George II
Had a long and eventful reign which, unfortunately, ended with him going insane

11. The Georges

12. Slideshow by Julia Broyles
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Slideshow by Julia Broyles