Government under William and Mary: the importance of political parties and…

The idea

The government of William and Mary saw a profound shift towards a limited monarchy, driven by the financial demands of the Nine Years' War. To fund this conflict, William became reliant on Parliament, fundamentally changing their respective influence. Parliament leveraged this dependency to secure regular sessions through the 1694 Triennial Act and control over royal revenue via the Civil List. Consequently, political parties and ministers gained unprecedented importance. William initially attempted to balance Whigs and Tories but increasingly relied on the 'Junto Whigs'—ministers like Montagu and Somers—who could guarantee parliamentary majorities and secure war funding, cementing the necessity of party management in government.

What earns the marks

• Explain how the financial pressures of the Nine Years' War forced William III to summon Parliament annually, shifting the balance of power.
• Assess the role of the 1694 Triennial Act in ensuring regular elections, which intensified party political rivalry between Whigs and Tories.
• Evaluate the significance of the Junto Whigs in managing Parliament and facilitating the establishment of the Bank of England to fund the Crown.
• Analyse how the 1698 Civil List Act restricted the monarch's independent financial power, contributing to the development of a limited monarchy.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Claiming the Glorious Revolution immediately created a modern constitutional monarchy.

  Put it right: , emphasise that limited monarchy developed gradually due to wartime financial necessity rather than a single event in 1688.

• Stating that William III only appointed Whig ministers.

  Put it right: , note that William initially tried to balance his ministries with both Tories and Whigs before relying on the Junto Whigs.

• Confusing the Triennial Act of 1694 with the 1641 Act.

  Put it right: , specify that the 1694 Act mandated elections every three years, fundamentally changing party politics and parliamentary influence.

Exam tips

• Use the Nine Years' War as the primary explanatory factor when discussing why William III conceded power to Parliament.
• Name specific ministers, such as Charles Montagu or Lord Somers, to demonstrate precise knowledge of the Junto Whigs' importance.
• Contrast the Crown's financial independence under Charles II and James II with William's reliance on the Civil List to highlight the changing influence of Parliament.