Changing Pressures after Restoration (1660-1685)

Restoration of Monarchy: The monarchy was restored under Charles II in 1660, marking the end of the Interregnum period and return to monarchal sovereignty. This was a marked shift from the period of the Commonwealth.
The Clarendon Code: Implemented between 1661-1665, the Clarendon Code severely limited the religious freedom of non-Anglicans and dictated the political landscape.
Constitutional Monarchy: The recovery of the monarch’s power was limited by the financial dependence on parliament, introducing a kind of constitutional monarchism.

Act of Uniformity (1662): The Act required the use of all the rites and ceremonies in the Book of Common Prayer in church services, exacerbating conflicts with non-conformists.
Religious Non-Conformity: Despite ongoing repression, factions such as Quakers and Presbyterians continued to flourish, leading to periodic crackdowns and religious friction.
Catholicism and the Monarchy: The conversion of James II to Catholicism led to increasing tensions and stoked fears of a Catholic dynasty.

The Plague (1665) and the Great Fire of London (1666): These twin disasters added immense pressure to governance and societal stability.
Social Mobility: Despite strict social hierarchies, the Restoration period did see some upward mobility, partially driven by successes in international trade and colonisation.
The Growth of Coffeehouses and Public Discourse: The establishment of coffee houses facilitated a burgeoning public sphere where politics and business were discussed, a significant social change.

Mercantilism: England began to expand globally, establishing colonies in America and developing a thriving Atlantic trade.
Restoration of Royalist Wealth: The Restoration meant the reversal of many Interregnum-era confiscations, leading to a concentration of wealth among Royalists.
Increased Taxation: The cost of wars and maintaining royal ostentation led to increased taxation, impacting the economic climate.

Restoration of Theatres: One key cultural shift was the restoration of theatres and the patronage of arts by Charles II.
Increased Satire and Criticism: The period also saw a rise in satire as a form of political commentary and criticism.
Censorship: The Licensing Act of 1662 reinstated pre-publication censorship, although it was increasingly challenged over the Restoration period.