The Glorious Revolution and the Age of Walpole, 1678–1757

The Glorious Revolution (1688–1689)

The Glorious Revolution was a bloodless coup that saw King James II, a Catholic, overthrown and replaced with his Protestant daughter, Mary II, and her husband, William III of Orange.
James II caused concern among Protestant nobles due to his suspension of religious tests for government positions, allowing Catholics to hold positions of power, and his declaration of religious tolerance.
Fear of a Catholic dynasty led seven prominent English nobles to invite William III of Orange, who was Protestant, to invade England.
James II fled to France, leading to the crowning of William III and Mary II as joint sovereigns, marking the end of absolute monarchism.
The Bill of Rights (1689) was passed in the wake of the Glorious Revolution, establishing important constitutional law provisions and limitations on royal power.

The Reign of Queen Anne (1702–1714)

Queen Anne succeeded William III after his death, overseeing the merging of England and Scotland into the United Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707.
She faced issues on succession, as none of her children survived to adulthood, leading to anxieties over a possible return to Catholic rule.
The Act of Settlement (1701) had already established that the crown would pass to the Protestant house of Hanover if Anne died without an heir.

The Age of Walpole (1721–1742)

Sir Robert Walpole, often considered Britain’s first Prime Minister, shaped the modern role of the Prime Minister during his long tenure.
Under his administration, the power and influence of the monarchy decreased, while that of Parliament increased, marking a shift towards a system of constitutional monarchy.
His politics were marked by peace abroad and prosperity at home, with a focus on avoiding wars and reducing national debt.
However, his time in power was also marred with controversy and accusations of corrupt practices, leading to his eventual downfall in 1742.

Conclusion

This period was marked by significant constitutional changes, a shift in political balance, and religious tensions - all of which had lasting impacts on the British Isles.
It is commonly considered the foundation of modern British parliamentary democracy, moving away from absolute monarchy towards constitutional monarchy.

Note: In your revision, remember to focus on key dates, names, and events, as well as their significance in the context of British political and constitutional history.