1. Fear of Absolutism: James II showed authoritarian tendencies and ruled in a way that many saw as tyrannical. The English feared the erosion of their traditional rights, liberties, and parliamentary authority.
2. Catholicism: James was a devout Catholic, and his policies favored Catholicism over the Protestant faith established by the English Reformation. Many Protestants were concerned about potential Catholic dominance and the persecution of non-conformist denominations.
3. The Exclusion Crisis: James's brother, Charles II, had no legitimate children. The next in line to the throne was James, a known Catholic. In response, the English Parliament attempted to pass the Exclusion Bill to exclude James from the succession, but it was defeated.
Birth of James Francis Edward:
1. Illegitimacy Claims: James's wife, Mary of Modena, gave birth to a son, James Francis Edward, on June 10, 1688. Many believed the birth was fraudulent and that the child was not James's legitimate heir. This perception further weakened James's position.
Invitation to William and Mary:
1. Protestant Alliance: William of Orange, the Stadtholder of the Netherlands, was married to Mary, the eldest daughter of James II and his first wife, Anne Hyde. William was a Protestant, and he and Mary were seen as potential alternatives to James.
2. Glorious Revolution: A group of English nobles and politicians invited William and Mary to come to England to depose James. This invitation led to the Glorious Revolution, which resulted in the overthrow of James and the ascension of William and Mary as joint monarchs.
In summary, the English people wanted William and Mary as rulers instead of James II's heirs due to religious concerns about Catholicism, fears of absolutist rule, questions about the legitimacy of James's son, and the Protestant sympathies of William and Mary, which aligned better with the majority religious views of England.