The first major study of party conflict in England over the later Stuart period from the reign of Charles II to its culmination under Anne. Tim Harris shows how the party configuration of subsequent British politics emerged in these crucial years. He deals not only with high politics and with the organisation of the new parties, but also with the ideological roots of party strife.

Preface1. Introduction2. The restorationThe desire for the RestorationThe political settlementReligious tensionsConclusion3. Court, Country and Origins of PartyFears of popery and abritratrary government and the emergence of Court-Country tensionsThe beginnings of party organisationConflict over the ChurchConclusions4. The Exclusion CrisisThe Whigs and exclusionThe constitutional position of the WhigsThe Whigs and the issue of dissentThe Tories and the defence of the successionDivisions in Parliament and 'out-of-doors'5. The Glorious RevolutionThe Tory reaction and the accession of James IITory-Anglican opposition to James IIThe Revolution settlementConclusion6. High Politics and Party Ideology under William and AnneThe structure of politicsThe issuesCourt versus Country and the transformation of partyConclusion7. The Divided Society under William and AnneThe social context of party strifeThe drama of electionsThe socio-economic contours of the divided societyConclusion8. JacobitismThe dimensions of JacobitismJacobitism in societyScottish JacobitismThe Jacobite challenge 1714 - 15Conclusion9. ConclusionBibliographyIndex