Charles engaged in many power struggles with the Parliament. He dissolved and called parliament many times. His policies, such as an obtuse use of the Court of the Star Chamber brought the wrath of parliament on to him. Parliament attempted to gain power often, with laws, restrictions, and towards the end, war.
Tories
The royal oak, in which King Charles hid in to avoid capture
Tories in Charles time opposed the exclusion bill, which would not allow roman catholics to hold throne. They were the opponents of the Whigs. They were also the supporters of the king, and a constitutional monarchy, as opposed to making England a republic. They strongly believed that the king should be in power, although with strong checks and balances in place. Also started to reverse the protestant tide, by making England Anglican again. During the war, they were strongly royalist. Episcopacy was also restored in the Church of England. Charles II's first "Cavalier Parliament" began as a strongly royalist body, and passed a series of acts re-establishing the Church by law and strongly punishing dissent by both Roman Catholics and non-Anglican Protestants. These acts did not reflect the King's personal views, and demonstrated the existence of a Royalist ideology beyond mere subservience to the Court.
A caricature by the Tories regarding Whigs
Whigs
Whigs were a party, who strongly opposed kingly rule. Furthermore, they believed that only puritans can hold royal positions, and tried to force the exclusion bill in. They believe also, that if a non-protestant comes to power, they will lose their right to religion. They were also strongly republican and they can be traced to the rump parliament, an extremely republican parliament that executed Charles 1. Whigs are the highly liberal party of the time, wishing for a republic. Whigs greatly believed in protestant domination, and worked against any roman catholic. For that reason, many of the original whig party members remain excommunicated from the Vatican. In contemporary views, Whigs were highly intolerant, close minded bigots, who view Puritanism as the way, and all others as a threat. This lead to the dark days of the Glorious Revolution.
Attempts to gain power
Table of Contents
Tories
Tories in Charles time opposed the exclusion bill, which would not allow roman catholics to hold throne. They were the opponents of the Whigs. They were also the supporters of the king, and a constitutional monarchy, as opposed to making England a republic. They strongly believed that the king should be in power, although with strong checks and balances in place. Also started to reverse the protestant tide, by making England Anglican again. During the war, they were strongly royalist. Episcopacy was also restored in the Church of England. Charles II's first "Cavalier Parliament" began as a strongly royalist body, and passed a series of acts re-establishing the Church by law and strongly punishing dissent by both Roman Catholics and non-Anglican Protestants. These acts did not reflect the King's personal views, and demonstrated the existence of a Royalist ideology beyond mere subservience to the Court.
Whigs
Whigs were a party, who strongly opposed kingly rule. Furthermore, they believed that only puritans can hold royal positions, and tried to force the exclusion bill in. They believe also, that if a non-protestant comes to power, they will lose their right to religion. They were also strongly republican and they can be traced to the rump parliament, an extremely republican parliament that executed Charles 1. Whigs are the highly liberal party of the time, wishing for a republic. Whigs greatly believed in protestant domination, and worked against any roman catholic. For that reason, many of the original whig party members remain excommunicated from the Vatican. In contemporary views, Whigs were highly intolerant, close minded bigots, who view Puritanism as the way, and all others as a threat. This lead to the dark days of the Glorious Revolution.