Chapter 1: The Political Nation Flashcards
Who is head of the political nation?
Monarch.
When did James I reign?
1603-25.
When did Charles I reign?
1625-49.
What 4 sectors did the monarch have power over because of his prerogative?
1) Foreign Diplomacy - Head of State.
2) War - commander in chief of military.
3) Legislation - can call or dissolve parliament.
4) Religion - Supreme Governor of CofE.
What were the 2 main things stopping the monarch from being absolutist?
1) Finances.
2) PN needed to control population - JP’s, tax collectors etc.
How were parliamentary subsidies raised?
Taxing PN (Parliament elected by PN so worked in their best interest).
What were the 4 main sources of crown income?
1) Renting out crown lands.
2) Customs duties.
3) Feudal dues - controlled estates of heirs.
4) Parliamentary subsidies.
What were some of the main groups in the Political Nation?
- Aristocrats.
- Lesser gentry (land owners).
- Pseudo-gentry (non-landowners).
What were the minimum requirements for being in the Political Nation?
40 shillings annual income - same as requirements to vote.
What was the Great Chain of Being?
The idea that everyone’s place in society in set by God. Maintained order because lower classes didn’t want to cause unrest of God’s set plan for them, despite food/land shortages they faced whilst the rich got richer.
What is mean’t by the Political Nation being called ‘paternalist’?
They were supposed to look after the people at the bottom of society (although they really didn’t).
