Exclusion Crisis: Challenging James II’s Right to Rule
The Exclusion Crisis of the late 17th century posed a question of national importance: should the Catholic duke of York be allowed to succeed to the throne? And should he be subject to the same law as everyone else?
Between 1679 and 1681 a series of events, usually known as the Exclusion Crisis, threatened to overwhelm political stability in England and across the British Isles. At the centre of the controversy was the figure of James, duke of York, brother of Charles II. The circumstances were particular to their time; the monarchy had been restored in 1660, but Charles lacked a legitimate heir, leaving James next in line to the throne. The problem was that James had converted to Catholicism around 1670, a fact which became public knowledge by 1672, although the duke continued to attend occasional Anglican church services until 1676. Under the terms of the Test Act of 1673, Parliament stripped him entirely of his public offices, forcing him to resign as lord high admiral, a humiliation for a prince of royal blood. The Test Act set legal requirements for holders of civil or military office, compelling office-holders to receive communion according to the rites of the Anglican Church within three months of their appointment. They were also forced to declare their disavowal of transubstantiation. An avowed Catholic would not be able to comply with these terms.
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