Ch 1 Political Nation & Social Basis of Power Flashcards
Define the ‘Political Nation’
-refers to those people w/ economic, political & social influence on how the country is ruled (based on land ownership as wealth = power)
Who was head of the Political Nation?
-the monarch
What did Kishlanksy say about the Political Nation?
-the monarch remained “atop the political hierarchy”
Define ‘Personal Monarchy’
-the characters & personalities of each monarch did much to shape the period & monarch’s relationship w/ rest of Political Nation (particularly institution of Parliament)
Define ‘Divine Right of Kings’
-idea that monarchs had a God-given right to rule & that rebellion against them was a sin
Define ‘Absolutism’
-government where monarch had absolute power (unlimited), able to make laws & raise taxes without approval of Parliament
Define ‘Prerogative’
-power of the Crown, included the right to call & dissolve Parliament as wanted (legislation); declare war due to divine right of kings; religion (head of Church of England); foreign diplomacy
What hindered a monarch’s power to rule?
- money/income
- inflation in general prices meant income did not meet expenses (foreign policy, warfare & international diplomacy)
- did not possess force or civil service to impose will independently (needed help to control nation)
How would a monarch raise funds?
-ask for Parliamentary subsidies
Why were Parliament reluctant to grant subsidies?
- money raised came from taxing Political Nation
- only the wealthy had to pay, so had a vested interest in not granting subsidies (as wealthy was themselves e.g. lawyers, merchants, landed aristocracy & gentry)
- also helped limit development of monarch become self-sufficient & absolute
What did limited availability of Parliamentary subsidies mean for the monarch?
-monarch sometimes forced to exploit their prerogative income (money received due to position of monarch) to raise funds
Define ‘Crown Lands’ as form of Prerogative Income
-crown sold or rented land out on long leases at fixed rate; meant they couldn’t update rents w/ inflation; so income was reduced
Define ‘Customs Duties’ as form of Prerogative Income
- taxes from goods imported into the country; encouraged people to buy home goods
- crown could also temporarily sell right to collect this tax to raise quick funds
Define ‘Feudal Dues’ as form of Prerogative Income
-crown had right to control an estate inherited by a person under age of 21
Define ‘Parliamentary Subsidy’ as form of Prerogative Income
-funds approved by Parliament for emergencies such as war
What was concern if monarch became financially self-sufficient?
-monarch could then establish themselves as ‘absolute’ as wouldn’t need Parliament to raise funds
What was Political Nation responsible for?
- collecting taxes
- conducting trials
- enforcing laws
- training military
How did one qualify to be in Political Nation?
-minimum requirement to have annual income of 40shillings (£2) as was needed to qualify to vote for one’s local members of Parliament
Define the ‘Great Chain of Being’
-idea of an ordered society set in place by God; everyone linked to each other & must accept their place in society
Define ‘Unwritten Constitution’
- England had no written constitution documenting rules by how state was run
- unwritten constitution consisted of parliamentary laws, common law, Magna Carta, tradition & custom
- open to interpretation (adv & disadv)
- ability to interpret constitution in different ways enabled compromise
What were the negative consequences of Population Growth 1500-1650?
- price inflation (particularly food)
- food shortage
- land shortage
- unemployment
- greater reliance on state for poor relief
Who were the significant force within the Political Nation?
-gentry, pseudo-gentry, landed elite & merchant class
What were Privy Council responsible for?
higher powers of PN
- body of advisors to aid King, made of diplomats, chancellors, judges & military leaders
- all chosen by king; held power over Parliament
What were Parliament responsible for?
higher powers of PN
- met to raise finance for laws & war (subsidies)
- King called & dissolved Parliament
