The Restoration (1660–1685)

The Restoration of Charles II in 1660 was greeted with overwhelming relief. But the political settlement left fundamental questions unresolved: the relationship between Crown and Parliament, the role of religion in public life, and the limits of royal prerogative. This lesson examines the Restoration settlement, the Clarendon Code, the Exclusion Crisis, and the origins of party politics — engaging with the historiographical debates that have shaped our understanding of Restoration politics.

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The Restoration Settlement

The Declaration of Breda (April 1660)

Charles II's Declaration of Breda offered deliberately vague promises:

Promise	Outcome
General pardon	Broadly honoured — only the regicides were excluded. Approximately 30 were tried; 13 executed.
Religious toleration	NOT honoured. The Clarendon Code imposed narrow Anglican conformity.
Land settlement	Crown and Church lands restored; private disputes left to the courts
Army pay	The army was disbanded and largely paid off

The Constitutional Settlement