Restoration England 1660-1685Deep Dive

The Restoration Settlement

Part of The RestorationGCSE History

This deep dive covers The Restoration Settlement within The Restoration for GCSE History. Revise The Restoration in Restoration England 1660-1685 for GCSE History with 8 exam-style questions and 5 flashcards. This topic appears regularly enough that it should still be part of a steady revision cycle. It is section 4 of 15 in this topic. Use this deep dive to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.

Topic position

Section 4 of 15

Practice

8 questions

Recall

5 flashcards

🔑 The Restoration Settlement

Political: Charles was king, but Parliament had increased power. He couldn't raise taxes without them. Annual sessions required (Triennial Act repealed but Parliament still essential).

Financial: Charles given income of £1.2 million per year from customs and excise. In theory. In practice, often short — making him dependent on Parliament or foreign subsidies.

Legal: Prerogative courts (royal courts like the Star Chamber that bypassed common law juries) stayed abolished. King subject to common law.

Religious: Charles personally wanted tolerance (especially for Catholics). Parliament imposed a stricter settlement — the Clarendon Code would follow.

Keep building this topic

Read this section alongside the surrounding pages in The Restoration. That gives you the full topic sequence instead of a single isolated revision point.

Practice Questions for The Restoration

On what date did Charles II ride into London to restore the monarchy?

  • A. 29th May 1658
  • B. 30th January 1649
  • C. 29th May 1660
  • D. 4th April 1660
1 markfoundation

Why was Richard Cromwell nicknamed 'Tumbledown Dick'?

  • A. He was weak, lacked military support, and resigned as Lord Protector after only eight months
  • B. He was physically clumsy and had a reputation for falling over in public
  • C. He surrendered English territory to France and lost the respect of the army
  • D. He was thrown out of Parliament by soldiers acting on Charles II's orders
1 markfoundation

Quick Recall Flashcards

Who was the Earl of Clarendon?
Edward Hyde — Charles II's chief minister who designed the Restoration Settlement. Code of laws persecuting Dissenters named after him. Fell from power in 1667, blamed for Dutch War failures.
Why did Richard Cromwell fail?
"Tumbledown Dick" was weak, lacked military support, couldn't control army generals, resigned after 8 months in May 1659.

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