Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History
Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015
The significance of revolutionary ideals in the establishment of a…
Full specification wording
How revolutionary, in the years to 1701, was the Glorious Revolution of 1688–89?: The significance of revolutionary ideals in the establishment of a constitutional monarchy.
Revolutionary ideals in 1688–89 rested on contract, consent and resistance.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 1 of 4
- 3 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Revolutionary ideals in 1688–89 rested on contract, consent and resistance. Whigs argued James II broke an original contract by attacking law and Protestantism, making resistance lawful and the throne vacant. The Convention Parliament translated these ideas into a constitutional monarchy: William and Mary ruled jointly, and the Crown accepted the Declaration of Rights. Parliament gained a regular role in taxation and the army. Yet the settlement was conservative. Monarchy survived, royal prerogative was trimmed rather than abolished, and much depended on William's need for money for war against France. Assess significance by weighing principle against pragmatism: ideals shaped the terms, but political necessity limited them.
What earns the marks
- Explains the core revolutionary ideals: original contract, consent of the governed, lawful resistance to tyranny, and defence of Protestantism and property.
- Shows how these ideals were institutionalised: the Convention Parliament declared the throne vacant, offered the Crown jointly to William and Mary, and attached the Declaration of Rights.
- Analyses the limits of the settlement: monarchy and prerogative survived, the offer was conditional rather than elective, and radical demands such as a republic were rejected, though frequent parliaments were affirmed.
- Weighs significance by linking ideals to outcomes: taxation and army finance became more dependent on Parliament, but foreign policy and patronage remained royal tools.
- Uses specific evidence, such as the flight of James II, the Convention's proceedings, the Declaration of Rights, or the 1689 revenue settlement, to test how far ideals or pragmatism drove events.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Treating 1688–89 as a democratic revolution.
Put it right by explaining that sovereignty was shared and redefined, not transferred to a broad electorate.
Claiming radical demands like frequent parliaments were rejected.
Put it right by noting the Bill of Rights 1689 explicitly stated parliaments ought to be held frequently, though republicanism was rejected.
Ignoring the war context.
Put it right by showing that William's need for supply gave Parliament leverage, which shaped how far revolutionary ideals were implemented.
Exam tips
- Anchor each paragraph in a named ideal and a concrete constitutional outcome, then judge which explains the other.
- Bring in the limits of the settlement as counter-evidence, so your conclusion weighs ideals against political reality rather than listing them.
Try the lesson
The start of the How revolutionary, in the years to 1701, was the Glorious Revolution of 1688–89?: The significance of revolutionary ideals in the establishment of a constitutional monarchy. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which set of ideas, drawn from the political writings of the 1640s and 1650s, most directly shaped the settlement that limited the monarch's powers after 1688?
Listen
Revolutionary ideals in 1688–89 rested on contract, consent and resistance. Whigs argued James II broke an original contract by attacking law and Protestantism, making resistance lawful and the throne vacant. The Convention Parliament translated these ideas into a constitutional monarchy: William and Mary ruled jointly, and the Crown accepted the Declaration of Rights. Parliament gained a regular role in taxation and the army. Yet the settlement was conservative. Monarchy survived, royal prerogative was trimmed rather than abolished, and much depended on William's need for money for war against France. Assess significance by weighing principle against pragmatism: ideals shaped the terms, but political necessity limited them. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains the core revolutionary ideals: original contract, consent of the governed, lawful resistance to tyranny, and defence of Protestantism and property. Shows how these ideals were institutionalised: the Convention Parliament declared the throne vacant, offered the Crown jointly to William and Mary, and attached the Declaration of Rights. Analyses the limits of the settlement: monarchy and prerogative survived, the offer was conditional rather than elective, and radical demands such as a republic were rejected, though frequent parliaments were affirmed. Weighs significance by linking ideals to outcomes: taxation and army finance became more dependent on Parliament, but foreign policy and patronage remained royal tools. A common slip: Treating 1688–89 as a democratic revolution. Instead, explaining that sovereignty was shared and redefined, not transferred to a broad electorate. Exam tip: Anchor each paragraph in a named ideal and a concrete constitutional outcome, then judge which explains the other.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Contract and consent
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Lawful resistance
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Constitutional monarchy
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Contract and consent
- Whig ideas that James II broke an original contract by attacking law and Protestantism, and that government rests on the consent of the governed.
- Lawful resistance
- The claim that resistance to tyranny was lawful because James II attacked law and Protestantism, which made the throne vacant.
- Constitutional monarchy
- The arrangement in which William and Mary ruled jointly and the Crown accepted the Declaration of Rights, giving Parliament a regular role in taxation and the army.
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