Whig party facts for kids
The Whigs were an important political party in the parliaments of England, Scotland, Great Britain, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. They were active from the 1680s to the 1850s, competing for power with another party called the Tories.
Contents
The Whigs: A British Political Party
The Whigs started as a group that believed in a monarchy where the king or queen shared power. They were against the idea of an absolute monarchy, where the ruler had all the power without limits.
How the Whigs Started
The Whigs played a very important role in an event called the Glorious Revolution in 1688. This revolution changed how Britain was governed. The Whigs often disagreed with the Stuart kings and those who wanted to be king (called 'pretenders'). They especially opposed these kings because they were Catholic.
Whigs in Power
The Whigs became very powerful in the government from 1715. They stayed in control until King George III became king in 1760. During this time, they had a big influence on how the country was run.
What Happened to the Whigs?
Later on, many of the ideas and beliefs of the Whigs were used by a new political group. This group became known as the Liberal Party in the 1800s. The Liberal Party continued many of the Whigs' goals for a more shared government.
