Politics and opinion in crisis, 1678-81

1. Introduction. An Exclusion Crisis? Interpreting the period. The framework of discussion. Politics and religion at the time of the Popish Plot

2. Politics and the succession, 1678-9. The succession debate 1678-9. Court politics. The politics of exclusion

3. 'A King at chess': politics and the succession between Parliaments, May 1679-October 1680. The Court in chaos, June 1679-January 1680. Expedients to settle the succession, June 1679-January 1680. Towards a new ministry, January-August 1680. Intrigue and the succession, August-October 1680

4. Politics and the succession, 1680-1. The succession and the Westminster Parliament of 1680-1. Court cabals, October 1680-February 1681. The push for expedients, February-March 1681

5. The structure of politics. Contemporary views on a divided society: terms and terminology. Faction in Parliament?

6. 'This outrageous liberty of the press'. Introduction. The organisation of the press. The impact of the press and newsletters.