Restoration Period: England (1660-1689)

• The Restoration Period in England spanned from 1660 to 1689, marking a period of significant political, social, and cultural shifts

Period of the Civil War (1642-1660)

• Charles I ruled England, Scotland, and Ireland, believing in the Divine Right of Kings
• Charles I's French Catholic queen, Henrietta Maria, and High Anglican practices akin to Catholicism sparked religious controversies

Events Leading to the Civil War

• Disputes with Parliament over taxation, governance, and religious policies arose from Charles I's belief in the divine right of kings
• Unpopular taxes, including ship money introduced in 1634, added to the conflict
• Parliament opposed Charles l, and Charles I refused to accept Parliament’s demands for a constitutional monarchy

Religious Controversies

• Charles I's religious policies fueled conflicts

• Charles I favored Arminianism through advisors like William Laud, raising fears of drifting towards Catholicism

• Henrietta Maria's influence and Charles I's perceived sympathy towards Catholicism fueled suspicions among Protestants

• Introduction of liturgical practices considered an attempt to "Catholicize" the Church of England.

• Charles I ruled without Parliament for 11 years (1629-1640), known as the "eleven years' tyranny"

• The Bishop Wars (1639-1640) began when Charles I tried regulating Liturgy in Scotland using Archbishop Laud’s Book of Common Prayer (1637)

The Civil War

• The war was divided into two phases: 1642-46 and 1648-54
• Charles I was held captive from 1647, tried on January 20, 1649, sentenced to death on January 26, and beheaded on January 30

Socio-Political Scenario

• Theatres were closed in 1642 due to Puritan attacks, with female actresses facing severe punishments
• From 1649-53, the Commonwealth of England functioned as Rump Parliament.
• Oliver Cromwell's protectorate lasted from 1653-58
• Cromwell's rule included conquering Ireland and building a strong navy
• In 1653, Cromwell established the Barebone's Parliament, comprised of 140 members chosen by Cromwell
• Cromwell was a ruthless idealist who belonged to the gentry
• Cromwell was succeeded by his son Richard, an ineffective ruler who served for 8 months

Restoration of Monarchy (1660)

• The Puritan interregnum ended, and monarchy was restored under Charles II
• Charles II was in exile in France
• On May 29, 1660, Charles II's 30th birthday, he was restored to the English throne
• Theatres reopened, and the Church of England was reinstated as the national church
• Church and state remained deeply intertwined
• Two political factions emerged: the Whigs (liberals) and the Tories (conservatives)
• Charles II was called the "Merry Monarch" due to his hedonistic lifestyle

Calamities After Restoration

• In September 1666, the Great Fire of London destroyed much of the city, starting at a bakery on Pudding Lane, with strong winds spreading the fire and destroying 13,200 houses, 87 churches and leaving 70,000 homeless
• From 1665-1666, the Great Plague of London killed approximately 20% of London's population due to bubonic plague
• The unsanitary conditions and overcrowding contributed to spread, triggering mass panic and King Charles II to flee
• From 1665-1674, the Dutch Wars involved conflicts with the Dutch Republic over trade
• The First Dutch War (1652-1654) was sparked by trade rivalries and English concerns about Dutch expansion, ending with the Treaty of Westminster recognizing English control over the seas
• The Second Dutch War (1665-1667) was due to trade disputes and English support for the Orangist faction, ending with the Treaty of Breda restoring trade agreements
• The Third Dutch War (1672-1674) was sparked by English concerns about Dutch expansion and alliances with France, ending with the Treaty of Westminster recognizing Dutch independence

Charles and Religion

• He favored religious tolerance but secretly leaned towards Catholicism
• The Test Act of 1673 required civil and military officers to take communion with the Anglican Church annually
• In 1678, Titus Oates spread the rumor of a "Popish Plot," leading to anti-Catholic hysteria and the Exclusion Crisis

Exclusion Crisis (1679-1681)

• The crisis stemmed from fear of Catholicism due to growing influence in government and the Duke of York converting
• Succession crisis due to the Duke of York being next in line to the throne, sparking fears of Catholicism returning
• During the Popish Plot 1678, a plot to assassinate Charles II was fabricated, causing widespread anti-Catholic hysteria
• The Exclusion Bill of 1679, aimed at excluding the Duke of York led to two political factions forming, the Whigs and the Tories
• Three Parliamentary Elections (1679-1681) caused a majority opposition to the Duke of York's succession

The Last Days of Charles II of England

• Charles II died on February 6, 1685, after falling ill in late January due to a stroke
• James, Duke of York succeeded

Literature and Culture in the Age of Charles II (1660-1685)

• The period was transformative for literature and culture in England
• Restoration Comedy by playbookwrights like William Wycherley, George Etherege, and William Congreve
• Poets of the era include: John Dryden, Thomas Traherne, and Aphra Behn
• Prose rose in popularity through the popularity of essays, biographies, and travelogues

Cultural and Social Trends

• The reopening of theatres saw the rise of women on stage
• Coffeehouses became hubs for intellectual discussion and literary activity
• Music and dance saw a resurgence of interest
• Art and architecture experienced significant resurgence like the rebuilding of London after the Great Fire

James II

• James II was the last Catholic monarch of England, Scotland, and Ireland, reigning from 1685-1688
• Early in his reign, James II who promised to uphold the laws and the Church of England was met with a degree of acceptance
• James II's religious policies to alleviate Catholic limitations led to the Declaration of Indulgence in 1687, but was viewed as Catholic support
• The Monmouth Rebellion in June 1685, led by Charles II's illegitimate son, was crushed at the Battle of Sedgemoor

The Glorious Revolution

• The Glorious Revolution of 1688-1689 overthrew King James II and established William III and Mary II as monarchs
• Religious tensions due to James II's Catholicism caused widespread discontent, and political tensions arose from his authoritarian governance
• In June 1688, English nobles invited William of Orange to overthrow King James II
• William landed in Torbay on November 5, 1688, leading to James II's flight to France on December 23, 1688
• A Convention Parliament convened in January 1689 and adopted the Declaration of Rights which remains an important part of British constitutional law

Outcomes of the Glorious Revolution

• Constitutional monarchy was established, limiting monarch powers through Parliament, and also ensured the Protestant succession of William III and Mary II.
• The French Connection saw the period influenced by French classicism in art, philosophy, and literature

Restoration Theatre: A Revival of English Drama

• Restoration Theatre marked the return of English drama from 1660-1710
• Theatres reopened in 1660, with Thomas Killigrew and Sir William Davenant granted licenses to establish new playhouses like the Theatre Royal
• Women were, for the first time, allowed to perform on stage
• Bawdy comedies and farces were a staple that had complex plots and witty dialogue
• Indoor theatres and picture frame stages became popular
• Characteristics of Restoration Drama
• Featured a return to secular themes and featured complex plots, witty dialogue, and satire of societal norms and politics

Two Predominant Genres

• Heroic Drama featured elevated language and heroic characters
• Comedy of Manners: Satirized upper-class norms with witty dialogue, urban settings, and stock characters

Dramatists of the Restoration Age

• George Etherege (c. 1635-1692) was an English playwright and poet known for comedies satirizing aristocracy whose plays influenced playwrights such as William Congreve and Oscar Wilde
• William Wycherley (1641-1715) was a British playwright and poet known for his witty and satirical comedies of manners
• Aphra Behn (1640-1689) was the first English women to earn a living as a writer notable for Oroonoko and The Rover
• William Congreve (1670-1729) was famous for wit and satire who made sure all of the works explored the relationships between characters
• Sir John Vanbrugh (1664-1726) had his dramatic works featured wit, satire, strong female charters and exploration of social class
• George Farquhar (1677-1707) Irish playwright and actor known for using wit/satire by exploring social classes and the characteristics of women
• John Dryden (1631-1700) was a poet, critic, and playwright with his works including Heroic Plays, Comedies, Tragedies which had a lasting impact of the Era