The Rise of Political Parties

Active learning builds understanding of the Exclusion Crisis by letting students step into the roles of Whigs and Tories. Through movement, debate, and source work, they see how ideologies clashed in real time rather than memorizing static facts about parties.

• Year 8
• History
• 4 activities
• 30 min–50 min

Learning Objectives

1. Compare the core ideologies of the Whigs and Tories in late 17th-century England.
2. Analyze the specific events of the Exclusion Crisis and explain their role in solidifying party divisions.
3. Evaluate the impact of early Whig and Tory factions on parliamentary procedures and legislation.
4. Identify key figures associated with the Whig and Tory parties during this period.

Formal Debate

⏱ 50 min·Small Groups

Debate Carousel: Whig vs Tory Ideologies

Divide class into Whigs and Tories. Each group prepares arguments on exclusion, monarchy limits, and religion using source packs. Rotate opponents every 10 minutes for structured debates, with observers noting key points on worksheets. Conclude with a class vote on crisis resolution.

Prepare & details

Differentiate between the core beliefs of the Whigs and Tories.

Facilitation Tip: During the Debate Carousel, assign students to stand at Whig or Tory stations for two-minute bursts to maintain energy and prevent over-talking.

Setup: Two teams facing each other, audience seating for the rest

Materials: Debate proposition card, Research brief for each side, Judging rubric for audience, Timer

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Decision-Making

Formal Debate

⏱ 40 min·Small Groups

Timeline Stations: Exclusion Crisis Events

Set up stations for key events: Popish Plot, dissolution of Parliament, Rye House Plot. Groups add evidence cards to timelines, discuss causal links, and present to class. Include a station for Whig-Tory responses.

Prepare & details

Analyze how the Exclusion Crisis contributed to the formation of political parties.

Setup: Two teams facing each other, audience seating for the rest

Materials: Debate proposition card, Research brief for each side, Judging rubric for audience, Timer

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Decision-Making

Formal Debate

⏱ 45 min·Whole Class

Parliament Simulation: Party Votes

Assign roles as MPs with party affiliations. Present bills on succession and toleration. Students vote, justify positions in pairs, and track how parties sway outcomes on a shared chart.

Prepare & details

Explain the impact of early party politics on the functioning of Parliament.

Setup: Two teams facing each other, audience seating for the rest

Materials: Debate proposition card, Research brief for each side, Judging rubric for audience, Timer

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Decision-Making

Formal Debate

⏱ 30 min·Pairs

Source Analysis Pairs: Party Pamphlets

Pair students with Whig or Tory pamphlets. They extract ideologies, biases, and arguments, then swap to compare. Groups report findings to class.

Prepare & details

Differentiate between the core beliefs of the Whigs and Tories.

Setup: Two teams facing each other, audience seating for the rest

Materials: Debate proposition card, Research brief for each side, Judging rubric for audience, Timer

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Decision-Making

Teaching This Topic

Experienced teachers avoid presenting Whigs and Tories as pre-made ideologies by having students reconstruct them from primary sources. Use role-play to show fluid alliances rather than rigid labels, since early parties evolved with each crisis. Research suggests that simulations of parliamentary voting help students grasp incremental change better than lectures alone.

What to Expect

Success means students can explain the Whig and Tory positions in their own words, trace key events of the Exclusion Crisis, and show how these events led to organized political parties. They should also recognize that early parties were not fixed modern equivalents.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During the Debate Carousel, watch for students assuming Whigs and Tories matched modern Liberal and Conservative parties.

What to Teach Instead

Use the Debate Carousel to have students articulate specific crisis-driven goals rather than modern labels, reminding them to justify claims with evidence from their research.

Common Misconception

During the Timeline Stations activity, watch for students treating the Exclusion Crisis as solely a religious conflict.

What to Teach Instead

During Timeline Stations, direct students to annotate each event with labels for religious, political, and constitutional factors, then discuss how these layers interacted.

Common Misconception

During the Parliament Simulation, watch for students believing parties instantly dominated Parliament after 1681.

What to Teach Instead

Use the Parliament Simulation to tally votes over time, showing how party influence grew through repeated elections and debates rather than appearing fully formed.

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

After the Source Analysis Pairs activity, provide students with two short, contrasting quotes, one reflecting Whig ideology and the other Tory ideology. Ask them to identify which party each quote represents and explain their reasoning in 1-2 sentences, referencing specific beliefs.

Discussion Prompt

During the Debate Carousel, pose the question: 'How did the fear of a Catholic monarch lead to the creation of lasting political parties?' Facilitate a class discussion, encouraging students to use key vocabulary and refer to the Exclusion Crisis events they traced in the Timeline Stations.

Quick Check

After the Parliament Simulation, display a list of characteristics (e.g., 'Supported limited monarchy', 'Favored Anglican supremacy'). Ask students to quickly sort these characteristics under 'Whig' or 'Tory' headings on mini whiteboards or paper.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge: Ask students to compare a Whig pamphlet to a modern political manifesto, identifying one key difference and one similarity.
• Scaffolding: Provide sentence stems for the Debate Carousel to help students frame their arguments clearly.
• Deeper exploration: Invite students to research how the Glorious Revolution of 1688 further shaped party divisions.

Key Vocabulary

Whigs	A political faction that emerged in the late 17th century, generally advocating for parliamentary supremacy over the monarch and religious tolerance for Protestant dissenters.
Tories	A political faction that emerged in the late 17th century, generally supporting the authority of the monarch and the established Anglican Church, emphasizing loyalty and obedience.
Exclusion Crisis	A series of political events in England between 1679 and 1681, aimed at preventing Charles II's Catholic brother, James, from inheriting the throne.
Royal Prerogative	The special rights and powers held by the monarch, which the Tories generally defended against parliamentary encroachment.
Protestant Dissenters	Protestants who were not members of the Church of England, such as Baptists or Quakers, whose rights were a point of contention between the parties.