Although the Exclusion crisis eventually subsided, it left an
interesting legacy, in the form of the first political
parties. The Petitioners were supporters of Shaftesbury, 
who in 1680 organised a series of petitions in favour of
Parliament. The Abhorrers were the king's loyalists,
expressing their abhorrence at such attempts to limit the
king's power to summon and dissolve Parliament.

In due course, the two groups attracted new titles, which 
were to remain in force for 200 years. The Petitioners became 
the Whigs (town dwellers and dissenters) and the Abhorrers became
the Tories (supporters of the Church of England and the
Court).