The Whigs were a political faction and then a political party in the parliaments of England, Scotland, Great Britain, Ireland and the United Kingdom. Between the 1680s and 1850s, they contested power with their rivals, the Tories. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute monarchy. The Whigs played a central role in the Glorious Revolution of 1688, and were the standing enemies of the Stuart kings and pretenders, who were Roman Catholic. The Whigs took full control of the government in 1715, and remained totally dominant until King George III, coming to the throne in 1760, allowed Tories back in. The "Whig Supremacy" (1715–1760) was enabled by the Hanoverian succession of George I in 1714 and the failed Jacobite rising of 1715 by Tory rebels. The Whigs thoroughly purged the Tories from all major positions in government, the army, the Church of England, the legal profession, and local offices. The Party's hold on power was so strong and durable, historians call the period from roughly 1714 to 1783 the age of the "Whig Oligarchy". The first great leader of the Whigs was Robert Walpole, who maintained control of the government through the period 1721–1742; his protégé was Henry Pelham, who led from 1743 to 1754.
What group is this article about?
When did they start?
Until when?
Who was their best leader?
When was he in power?
And who was his student?
And his years in power were?
They were part of what age?
Who created that label?
When did it start?
What else happened that year?
What house was he from?
What happened the year after?
By whom?
After that did Tories serve in public office?
Could they serve in high positions in the military?
Where else couldn't they work?
Who were the Whig's enemies?
The Whigs
The Whigs were a political faction
the 1680s
Between the 1680s and 1850s
the 1850s
Between the 1680s and 1850s
Robert Walpole
The first great leader of the Whigs was Robert Walpole,
from 1721–1742
Robert Walpole, who maintained control of the government through the period 1721–1742
Henry Pelham,
his protégé was Henry Pelham,
from 1743 to 1754
Henry Pelham, who led from 1743 to 1754
the "Whig Oligarchy"
 the age of the "Whig Oligarchy"
historians
historians call the period from roughly 1714 to 1783 the age of the "Whig Oligarchy
1714
1714 to 1783 the age of the "Whig Oligarchy
the succession of George I
succession of George I in 1714
Hanoverian
by the Hanoverian succession of George I in 1714
the failed Jacobite rising
the failed Jacobite rising of 1715
Tory rebels
the failed Jacobite rising of 1715 by Tory rebels
no
The Whigs thoroughly purged the Tories from all major positions in government
no
 The Whigs thoroughly purged the Tories from all major positions in government, the army,
the Church of England
The Whigs thoroughly purged the Tories from all major positions in government, the army, the Church of England
the Tories
with their rivals, the Tories