Impact of Empire 1688-1730 Flashcards
Describe what happened in the Glorious Revolution and outline the events that led up to it.
On September 3rd 1658, Oliver Cromwell died. His son Richard was not strong enough to, and did not want to be, Lord Protector. So, in May 1659 he was forced out of the job.
In 1660, Charles II became King (Charles I’s son) so England had a monarchy again. The Church of England was brought back, and all laws between 1641 and 1660 were declared illegal.
In 1685, Charles II died, and on his death-bed he openly declared himself as a Catholic.
He was succeeded by his brother James, who was openly a Catholic. This was a threat to Parliament, who did not want a Catholic ruler because they wanted England to remain Protestant.
In 1685. in the Monmouth Rebellion, protestants tried to overthrow James. The rebels failed and were punished harshly, and James II used this as an excuse to build up a large army.
In 1687, James allowed all Catholics and Protestants to worship as they wished. He did not ask Parliament’s permission to do this.
In June 1688, James II had a son, and could now make sure that he would be followed by a Catholic King - there was a real chance Catholicism could be brought back.
In June 1688, powerful protestants in England asked James daughter and son-in-law, William and Mary of Orange, to come to England as king and queen.
In November 1688 William landed at Torbay and began to move on London. James’ army began to desert.
On December 11th James lost his nerve and left London, boarding a boat for France, but failed and was returned to London through a misunderstanding. All the while, William was moving closer to London. He ordered that James should be allowed to escape.
On December 19th, James fled to France (exactly what William had hoped he would do).
How significant was the Glorious Revolution and the succession of William III and Mary II on England?
Point 1:
There was a power shift from the Monarch to Parliament, allowing greater democracy.
Bill of Rights 1689 - Laws should not be removed without the consent of Parliament. No taxes should be imposed without the authority of parliament. People should have the right to petition the monarch without fear of punishment. (Basically people were allowed to rebel) No standing army may be maintained during peacetime without the consent of Parliament. Bail and fines should not be too expensive. Cruel and unusual punishment should not be allowed. Parliaments should be held frequently.
Essentially, the glorious revolution marked the end of absolute rule by Kings and Queens - therefore could be seen as glorious.
Also, secured Protestant rule - no loose ends of Catholic rulers - this could be seen as glorious.
What were some of the causes of the war in Ireland 1689-1691?
In 1169, Henry II invaded Ireland and started an English colony around Dublin - called The Pale. This really started the tensions between England and Ireland, as people beyond the Pale were stereotyped as wild, uneducated and savage.
Ireland had also remained Catholic when England turned Protestant in the mid 16th century.
Irish parliament was protestant-dominated, despite being a mainly catholic country. Only wealthy protestant had a role, not the poor catholics.
Who supported who in the Jacobite/Williamite war?
People who supported James: French, Scottish, Irish Catholic
People who supported William: English, Irish protestant, Dutch and the Pope.
Outline the events of the Jacobite/Williamite War in 1689-1691
1689, March - James arrives in Ireland with 6,000 French troops. He passed a law in Dublin, giving confiscated land back to former Catholic owners.
1689, April - jacobite forces swept the North, taking land from Protestant plantation owners, and surrounded protestants in Derry. William sent warships and troops.
1689, 28th July - William’s ships broke the siege and freed the inhabitants.
1689, winter - 1/3 William’s army killed from disease.
1690, July 1st - The Battle of the Boyne. James left Ireland and many soldiers deserted. William entered Dublin in triumph.
1691, 12 July - Battle of Aughrim. Seven thousand men were killed on both sides. William won.
3rd October, 1691 - Treaty of Limerick marked the end of the war.
What were the consequences of the Jacobite/Williamite war?
Treaty of Limerick 03/10/1691: Irish men that fought for James had 3 choices:
1. Join William’s army
2. return home
3. continue following James in the French Army
14000 soldiers chose to leave for France in what became known as “the flight of the Wild Geese”
catholic guerrilla fighters had inflicted damage, so by sending most committed fighters to France, they removed the risk of continued fight
Jacobite landowners were told they could keep their land if they swore their allegiance to William and Mary (like the penal laws, starting in 1695)
Irish Catholics had lost their army, land and political power - afterwards they were totally excluded from government for nearly 200 yrs.
Ireland was now a British colony.
How did British control affect Ireland?
- The Penal Laws
This affected Ireland politically, socially, religiously and economically. Essentially, the penal laws were designed to suppress Irish Catholics by treating them like a 2nd class citizen and tried to take any land ownership from them.
- Catholics could not hold seats in the Irish Parliament (1692), hold public office, vote (1727) or practice law.
- Cases against Catholics were tried without juries, and bounties were given to informers against them.
- The hierarchy of the Catholic Church was banished/suppressed.
- A catholic could not inherit property if there was any protestant heir.
- Catholic property was inherited equally among the sons unless one was a Protestant, in which case he received it all.
- Persons of property could not enter into mixed marriages.
- Catholics could neither teach their children nor send them abroad.
- A Catholic could not possess arms or a horse worth more the £5.
- Catholics could not hold leases for more than 31 years, and they could not make a profit greater than a third of their rent. - Economically suppress the Irish
- English Woollen Act 1699 - illegal for Irish to export woollen cloth beyond the British Isles.
- The Declaratory Act 1720 - The Irish house of Lords no longer had the right to be a final court of appeal, and the British Parliament had the right to make laws for Ireland in all cases whatsoever.
- 1722-1725 - The British Government gave the right to manufacture Irish halfpennies to an English entrepreneur, William Wood. - Tensions between Ascendancy and England
The ascendancy was the wealthy Protestant class that ruled Ireland under England. They belonged to Church of Ireland, an offshoot of Church of England.
There was always tension between a division of faith (Protestant and Catholic) and a division of class (between Protestant Ascendancy and poor Catholics and protestants)
England viewed the Ascendancy as beneath them, and Ireland was a colony that was used to benefit England.
All Irish, even protestants were treated as 2nd class citizens.
How did the Glorious Revolution lead to tensions in Scotland?
There was conflict in Scotland because of the different Williamite and Jacobite supporters.
Support for Williamites:
- He was protestant, like most Scots, and James’ attempts to increase rights for Catholics had been unpopular in Scotland
- He was ruling with his wife Mary, who was James’ daughter and therefore also a Stuart from the Scottish Royal family
Support for Jacobites:
- he was a Stuart, from the ancient Scottish royal family
- he was still legally King according to Scottish law
- Scotland had not been consulted about the invitation to become King from members of Parliament to William of Orange
- Many highlanders supported James due to their fear and hatred of the Lowlanders.
Why did the ‘Glorious Revolution’ lead to murder in the Scottish mountains?
- 1689 - Claim of Right:
Scottish parliament backed William in a Claim of Right, that blamed James for the troubles and said that no Catholic could ever be King. - Battle of Killiecrankie & Dunkeld
Jacobites rose up in anger and government troops fought them at this battle. Jacobites won the battle but lost their leader and 1/3 of their army.
One month later, rebellion collapsed at the Battle of Dunkeld - 1691 - William announces that the clans who had supported James would be pardoned if they came to swear allegiance to him at Fort William before 1st January 1692.
- The Chief of Glencoe Alasdair MacLain arrived just in time of 31st December at Fort William, but was told he had to make journey of more than 100km to Inveraray. He arrive there a day late and took the oath on 2nd Jan, but was promised that his people, the McDonalds, would be safe.
- The King wanted to make an example of one of the Highland clans and Maclain’s delayed signature to the oath gave them their excuse.
- The Massacre of Glencoe
Under Scottish law the Massacre of Glencoe was “murder by trust” which meant that the killers had accepted their victims’ hospitality before committing the crime. The Scottish parliament condemned the action and the London government tried to cover up who was responsible. William was forced to order an enquiry, but no one was ever punished.
What were the consequences of the Massacre of Glencoe?
Created a climate of fear and anger in the Highlands
Deepened the division between Highlanders and both English and Scottish governments
For many, it strengthened their attachment to the Jacobite cause while making it clear that the monarchy in London and its parliamentary backers were ready to used ruthless means to assert control.
Why was the Scottish economy poor?
In 1690s, there were poor harvests that led to famine in Scotland, with 1/3 of the population dying.
Political:
The Scottish parliament was independent but its ministers were appointed by the English in London, who did not care.
Scotland was neglected by the Kings in England and were dragged into wars they didn’t want to.
Trade:
The EIC and RAC had monopoly over trade, which meant that Scotland didn’t have access to trade.
The Navigation act prevented Scottish ships from being involved in trade.
English enemies didn’t want to trade with Scotland due to foreign wars - SPAIN.
What was the Darien Scheme? How would it help the Scottish economy?
The Edinburgh government were desperate to find ways to improve the Scottish economy.
In 1695, William Patterson had an idea - he helped set up the Bank of Scotland and proposed the idea of going to this strip of land in Panama called the Isthmus of Darien.
A lot of investment was put into the Darien Scheme - they sailed off to Darien with 25% of Scotland’s wealth, and there was no backup.
Potential advantages were that Scotland would be able to control trade between North and South America, and the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean - making trades much quicker, giving a lot of money.
Why did the Darien Scheme fail?
Mistakes by settlers:
they had poor equipment, bad farming skills (that didn’t suit the land), they had opposition from the Spanish who viewed Panama as their own, and they had failed negotiations with the local Tule people.
Conditions:
It was hot, humid and swampy marshland. Disease spread quickly, there was a lot of malnutrition, difficult terrain and lots of rain.
Opposition from English:
The English and EIC did not help the Scottish at all, and there was a withdrawal of support from English Directors. King William also forbid any ships from trading with the settlers.
What were the reasons for and against the Act of Union in 1707?
For:
English Alien Act 1705 - England threatened to ban exports to England if the Scots didn’t accept Hanoverian rule.
The English bribed Scottish politicians with high positions in London if they agreed to the union.
Guaranteed protection from enemies.
Guaranteed protestant rule.
Freer trade and improved economy - something Scotland desperately needed after Darien Scheme failure
Against:
Most Scots were against the Act of Union because:
there was a loss of Scottish identity and independence
They would be ruled by foreigners (who didn’t really care about them)
Increased taxation
What was the impact of the Act of Union 1707?
Military impacts:
Positive - 1708 Cruiser and Convoy Act meant that Scottish people had protection by Royal Navy from any threats, Jacobites, French or Spanish etc.; from 1725 onwards, a military road network was built throughout the Highlands in case of any trouble - they were so well built that they are still in use today.
Negatives - ruthless troops were imposed in Scotland by the military, especially for the Highlanders in case there was any trouble. There were severe punishments for the highlanders after the Jacobite rebellion in 1715.
Political impacts:
Positives - There were new career opportunities for Scottish politicians and other wealthy people. The Scottish also got involved in all parts of the British empire.
Negative - Scottish politicians were often implicated in cases of bribery and corruption. As there was no Scottish parliament, the government was even more distant from Scotland, and people didn’t like it, especially the Highlanders who felt like they were under colonial rule.
Economic impacts:
Positives - Scottish people could now make full advantage of the freer trade and British expansion - many merchants benefitted from this. Freer trade also meant that Glasgow became a very important port, and especially benefitted from the imports of tobacco from North America. Those who lost money in the Darien Scheme got it back with added interest, and many invested this in the Bank of Scotland.
Negatives - economic prosperity was not immediate and many industries still struggled. In 1710, tax was heavily increased, and many people suffered. A lot of Scotland’s wealth was moved to London, because ultimately Scottish industry could not keep up with England’s. Because of the high taxes, smuggling was very common.
Social impacts:
Positives - there was a greater quality of living for many Lowlanders.
Negatives - However, the union was very bad for the highlanders, and eventually led to the destruction of their way of life. There were regular protests against the union, including riots, but the rebels were always punished harshly.