Religious divisions and conflicts: the defeat of Millenarianism; the…

The idea

The Restoration settlement failed to resolve deep religious divisions. The defeat of Millenarianism was cemented by the suppression of Venner's Rising in 1661, discrediting radical sects. Consequently, the Cavalier Parliament enforced the restoration of a rigid Church of England through the Clarendon Code, rejecting comprehension. This created a permanent class of Protestant Dissenters, such as Quakers and Baptists, who faced severe persecution and exclusion from public life. Simultaneously, conflict over Catholic influence at Court intensified, driven by Charles II's Catholic mother and wife, his brother James's conversion, and the Cabal ministry. This Catholic influence provoked intense parliamentary backlash, leading to the Test Act of 1673 and fuelling widespread paranoia.

What earns the marks

• Explain how Venner's Rising led to the defeat of Millenarianism and provided a pretext for suppressing radical religious groups.
• Analyse the restoration of the Church of England, focusing on the Act of Uniformity and the failure of the Savoy Conference to achieve a broader, comprehensive church.
• Evaluate the impact of the Clarendon Code on Protestant Dissenters, detailing their persecution and marginalisation in society.
• Assess the causes and consequences of conflict over Catholic influence at Court, including the Duke of York's conversion and the passing of the Test Act.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Stating that Charles II personally desired the strict persecution of Dissenters.

  Put it right: Emphasise that Charles favoured religious toleration (as seen in his Declarations of Indulgence) but was forced into strict Anglican uniformity by the Cavalier Parliament.

• Lumping all non-Anglicans together as a single united opposition.

  Put it right: Distinguish between Protestant Dissenters (who faced the Clarendon Code) and Catholics (who were feared for their perceived influence at Court and links to absolutism).

• Assuming Millenarianism disappeared entirely after 1660.

  Put it right: Note that while politically defeated and driven underground after Venner's Rising, millenarian beliefs persisted quietly among some dissenting sects.

Exam tips

• Link the fear of Catholic influence at Court directly to fears of French absolutism and the secret clauses of the Treaty of Dover.
• Use the components of the Clarendon Code (Corporation, Uniformity, Conventicle, and Five Mile Acts) as concrete evidence when discussing the treatment of Protestant Dissenters.
• Contrast the King's attempts at religious toleration with Parliament's determination to restore a narrow Church of England to highlight political tensions.