What mistakes do students make with Political developments and conflicts: Exclusion, its…?

Confusing the aims of the Exclusion Crisis with a desire to establish a republic. Clarify that the Whigs primarily aimed to alter the succession to a Protestant heir, such as the Duke of Monmouth or Mary, not to abolish the monarchy. Assuming James II wanted to forcibly convert the entire country to Catholicism immediately. Explain that James initially sought civic equality for Catholics and Dissenters to gradually restore Catholic influence and power in public life. Stating that Charles II surrendered to the Exclusionists. Emphasise that Charles II successfully defeated the Exclusion...

AQA · A-Level · History

Course version: 7042 · Version from Sept 2017

Political developments and conflicts: Exclusion, its aims, methods and its…

Full specification wording

1D Stuart Britain and the Crisis of Monarchy, 1603–1702 – The establishment of constitutional monarchy, 1678–1702 (A-level only): Political developments and conflicts: Exclusion, its aims, methods and its failure; James II and the attempts at absolutism and the restoration of Catholicism

The Exclusion Crisis (1679–1681) aimed to prevent the Catholic Duke of York (later James II) from inheriting the throne, driven by Whig fears of popery and arbitrary government.

Checked against the AQA 7042 specification (opens in a new tab) on 27 September 2026.

Point 1 of 6

Study notes

From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

The idea

What earns the marks

Explain the aims of the Whigs during the Exclusion Crisis, focusing on preventing a Catholic succession and arbitrary rule.
Evaluate the methods used by Exclusionists, such as parliamentary bills, propaganda, and the mobilisation of the London populace.
Analyse the reasons for the failure of Exclusion, including Charles II's financial independence via French subsidies and the Tory royalist backlash.
Assess James II's attempts to establish absolutism through the expansion of the standing army and the use of dispensing and suspending powers.
Examine James II's religious policies, particularly the Declarations of Indulgence and the appointment of Catholics, as attempts to restore Catholic power.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

Confusing the aims of the Exclusion Crisis with a desire to establish a republic.
Put it right: Clarify that the Whigs primarily aimed to alter the succession to a Protestant heir, such as the Duke of Monmouth or Mary, not to abolish the monarchy.
Assuming James II wanted to forcibly convert the entire country to Catholicism immediately.
Put it right: Explain that James initially sought civic equality for Catholics and Dissenters to gradually restore Catholic influence and power in public life.
Stating that Charles II surrendered to the Exclusionists.
Put it right: Emphasise that Charles II successfully defeated the Exclusion bills by repeatedly dissolving Parliament and relying on French financial support.

Exam tips

When discussing the failure of Exclusion, contrast the strengths of Charles II's political manoeuvring with the radicalism of the Whigs that alienated moderate support.
Use specific legal cases, such as Godden v Hales (1686), to demonstrate how James II manipulated the judiciary to enforce his dispensing powers.
Link James II's religious objectives directly to his absolutist methods, showing how his use of the royal prerogative to bypass Parliament alienated his natural Tory allies.

Try the lesson

The start of the 1D Stuart Britain and the Crisis of Monarchy, 1603–1702 – The establishment of constitutional monarchy, 1678–1702 (A-level only): Political developments and conflicts: Exclusion, its aims, methods and its failure; James II and the attempts at absolutism and the restoration of Catholicism lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

Have a go first

What was the primary political aim of the Whigs during the Exclusion Crisis (1679–1681)?

Tip: press 1 to 4 to choose

Listen

The Exclusion Crisis (1679–1681) aimed to prevent the Catholic Duke of York (later James II) from inheriting the throne, driven by Whig fears of popery and arbitrary government. Methods included mass petitions, pamphlets, and parliamentary bills. It failed because Charles II skilfully dissolved parliaments, secured French subsidies to rule independently, and exploited fears of another civil war to rally Tory support. Upon his accession in 1685, James II pursued absolutist policies, expanding a standing army and using his dispensing power (e.g., Godden v Hales) to appoint Catholics to military and civic posts. His Declarations of Indulgence aimed to restore Catholic influence, alienating the Anglican establishment and precipitating his downfall. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explain the aims of the Whigs during the Exclusion Crisis, focusing on preventing a Catholic succession and arbitrary rule. Evaluate the methods used by Exclusionists, such as parliamentary bills, propaganda, and the mobilisation of the London populace. Analyse the reasons for the failure of Exclusion, including Charles II's financial independence via French subsidies and the Tory royalist backlash. Assess James II's attempts to establish absolutism through the expansion of the standing army and the use of dispensing and suspending powers. A common slip: Confusing the aims of the Exclusion Crisis with a desire to establish a republic. Instead, Clarify that the Whigs primarily aimed to alter the succession to a Protestant heir, such as the Duke of Monmouth or Mary, not to abolish the monarchy. Exam tip: When discussing the failure of Exclusion, contrast the strengths of Charles II's political manoeuvring with the radicalism of the Whigs that alienated moderate support.

See it

A top-down flowchart beginning with a node for the Exclusion Crisis 1679–1681. From it, three branches lead to Whig aims (prevent Catholic succession and arbitrary rule), methods (parliamentary bills, mass petitions, pamphlets), and failure. The failure node leads to three causes: Charles II dissolves parliaments, French subsidies give financial independence, and fears of civil war rally Tory support. A fourth branch from the Exclusion Crisis leads to James II accession 1685, which leads to two nodes: absolutism (standing army, dispensing power) and Declarations of Indulgence. Both of these lead to a final node: alienates Anglican establishment. — It shows the aims and methods of the Exclusion Crisis, the reasons for its failure, and how James II's absolutist and religious policies alienated the Anglican establishment.

Put the events in order

Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.

1. Exclusion Crisis aimed to prevent Catholic Duke of York inheriting throne
2. Godden v Hales used to enforce dispensing power
3. James II acceded to the throne

Label the diagram

Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A top-down flowchart beginning with a node for the Exclusion Crisis 1679–1681. From it, three branches lead to Whig aims (prevent Catholic succession and arbitrary rule), methods (parliamentary bills, mass petitions, pamphlets), and failure. The failure node leads to three causes: Charles II dissolves parliaments, French subsidies give financial independence, and fears of civil war rally Tory support. A fourth branch from the Exclusion Crisis leads to James II accession 1685, which leads to two nodes: absolutism (standing army, dispensing power) and Declarations of Indulgence. Both of these lead to a final node: alienates Anglican establishment.

1Box 1
2Box 2
3Box 3

0 of 3 labelled

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