England 2.1 Crisis in London: The Great Plague of 1665

Question 1

What caused the Plague? (RE 2.1)

Answer 1

• The Bubonic plague, living in the bloodstream of black rats.
• Transferred to fleas stomachs, which infected people they bit.

Question 2

What were the symptoms of the Plague? (RE 2.1)

Answer 2

• Runny nose, fever, headache.
• Followed by shivering and vomiting.
• Bleeding under the skin causes huge black/purple buboes.
• Buboes were tokens of an imminent death.

Question 3

What did people think caused the Plague? (RE 2.1)

Answer 3

• It was a punishment from god.
• It was caused by miasmas (bad air).
• It was caused by the alignment of stars and planets.
• It was caused by unbalanced humours. (blood, phlegm, yellow/black bile).

Question 4

What measures were taken to handle the Plague? (RE 2.1)

Answer 4

• Incoming ships and plagued households quarantined for 40 days.
• Travellers needed a certificate of health.
• People had to clean the streets, and livestock were banned.
• Homes fumigated and over crowding lodgers banned.
• Public funerals and celebrations banned.

Question 5

How did Doctors and Apothecaries handle the Plague? (RE 2.1)

Answer 5

• Over 40 pamphlets and books printed.
• Made people rebalance their humours.
• ‘Treacle’ medicine made from snake flesh and herbs.
• Dried toads and chicken bottoms placed on buboes.
• ‘Amulets’ such as mercury-filled feather or a pure gold coin in your mouth.

Question 6

How fatal was the Plague? (RE 2.1)

Answer 6

• 130,000 died in England.
• Bills of Mortality claim 68,500 died in London, but it is estimated as many as 100,000 died.
• As much as 25% of the city’s population died.
• Young people died more often.

Question 7

What was the economic impact of the Plague? (RE 2.1)

Answer 7

• Goods could not be loaded in or out.
• Inns and Pubs were empty.
• Farming and Industry suffered.
• Government couldn’t collect enough tax, causing a £400,000 shortfall.

Question 8

How did England recover from the Plague? What were the positives of the Plague? (RE 2.1)

Answer 8

• Colchester’s economy recovered by 1668, and it’s population by the mid 1670s.
• Immigrants filled gaps in London jobs quickly.
• The plague caused Newton to leave Cambridge (apple from the tree).
• Government learned lessons.