In Our Time: History

The Hanoverian Succession

Dec 26, 2024
Andreas Gestrich, a historian from Trier University, Elaine Chalus, a British history expert from the University of Liverpool, and Mark Knights, a Warwick historian specializing in political history, dive into the Hanoverian Succession crisis. They discuss the intense political maneuvering after Queen Anne's reign, the urgency for a Protestant heir, and the implications of the 1701 Act of Settlement. The complexities of British and Hanoverian relations surface as they explore tensions leading to the Jacobite Rebellion and the cultural shifts of the early 18th century.
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INSIGHT

Need for the Act of Settlement

  • The Act of Settlement aimed to secure a Protestant successor, addressing Britain's succession crises.
  • Controversy around James II's Catholic policies led to the Bill of Rights, barring Catholic rulers.
INSIGHT

Party Politics and the Hanoverian Succession

  • Whigs, supporting religious tolerance and overseas expansion, naturally favored the Hanoverian succession.
  • Tories, tied to the Church of England, were hesitant about a foreign ruler, reflecting their prejudices.
INSIGHT

Choosing a Successor

  • The Act of Settlement specified a Protestant successor, leading to the selection of Sophia of Hanover.
  • Sophia's lineage as a granddaughter of James I strengthened the argument for her claim.
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