A pápista összeesküvés és a kizárási válság Angliában, 1678–1681
The Popish Plot and the Exclusion Crisis in England, 1678–1681

Summary/Abstract: The short period of English domestic affairs from 1678 to 1681 is of special significance to scholars dealing with the history of ideas and parties. Nevertheless, few people really know what exactly happened in England during these years and even fewer understand the long-term consequences of these events. The study explores in detail the fictitious Catholic con-spiracy to assassinate Charles II and overthrow the Protestant Establishment, as well as the campaign that was launched by the Parliamentary opposition (the emerging Whig par-ty) in the wake of the plot to exclude the Catholic James, Duke of York from the throne. Paranoiac fear of Catholicism and French-style Catholic absolutism served as a back-ground to the Exclusion Campaign. Between March 1679 and March 1681, no fewer than three general elections were held. The central issue of the crisis was whether the Duke of York could be allowed to succeed to the throne after the death of his brother. Was he a threat to English liberties and the Protestant religion? How serious was this danger, and what should have been done to counter it? Opinion on these questions was deeply divided, both within and outside Parliament. This is what fueled the pamphlet war of these years and strengthened the Court and Country parties, which now changed their names to Tory and Whig. The Exclusion controversy echoed many of the debates of the Civil War, but at the same time it anticipated many of the arguments which were to support the Glorious Revolution of 1688-1689 later on. Had the Whig Exclusionists had succeeded, it is certain that a more radical revolution would have been carried out than in 1688-1689. The Whig decision to leave the constitu-tional arena and to appeal directly to the people, however, proved to be counterproductive. The large-scale demonstrations and „Pope-burning‟ processions frightened the majority of Londoners. By 1681 public opinion had become anti-Whig and pro-Tory. It was this change in public mood that enabled James II to come to the throne without difficulty in February 1685.

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