Declaration of Reasons
Encyclopedia
The Declaration of Reasons was a declaration by William III
, written in September of 1688, legitimizing his overthrowing of James II
. The declaration argued that James sought absolute power for himself in defiance of constitutional traditions in England. In order to avoid the charge of seditious libel
, William accuses James's advisor of influencing James to "abdicate" the throne. James's "abdication
" was made official and William and Mary's succession legitimated in the English Bill of Rights.
Historians disagree to what extent the propagandic declaration contributed to the success of the Glorious Revolution
. Schwoerer and Israel argue that the Declaration was essential to the Dutch winning the propaganda war after William's arrival in England. They point to the wide distribution of the Declaration and the extent to which the claims therein dominated public debate before and during the Revolution. More modern scholarship suggests that the response by William's enemies was very effective (the government-run London Gazette
had a monopoly on the newspaper market) and that the claims in the Declaration actually weakened his position with the English people. Court pamphleteers, supplementing the efforts of the press, predicted that the anarchy that would result from the overthrow of a government would lead to tyranny in attempt to control it, and James' supporters among the nobility went as far as to claim that a literal reading of the Declaration recognized James' rule as justified. Ultimately, "force and political brinksmanship" were the factors most influential in the success of the Glorious Revolution
.
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
, written in September of 1688, legitimizing his overthrowing of James II
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
. The declaration argued that James sought absolute power for himself in defiance of constitutional traditions in England. In order to avoid the charge of seditious libel
Seditious libel
Seditious libel was a criminal offence under English common law. Sedition is the offence of speaking seditious words with seditious intent: if the statement is in writing or some other permanent form it is seditious libel...
, William accuses James's advisor of influencing James to "abdicate" the throne. James's "abdication
Abdication
Abdication occurs when a monarch, such as a king or emperor, renounces his office.-Terminology:The word abdication comes derives from the Latin abdicatio. meaning to disown or renounce...
" was made official and William and Mary's succession legitimated in the English Bill of Rights.
Historians disagree to what extent the propagandic declaration contributed to the success of the Glorious Revolution
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, is the overthrow of King James II of England by a union of English Parliamentarians with the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange-Nassau...
. Schwoerer and Israel argue that the Declaration was essential to the Dutch winning the propaganda war after William's arrival in England. They point to the wide distribution of the Declaration and the extent to which the claims therein dominated public debate before and during the Revolution. More modern scholarship suggests that the response by William's enemies was very effective (the government-run London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
had a monopoly on the newspaper market) and that the claims in the Declaration actually weakened his position with the English people. Court pamphleteers, supplementing the efforts of the press, predicted that the anarchy that would result from the overthrow of a government would lead to tyranny in attempt to control it, and James' supporters among the nobility went as far as to claim that a literal reading of the Declaration recognized James' rule as justified. Ultimately, "force and political brinksmanship" were the factors most influential in the success of the Glorious Revolution
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, is the overthrow of King James II of England by a union of English Parliamentarians with the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange-Nassau...
.
Sources
- Tony Claydon, William III's Declaration of Reasons and the Glorious Revolution, The Historical Journal, 39, 1 (1996)