1653-78: role of dissenters

Question 1

line of arg/thesis

Answer 1

Although small in number, dissenters psychologically impacted MPs in Parliament, especially as Charles’ wish for toleration of dissenters linked to his clear preference for Catholicism. However, they were not actually a threat, not big enough in size, nor a united force

Question 2

dissenters were a threat- successfully dealt with

Answer 2

• Act of Uniformity, ’62, over 2,000 clergymen expelled from CofE.
• 15,000 fell victim to Quaker Act + leader George Fox arrested in 1664.
• Conventicle Act, ’64, (part of Clarendon Code- acts passed from -61-65 - after the Savoy Conference in ’61) fine or imprisonment to anyone attending an independent prayer meeting/worship that wasn’t Anglicanism.
• Got to the point people were persecuted and fined so much they just stayed quiet.

Question 3

dissenters were not actually a threat

Answer 3

NUANCE: not a threat, thus while some argue they were successfully defeated, this is silly because there was nothing to actually defeat.

• Uprisings were minor: Venner’s 5thM uprising, ’61, only had 50 supporters.
• Too many sects anyways- not a united force.
• Many dissenters interpreted the Restoration as God’s judgement on their failure to est Godly rule in England (during Interreg). As a result, many felt they should no longer challenge the crown and/or re-est CofE.
• although potentially a threat BEFORE, Experience of past defeats made dissenters more passive, e.g. Quakers stopped supporting armed rebellion in 1659-60 + instead advocated for a more pacifist appr in 1660s

Question 4

dissenters were a threat, and were unsuccessful in being dealt with

Answer 4

• Danby undertook a survey in 1676 which implied 100,000 ‘hardline’ dissenters out of a pop of 2.25 mill (note: figure for’ general’ dissenters may have been 2-3x this).
  –> NUANCE: this doesnt actually mean they were a threat- present, but not a threat- just trying to practise their won religion
• Some dissenting ministers (mostly Presbyt) were paid by wealthy landowners for preaching- e.g. John Canne received £20 a year from Norcliffe family.
• Failure of Anglicanism-by enforcing strict regulations to try and make a uniform relgiion, they just pushed people away by making these strict rules- made people more angry/more determined to continue their religion (use either of ^ examples to prove this).