East Anglia- Lesson notes Flashcards
When did the East Anglia Witch Hunt take place?
1645-1647
How many people were accused or faced trial?
700 people
80% of them were women
Where did the East Anglia witch hunt take place?
In 7 counties across East Anglia, including Suffolk, Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire
What were the religous reforms that led up to that start of the Civil war?
Ordered churches to replace ulters, recover their vestments. Parishioners were forced to kneel to receive their sacrament.
Why were protestants angry with these religious reforms?
They seemed like a return to catholicism
He was supposed to uphold the religion
What were the economic challenges that led to the start of the civil war?
Increased Taxes and Ship Money
He imprisoned those who refused to pay
Ship money across the country- normally used when at war to raise money
How did the role of women in politics change?
Women now became deeply involved in politics, attempting to influence the outcome of political issues through petitions and protests. They bemoaned the effects of war on trade, food prices, land enclosures and fuel shortages, or they called for the release of their imprisoned husbands.
In addition, females formed a significant portion of the peace movement, persuading sons and brothers not to participate in fighting, and calling for the restoration of both war-torn England and its ‘bleeding Sister Kingdom of Ireland’.
How did women attempt to change the social perceptions of them?
Not only did the Civil War sects give women opportunities to preach and prophesy, they encouraged them to challenge ideas concerning sexual norms and practices. The breakdown of the church courts meant that there was a temporary relaxation of laws against sexual transgression. This in turn may have been one reason for the emergence in the late-1640s of groups of radical sects, such as the Ranters who allegedly challenged the whole contemporary sexual and moral code. Some of the most prominent theorists of this group, such as Laurence Clarkson and Abeizer Coppes, advocated indulgence in casual, multi-partner sexual relations.
How did men respond to their actions?
Many men were extremely uncomfortable with these new public roles for women and thought that they would destroy female modesty and gentleness and, more worryingly, encourage them to rise above their station. Most accounts about women preaching are from men expressing their anger, such as Thomas Edwards who believed women’s preaching was against the laws of Scripture and nature.
Why did women admit to being witches during the Civil War?
Some women genuinely believed that they had magical powers; others may have been mentally ill, Some confessed to witchcraft because it gave them increased status and power in the village. In a patriarchal society women were expected to be submissive to men; witchcraft therefore gave them a greater authority, as everyone feared them because of their powers.
Witchcraft confessions often contain references to infanticide, to being a bad wife, or to suicide.
How was society divided during the C17th?
the king’s supporters were called ‘Cavaliers’, the gentry of the northern and western areas, were Royalists and supported the king. Parliament’s supporters were called ‘Roundheads’, the merchants and traders of the south-east and London, supported Parliament.
What impact would the New Model Army have had on the Eastern Counties?
The majority of the soldiers for this army came from East Anglia, and in particular the Eastern Association. The Eastern Association was a military organisation that comprised seven county militias of Eastern England (including Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk).
What social and economic impact would the war have had on the Eastern Counties?
The English conflict left some 34,000 Parliamentarians and 50,000 Royalists dead, while at least 100,000 men and women died from war-related diseases, bringing the total death toll caused by the three civil wars in England to almost 200,000.
How did traditional authority change?
20% of men left the area to fight in the English Civil War → changing role of women
- Economy starts to collapse
- Women left alone - they see them as easy targets for the devil- working for catholic church
- High mortality rates
How did the role of the church change?
The position of the Church and role of the gentry also began to collapse as a result of the English Civil War.
Ministers were ejected if seen as having catholic influences
How did the legal structure change?
Norfolk woman, 1645: “with no kingly authority, normal laws did not apply”
The assize courts were unable to function, as battles made it unsafe for assize judges to travel.
Instead people who are closer who have no legal experience start making decisions on witchcraft
Essex assize court, the Puritan Earl of Warwick
Works with the local magistrates
He sends 19 women to hang- only on evidence from people such as hopkins
What happened with crop failure?
Mid-1640s were a disastrous time for farmers, wet summers and freezing winters led to regular crop failures.
- East anglia is a crop baced area
- Very flat area
- Right in the middle of the war the worst crop failures in living history for them
What crop disease developed and what impact did this have?
A crop disease called ergot developed in wheat and rye → the price of wheat increased by 20%
- If you eat it. It can lead to hallucinations
- `it kills the crops
What did puritans see crop failures as a sign of?
The religious nature of society meant that they saw it as a sign from God
→ Puritans saw it as a punishment from God, and held witches accountable for being sinful and being the reason for the punishment
Thought the catholics and elderly women were responsible
How did changing land use change?
Landlords realised that they could make more money by evicting their tenants, and enclosing the land to farm one particular product
Putting all of there land together and eviting the tennants
What did Sir Sandys do?
Sir Sandys was an aggressive landlord and evicted 30 families across 4000 acres of land.
- He then said to weather people that they were reasonable to give poor people the money to survive.
- They were facing economic problems themselves
- If u dont have money if you were poor you were seen as simple and idle
