Final answer:
The return of the monarchy and King Charles II to England in 1660 is known as The Restoration, which is the correct answer to the question (Option A). This marked the end of England's period without a monarch following the English Civil War and Cromwell's rule.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct option is A:
The return in 1660 of the monarchy and King Charles II to England is known by the term The Restoration. The correct answer to the student's question is A) The Restoration. This period marks the end of the interregnum that followed the English Civil War and the reign of Oliver Cromwell, bringing about the resumption of the monarchy.
After the tumultuous period of the English Civil War and the subsequent republican government under Cromwell, there was growing unease with the lack of royal leadership. Cromwell's death in 1658 and the ineffectuality of his son Richard led to the desire for the return of the monarchy. In response to this sentiment, Parliament invited Charles II, the son of the executed Charles I, to take the throne, initiating The Restoration.
The restoration of both houses of Parliament and the established Anglican Church also characterized this era. Charles II's reign was markedly different in style from that of Cromwell and was characterized by extravagance and a lack of rigorous governance. It was a period that would define the future balance of power between the monarchy and Parliament, with the latter maintaining a general suspicion of any inclinations towards Catholicism in the royal circle.
The term The Restoration should not be confused with the 'Glorious Revolution' of 1688/89, which involved the ascension of William and Mary to the throne under conditions that permanently defined the relationship between the monarchy and Parliament.