The Popish Plot and Exclusion Crisis

The Popish Plot (1678) and the Exclusion Crisis (1679–1681) were the most serious political crises of Charles II's reign. They centred on the fear of Catholicism, the question of who would succeed Charles II, and the fundamental issue of where political power lay — with the King or with Parliament. This lesson covers the origins, events, and consequences of both crises.

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Background: Anti-Catholic Feeling

Anti-Catholic sentiment was deeply rooted in English culture. Since the Reformation in the 1530s, English Protestants had associated Catholicism with:

Fear	Basis
Foreign domination	The Pope was seen as a foreign ruler; Catholic powers (Spain, France) were England's enemies
Tyranny	Catholic monarchies like France and Spain were seen as absolutist and oppressive
Plots and conspiracies	The Gunpowder Plot (1605) and other real or alleged Catholic conspiracies kept fears alive
The Inquisition	The Spanish Inquisition was used as evidence of Catholic cruelty
Idolatry	Protestants viewed Catholic ceremonies, saints, and the Mass as superstitious

These fears were intensified during the Restoration by: