A War of Words: Jacobitism as a Language of Dissent in England during the Reign of William III, 1688-1702

This thesis explores how Jacobitism became a significant framework for those opposed to the political settlement following the Glorious Revolution and how this movement functioned as a language of dissent utilized by those opposed to the new Williamite regime. In doing so, this thesis challenges the Whiggish historical narrative that William III’s Glorious Revolution enjoyed overwhelming popular support, was bloodless, and that the Jacobite movement had little support in England. My thesis explores this topic through deep biographical case studies to highlight the material and interpersonal interconnectedness of those involved in the Jacobite print trade: authors, printers, distributors, verbal supporters, and those who took part in censoring the movement. This thesis reveals a network of Jacobite supporters active in London who wrote and printed Jacobite works, as well as those who demonstrated support by distributing them or through verbal expressions. The censorship apparatus of the Williamite regime also features prominently, revealing connections between informers, spies, messengers of the press, common people who took censorship upon themselves, and the supporters of the Jacobite movement who they suppressed or attempted to suppress. In doing so, I explore how the state weaponized sectarianism and the legal system to stabilize its rule and maintain its grip on power during the years of instability in William III's reign. England, unlike Scotland and Ireland, had no popular revolt against William's rule; rather, this thesis highlights a war of words raging in England following the Glorious Revolution.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A. History

Level thesis:degree_level

Master

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Faculty of Humanities

Department dc:contributor.department

Department of History

Grantor dc:publisher

Brock University

Year dc:date.issued

2026

Author dc:creator

• McAllister, Owen

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Clark, Jessica

• HUMANITIES and RELIGION::History and philosophy subjects::History subjects::History

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10464/20509

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:brocku.scholaris.ca:10464/20509