Whig
The Whigs constitute one of the two major political factions that defined British political life from the late seventeenth century, standing in opposition to the Tories.
The name itself, along with that of Tory, emerged during the Exclusion Crisis (1679–1681) to describe differing political alignments concerning the succession to the throne.
Political Principles and the Exclusion Crisis
The Whigs were fundamentally associated with the cause of Protestant dissenters and low church Anglicans. Their core ideology focused heavily upon the existential threat posed by popery and arbitrary power. They passionately articulated the necessity of defending England's traditional religion, liberties, and property against perceived monarchical overreach.
During the Exclusion Crisis, when three Parliaments were dissolved to prevent the removal of the Catholic James, Duke of York, from the line of succession, the Whigs gained prominence. They demonstrated their political fervour by organising mass street demonstrations in London, notably processions which culminated in the burning of effigies representing the Pope.
The Tories frequently countered these efforts by branding the Whigs as clandestine Presbyterians, inciters of insurrection, and covert Republicans, accusing them of posing a profound threat to the established Church of England and the nation's liberties.
The Glorious Revolution and Constitutional Role
The deep-seated political alienation experienced by the nation under King James II created an opportunity for the Whig agenda to merge with broader opposition. The invitation to William of Orange to intervene in England in 1688 originated from seven leading politicians known as the Immortal Seven, five of whom were identified as Whigs.
In the subsequent constitutional settlement, Whig principles were formally enshrined. When the Convention Parliament met on 22 January AD 1689, roughly 319 members were estimated to be of broadly Whig sympathy. The critical resolution passed by the Convention stated that King James II had subverted the constitution by breaking the contract between king and people, an articulation consistent with fundamental Whig political philosophy.
The aftermath of the Revolution, viewed through the lens of Whig historiography, is often characterised as the triumph of Whig principles, leading to political liberty, religious toleration, and cultural pluralism. In Scotland, the Clan Campbell were adherents of both Protestantism and Whig politics, and they welcomed the Revolution.
Whigs in Party Politics
Following the accession of William and Mary, the term Whig persisted as a descriptor for an organised political group that held specific interpretations of the new Revolutionary Settlement.
By 1700, the Whigs operated as a structured party, possessing their own national followings, newspapers, and regular meeting places in London, fiercely competing against the Tories in local and national contests, such as the numerous general elections held between 1695 and 1715.
During the reign of Queen Anne (1702–1714), the Whigs were strongly associated with the continued prosecution of the ultimately successful war against France.
Major figures associated with the Whigs included John Churchill, the Duke of Marlborough, and his wife, Sarah Churchill. The Churchills held significant influence under Anne until 1711, when the Tory leader Harley successfully brought about the downfall of these powerful Whiggish figures, leading to their removal from court.