The Restoration
The republican experiment ended when Cromwell died in 1658. Cromwell's son proved to be incapable of ruling England so General Monk recalled Long Parliament. Without a government England was at risk of war, so Parliament brought the monarchy back and Charles II took the throne in 1660. The people of England rejoiced because they did not want any more dictatorships. King Charles II took down the Blue Laws and allowed England to restore its celebrations and holidays. The Parliament insisted that the king should rule as a constitutional monarch so Charles' power was set out by Parliament. Charles II agreed but he secretly planned to regain the power his father had lost. He bribed, blackmailed, and persuaded his supporters to make sure that he had supporters to take up seats in parliament. Charles II wanted to protect the religious freedom of Catholics but the new Parliament passed the Test Act. Charles II died in 1685 and his Catholic brother, James II took the throne.
Glorious Revolution
James II was an openly Catholic ruler. He tried to return England to Catholicism but the Parliament became enraged. James also ignored the Test Act gave high offices to Catholics. People began to rebel and soon there was no one to support James. He left England and renounced his throne. In 1688 the parliament chose James' Protestant daughter, Mary and her husband William of Orange to take the throne. Together the pair signed the Bill of Rights and ruled England. This is known as the Glorious Revolution because for the first time, parliament chose the monarch; it was not a hereditary right.