The “Whig Theory of History” popularised by such 19thc British historians as T.B. Macaulay (a “Whig”, or Liberal, MP) celebrated the gradual evolution of uniquely English legal traditions and institutions as a grand narrative of progress -- the triumph of parliamentary government over the arbitrary powers of the crown. This talk by Dr Andrea McKenzie will tell a different and darker story about the seventeenth-century origins of this self-congratulatory view of English history, one in which anti-Catholic prejudices played a critical role. As we shall see, the widespread belief in a Catholic conspiracy to subvert the English constitution and the Protestant religion was a central component in the rise of parliamentary opposition and the beginnings of modern party politics. Moral panics about real and imagined “popish” plots and assassinations not only resulted in the persecution of hundreds of Catholic priests and laypeople, but played a pivotal role in the major political events of the seventeenth century: the outbreak of Civil War in 1642, the execution of Charles I in 1649, the Exclusion Crisis of 1679-81 and the deposition of the last Catholic monarch, James II, in 1688 -- the so-called “Glorious Revolution”.

UVic Café Historique 2019-20 Season

Great Stories

The 2019-20 season of Café Historique continues to explore history through a new lens: the telling of great stories. Whether the biography of a famous individual, the recounting of a dramatic event or the discovery of a long-forgotten or undeservedly neglected tale, these stories will amaze, thrill and inspire you. This year, join UVic History professors as they invite you to relive stories of conspiracy in Stuart England, the adventures of an early Indigenous rights activist in British Columbia, and the misdeeds of Jack the Ripper in Victorian London, to name just a few.

We're thrilled that Hermann's is alive and well and welcoming us back for another season. As in previous years, doors open at 5pm and talks begin at the slightly earlier time this year of 6pm. Donations of $2 per person are gratefully accepted at the event - bring your toonie!