The Exclusion Crisis

The Exclusion Crisis (1679-1681) was a political conflict in England over whether to exclude the Catholic Duke of York (later King James II) from the line of succession. Protestant lawmakers feared James's Catholic faith threatened Protestant dominance and religious stability. They proposed laws to bar him from becoming king, which led to intense debate and division between Whigs (supporters of exclusion) and Tories (opponents). The crisis highlighted tensions between religion, politics, and monarchy, and its unresolved issues contributed to the eventual overthrow of James II in the Glorious Revolution.