Question

what did james ii do to gain absolute rule?
○ he pursued protestantism as the state religion and dismissed parliament.
○ he pursued catholicism as the state religion and dismissed parliament.
○ he pursued protestantism as the state religion and headed parliament.
○ he pursued catholicism as the state religion and headed parliament.

Explanation:

To determine the correct answer, we analyze James II's actions:

1. James II was a Catholic king. He aimed to promote Catholicism in England (which was predominantly Protestant at the time) and sought to gain absolute rule.
2. To achieve this, he dismissed Parliament, as Parliament was a check on his power.
3. Analyzing the options:

• Option 1: James II was Catholic, not Protestant, so this is incorrect.
• Option 2: Matches his actions (pursued Catholicism, dismissed Parliament).
• Option 3: He was Catholic, not Protestant, and he dismissed Parliament, not headed it.
• Option 4: He dismissed Parliament, not headed it, so this is incorrect.

Answer:

B. He pursued Catholicism as the state religion and dismissed Parliament.