1688–1689Reputable sourceWell documented

The Glorious Revolution and the Bill of Rights

On the timeline · around 1688–1689 · Liberty & Revolution

What happened

In 1688 the English Parliament deposed King James II and offered the crown to William and Mary — but on conditions. The 1689 Bill of Rights barred the monarch from suspending laws, raising taxes, or keeping an army without Parliament's consent, and guaranteed free elections and free speech in Parliament.

Why it matters

The Glorious Revolution established that sovereignty lay with Parliament, not the king — the birth of constitutional monarchy and parliamentary government. Its Bill of Rights directly inspired the later American Bill of Rights.

Sources

World History Encyclopedia. Glorious Revolution · Reputable source

Part of a timelineHistory of Democracy12 events · From an Athenian assembly to universal human rights — 2,500 years of the idea that people should rule themselves, every milestone sourced.View all →