Cause of Progress

Question 1

Economic

Answer 1

Rarely Cause for Change:
+ Simon de Montfort - increased the size of parliament to generate more taxation
+ Charles I - recalled parliament after 11-year tyranny for taxes to fight Scotland
- Anti Slavery Movement - many MPs supported abolition due to being undercut by cheaper sugar from Brazil and Cuba
Encouraged changes if they benefitted the ruling classes or King

Question 2

Government Action

Answer 2

Important Cause:
- Peasants Revolt - poll tax stopped, not used till 20th Century, Serfdom slowly phased out by 1450
+ Great Reform Act 1832 - riots in Bristol, Derby and Nottingham
+ 20th Century Women - 101 Labour MPs in 1997
- 20th Century Minorities - Race Relations Act, Equality Act
Often laws that improved the rights or access to Parliament via voting rights, only came about at the start of the period due to fear of an uprising, later this progress was due to pressure applied through communication.

Question 3

Individuals

Answer 3

Catalyst for Progress:
+ Simon de Montfort - modified parliament in 1265
+ Oliver Cromwell - led the New Model Army which deposed Charles I and led the Commonwealth as Lord Protector
- Robert Peel - repealed Corn Laws due to the Irish Potato Famine
Took decisions for selfish reasons which caused progress as a repercussion they also caused change due to their ideology which encouraged them to take more radical action.

Question 4

War and Violence

Answer 4

Central at the Start, Viewed negatively by the End:
+ Simon de Montfort - defeated Henry III
+ English Revolution - Parliament went to war with Charles I and with James II for the Glorious Revolution
- American Revolution - colonists went to war with British Govt to gain independence
Was useful when it was needed to force Kings to reduce their royal authority but by the end of the period violence was viewed as unnecessary and Parliament had become the new way of enacting change especially as voting rights became more acceptable.