The Glorious Revolution and Trumpism Today

When Kings Fall and Movements Rise:

“A nation that forgets its past is doomed to repeat it.” – Winston Churchill

 

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I. A Bloodless Revolution: England 1688–89

It was a defining moment in England’s constitutional history. Catholic King James II was overthrown by a Protestant parliamentary coalition that invited William of Orange and his wife Mary (James’s Protestant daughter) to assume the throne. The revolution was “glorious” not for its violence, but for its lack of it: England avoided a full-scale civil war while fundamentally altering its political system.

The revolution ended the idea of divine-right monarchy and placed Parliament above the Crown, establishing a constitutional monarchy where power was limited by law. The English Bill of Rights (1689) became a cornerstone, outlining freedoms such as free elections and forbidding cruel punishments—precursors to ideas embedded in the U.S. Constitution a century later.

Reader’s Take: Have we forgotten the power of peaceful transition? How does today’s political rhetoric compare to this 17th-century rebalancing of power?

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II. Power and Personality: Comparing King James II and Donald Trump

James II and Donald Trump are separated by centuries and continents, but the politics of personal power bind them. James's Catholicism and authoritarian tendencies alienated the Protestant majority and Parliament. Trump's brand of Trumpism/MAGA elevates strongman populism, often clashing with constitutional norms and traditional checks and balances.

James II saw himself as anointed, not accountable—a king above critique. Trump, similarly, has claimed broad executive authority, challenged electoral legitimacy, and surrounded himself with loyalists over institutionalists. Both men’s actions triggered backlash from within their own governments.

The Glorious Revolution reminds us that when a leader seeks to rise above the system, it provokes a constitutional crisis—or a rebirth.

Reader’s Take: Is MAGA a revolution from within—or a counterrevolution against constitutional limits?

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III. Parliament vs. President: Who Keeps Whom in Check?

The strength of the Glorious Revolution was its reaffirmation of parliamentary sovereignty—that lawmakers, not monarchs, rule the land. Today, the U.S. faces a similar test: Can Congress act as a constitutional check on presidential power?

Modern Trumpism has revealed fault lines in American governance: congressional deadlock, gerrymandering, a politicized judiciary, and growing executive overreach. Many critics argue that Trump, like James, exploits weaknesses in the system rather than respecting its boundaries.

Yet, unlike 1688 England, there’s no clear "William and Mary" figure waiting in the wings to reset the constitutional order. The question is: Can American democracy correct itself without an external intervention?

Reader’s Take

What does American “parliamentary” power look like today? Has Congress lost its teeth—or its will?

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IV. Religion, Identity, and the People

Religion played a central role in the Glorious Revolution—James’s Catholicism was perceived as a threat to Protestant England. Likewise, Trumpism stirs culture wars, weaponizing identity politics around race, immigration, and “real America” versus the elite.

In both cases, leaders used or triggered deep social divides to fuel their power. The Glorious Revolution aimed to unify under law; Trumpism, critics argue, thrives on division for loyalty.

And where the revolution made room for religious pluralism and tolerance (eventually), Trump-era politics has seen a rise in Christian nationalism and challenges to secular governance.

Reader’s Take: Are we repeating history’s identity struggles in new clothes? What should “unity under law” look like today?

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V. A Living Constitution or a Fragile One?

After 1689, England’s monarchy survived but was permanently transformed. The U.S. Constitution, too, has endured—but not without strain. January 6, 2021 marked a real threat to peaceful transfer of power—an echo, perhaps, of the crisis that led to the Glorious Revolution.

If history teaches us anything, it’s that documents alone don’t preserve democracy—people do. Laws must be upheld, institutions must be defended, and the culture of constitutionalism must be kept alive.

The Glorious Revolution succeeded not just because of legal reform, but because enough people believed in constitutional restraint over personal power. That’s the choice before America now.

Reader’s Take: Is the U.S. facing its own Glorious Revolution moment? Can constitutional order be renewed without collapse?

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Final Thoughts: History as a Mirror

The Glorious Revolution wasn't just about a king—it was about the system that allowed or stopped him. In today’s America, Trumpism represents a stress test for the U.S. constitutional framework. Will the system bend or break? Or will it—like England in 1688—pivot toward reaffirming its founding principles?

The Glorious Revolution offers a hopeful lesson: change doesn’t always need blood, but it requires courage, clarity, and constitutional faith. The same choice lies ahead for us now.

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✍️ Join the Conversation

We want to hear from you:

• Do you see modern parallels to the Glorious Revolution in today’s U.S. political climate?

• Is Trumpism a movement of renewal or rebellion?

• Should the U.S. strengthen constitutional reforms in light of recent events?

Drop your thoughts in the comments or tag us on social with #GNWBlog.