Impact of Empire, incl. Migration Flashcards
Describe the Feudal System in Medieval England
King gives land to barons, who give land to kights, who give peasants jobs / a way to make money. The peasants give the knights tax / service, the knights give the barons tax / service, the barons give the king tax / service.
Key dates from 1000 - 1066
1000: England split into different areas ruled by different powers, primarily Danes and Saxons. Danes raiding the south coast
1002: Aethelred orders all Danes killed, Danes invade, Aethelred flees.
1016: All of England rules by a Danish King
1042: Saxons rule again
1066: Norman conquest - William the Conqueror takes over
Why would the Normans invade England?
- King Edward the Confessor (king before William) had several links with Normandy, making WIlliam a contendor for the throne. Links: giving Normans positions of power in the country, lived in Normany for 25 years, his mother was from Normandy.
- Power struggle between Normans and Anglo-Danish lords during Edward’s reign and after his death - both sides wanted to be in control, Normans based in France, so Anglo-Danes had a better chance, invading would make a show of power, deter others from trying to take over once the Normans were in power.
- The want for more land.
What did the Normans do in terms of land ownership? To what extent did this change life?
Consolidated the feudal system: seized land from Anglo-Danish lords and gave it to his Norman lords. Domesday (Doomsday) survey 1085 to record who owned what (incl. land, resources etc.) and how much it was worth.
Had a political impact, as a change in lords, especially lords who spoke a different language and had a different culture, could have changed the terms on which serfs lived and worked on the land.
What did the Normans do in terms of daily life?
For most people, land did not change very much, as most people still had few rights and little to no land of their own. 70% of people were serfs. The only changes to day-to-day life of serfs were that of the language spoken by their lords and who owned the land
What did the Normans do in terms of law and order? To what extent did this change life?
The Normans took control of the tax and justice systems, although they did not change much. The main change was how Normans were treated differently to the rest of the English population: the penalty for killing a Norman was a collective fine imposed upon a community unless the murderer was found within five days. This emphasised the Normans’ importance in society, as their lives were essentially classed as more valuable.
What did the Normans do in terms of religion? To what extent did this change life?
William took control of the church, replacign Anglo-Danish bishops with Norman ones.
This meant that there would be minimal power struggles between the groups, as the church would be completely subservient to the king.
What did the Normans do in terms of personal freedom? To what extent did this change life?
Slavery was abolished after the Doomsday survey of 1085 showed that roughly 10% of the population were slaves. This changed the social order and improved lives for those previously enslaved.
What did the Normans do in terms of names? To what extent did this change life?
Introduced the surname system to be able to identify a person’s occupation or place of origin.
This made it easier to identify individuals and certain characteristics about them.
What did the Normans do in terms of language? To what extent did this change life?
They introduced a new system of language called ‘Old French’, which made a stsrker difference between the ruling and the ruled, as the ruled could not understand the new language, although eventually the 2 languages ‘Old English’ and ‘Old French’ came together to form a very close version of the language we speak today.
What did the Normans do in terms of rebellion? To what extent did this change life?
1069 some Anglo-Danish nobles, led by the Danish king led an unsuccessful rebellion. However, this rebellion showed that despite the stop to endless back-and-forth of rulers, the ruled class were not happy with their new position in life.
The Harrying of the North was a series of military campaigns from 1069-70, aimed to both prevent another Danish invasion and to be a show of militaristic force.
Why did Jewish people come over to England? How were they treated?
1066
Jews were invited, as their religion did not stop them from borrowing and lending money, unlike the christian religion, so they had the ability to greatly improve the English economy.
Initially they were welcomed but they were labelled as non-believers in 1095, leading to the start of anti-semitic behaviour. As perspectives of them changed, they were pushed more and more to the fringes of society, untill eventually there was outright persecution, especially once italian bankers came over and were able to do the same jobs. They were pushed out of England in the end, although they did eventually return
Flemish migrants
1066
Became local artisans
Kick-started the manufacturing economy
Welcomed by the English
Had to reach agreements within communities so that local artisans didn’t feel threatened by their work.
Hanseatic merchants
1250s
Came from Germany
Not invited
Contained to the steelyard
Emerged in the reign of Edward I
Controlled most of the wool trade
Made the city a financial centre
1381 Great Rebellion, steelyard destroyed
1598 Elizabeth I closed steelyard
Lombard bankers
1220s onwards
From Italy
Pope had ruled Italian bankers could harge interest on loans
King turned against Jewish lenders in favour of Italian lenders who shared his religion
Given letters of protection
Both sides benefitted until Edward III debt caused businesses to go bankrupt
London merchants didn’t like them, wanted restrictions placed
Disliked by general public
Why did people come to England during the Medieval period?
Economic - German merchants and Italian bankers, Jewish money lenders. After black death, more workers needed in the agricultural and manufacturing industries
Environmental - Natural disasters driving people out of their homes
Political - Queens travelling to marry kings, Sovereign rule over other territories, incentives given to improve economy
Social - to escape war, Icelandic children kidnapped and forced to work as slaves
Timeline of immigration to England from 1200
1253 Statue of Jewry - all jews must be identifiable
1270 flemish weavers arrive, after pressure from workforce, all but the most skilled weavers pushed out of guilds
1275 new statute of jewry - jew can no longer loan money for a living
1290 Jews expelled from England
1325 foreigners living on the south arrested because of war with France
1348 Black death - more workers needed, so migrants welcomed
1354 All aliens are entitled to a half-alien jury
1370 Letters of denization became available
1381 Peasants’ revolt, many migrants killed
1439 foreign merchants have to live with English merchants - a way to keep an eye on them
1440 New tax - all people above the age of 12 who were born abroad have to pay
What was life like for African Tudors?
Often worked in domestic service - servants, coffee brewers etc.
Some worked in higher positions, such as cloth workers
Not treated too differently
How did life for black people change during the Stuart period?
Racism became much more prevalent - servitude more common jobs, having a black child in your household was like having a pet - a sign of wealth and social standing.
To justify enslavement, ideas of racial superiority introduced (more for the transatlantic slave trade)
Why did Indian people settle in England in the 1600s?
Returning British officials from the EIC (founded 1600) would bring their wives, nurses and children with them
A few cases of child slavery
Market for Indian spices and textiles growing - places available in the food and clothing industry
Elizabeth I wanted to form trade ties with India
Walloons
French speaking Protestants from Belgium
Fled persecution, were invited by towns in Kent to set up textiles buisnesses
Broughts great skill in weaving and textiles
Huguenots
French protestants
Also fleeing persecution, brought skill in textiles, like the Walloons
German Palatines from the Rhineland
Left their home because of poor conditions and years of brutal treatment by landowners. Came to England because all they had to do to be treated as a citizen was pay a shilling
Treated kindly at first
Romani Gypsies
Nomadic lifestyle - travelled around Europe
1530 Henry VIII ordered expulsion
1500s Queen Mary made it a crime to be a Gypsy immigrand - punishable by death, as was mixing with these groups
1650s forced transportation of Gypsies to North America and the Caribbean
Jewish people
Most expelled in 1290, but some will have stayed and converted in order to not lose their homes.
1650s Oliver Cromwell allowed Jewish people asylum
Late Stuart Monarchy Family Tree (useful, not necessary)
James I (r. 1603-25) m. Anne of Denmark
Charles I (r. 1625-49) m. Henrietta Maria of France
Charles II (r.1600-85) (merry monarch)
sib. James II (r. 1685-88) m. Anne Hyde
Mary II (r. 1689-94) m. William III (r. 1689-1702) (glorious revolution)
sib. Anne (r. 1702-14) m. George of Denmark
Power then moved away from Tudor family to the Hanover (german) family
England and Great Britain
England c.1000-1707
Great Britain 1707-1800 after the Unity act
England and Scotland ruled under same monarch past 1603, but not combined
What was the Glorious Revolution?
William of Orange and Mary II overthrow James II in the Glorious Revolution of 1688. This was the start of Government’s power over the monarchy.
Coronation oath sworn by William and Mary: “We solemnly promise and swear to govern the people of England and the dominions thereun to belonging, according to the statutes in parliament agreed on, and the laws and customs of the same.”
Some of the points outlined in the 1689 Bill of Rights that granted Parliament more power
- 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
- No standing army may be maintained during peacetime without the consent of Parliament
- Parliaments should be held frequently
How could the revolution be seen as glorious?
Brought freedoms and opportunities for the people of England, and ended the absolute rule of the monarch
How could the revolution be seen as not glorious?
Freedoms granted only to some people, specifically the rich, who exploited colonies, removing the freedoms of people from other nations
Timeline of key events of the Jacobite / Williamite war in Ireland
1689-91
‘89 - March, James arrived in Ireland with 6,000 French troops (from King Louis). He passed a law in Dublin giving confiscated land back to former Catholic owners. He declared that the English Parliamed had no right to make laws governing Ireland
‘89 - April, Jacobite forces led by the Earl of Tyrconnell swept North, taking land from Protenstant plantation owners, and surrounded Protestants in Derry. William sent warships and troops
‘89 - 28 July, William’s ships broke the siege and freed the inhabitants
‘89 - Winter, Disease struck and killed one-third of William’s army
‘90 - 1 July, Battle of the Boyne. William wins crushing victory
‘91 - 12 July, Battle of Aughrim. Seven thousand men killed on both sides. William was the victor
‘91 - 3 October - Treaty of Limerick
What were the consequences of the war?
The Irishmen who fought for James were gived 3 choices:
1. Join William’s army
2. Return home
3. Continue fighting for James and be exiled
Jacobite land owners could keep their land if they swore allegience to William and Mary.
However, William did not exactly stick to oath - if the oath was not sworn within a set period of time, land was removed from Irish owners and given to an Englishman
The Penal Laws
- Persons of property could not enter into mixed religion marriages
Catholics could neither teach their children nor send them abroad - Catholic property was inherited equally among the sons unless one was a Protestant, in which case he received it all
- A Catholic could not inherit property if there was any Protestant heir
- A Catholic could not possess arms or a horse worth more than £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
- The heirarchy of the Catholic Church was banished or suppressed
- Catholics could not hold seats in the Irish Parliament (1692), hold public office (1727) or practice law
- Cases against Catholics were tried without juries, and bounties were given to informers against them
‘Parent Impositions’
1699 - The English woollen act - it became illegal for the Irish to export woollen cloth beyond the British Isles
1720 - The Declaratory Act - The British Parliament had the right to make laws fro Ireladn
1722-25 - The British Government gave the right to manufacture Irish halfpennies, to an English entrepeneur
Who were the ascendancy?
The wealthy Protestant class that ruled Ireland under the English.
What was the main difference in view between the Protestant Ascendancy and the English?
The Ascendancy saw Ireland as a sibling nation to England, whereas the English saw Ireland as more of a child. The Parent Impositions made it clear that the Irish had second-class status in England
Timeline to the Massacre of Glencoe and consequences
1691 - William announces all clans must swear the oath of fealty by the 1st of January 1692
Chief of Glencoe Alasdair MacLain made it to Fort William just in time but was told to go to another location to swear the oath - made it a day late but was told he could still swear the oath and be safe
1692 February MacDonald Clan of Glencoe hosted soldiers for 14 days before being murdered. 38 murdered, 40 more died from exposure. William made an example of the MacDonald clan
Scottish parliament blamed William, publishing proof that he had ordered the attack, forced him to open an investigation that did not lead to the arrest of any party.
Claim of Right
1689 published by Parliament - stated that James had lost the throne through his actions and that no Catholic could ever come to the throne again.
This upset the Jacobites.
Battle of Killicrankie
Scotland
July 1689 Jacobites rose up after the Claim of Right and won the battle, but a third of forces died and their leader was also lost
Battle of Dunkeld
Scotland
August 1689 Won by the Williamites due to the collapse of the rebellion through lack of leadership and troops.
Why was the Scottish economy poor in the 1690s?
Harvests failed, leading to severe famines - 1/5 - 1/3 of the population died or emigrated during this time, leading to less workers to fuel the economy.
The ministers of Scotland were appointed by the English King, who didn’t really care for Scottish growth, but more for what Scotland could do to fuel England’s economy.
English policies actively prevented the growth of the Scottish economy (Navigation Act - Scot ships could not be involved in any trade to England or the colonies / EIC, RAC granted monoply of trade in goods and enslaved people)
Why was the Darien Scheme a solution to Scotland’s economic problems?
If the Scots could successfully tame the Isthmus of Darien, they had access to control of trade between North and South America, giving them access to many trade points.
When did the Darien Scheme begin?
Ships set sail in 1698, carrying 1200 people, having had £400,000 invested in it - nearly a quarter of the entirety of Scotland’s cash wealth. Plan proposed by William Paterson.
Why did the Darien Scheme fail?
Mistakes by settlers - Poor supplies, inappropriate farming skills, lack of fresh water, settlement in an area regarded as part of the Spanish empire, failed negotiations with local tribe.
Conditions - Hot, humid, swampy, rapidly spreading disease that the settlers were not protected against.
English interference - Opposition from King William and EIC, withdrawal of support from English directors.
Act of Union for and against
1707
For:
High positions available for Scots in English Parliament
Greater protection from enemies
Guaranteed protestant rule
Free trade and improved economy
Against:
Loss of identity and independence
Rule by foreigners
Increased taxation
Act of Union impact on Military control
Protection of Scotland by Royal Navy
Standing army kept in Northern Scotland - constant threat
Highlanders not allowed to carry weapons
Act of Union impact on Economy
Trading improved
Higher rates of tax
Competition from more technologically advanced English makers
Money from Darien Scheme returned with interest
Smuggling became common
Act of Union impact on Society
Destruction of Highlander way of life
Regular protests about the union
Enclosure (privitisation of common land)
Education improves
Act of Union impact on Politics
George King of Britain
New career opportunities for Scot politicians
English appeal court overturning Scottish rulings - undermining Scot political power
Entire country represented by Secretary of State of Scotland
House of Lords dominated by Englishmen
Jacobite rebellion
1715
James Edward Francis Stuart (The Old Pretender) made a bid for power after the unconsulted coronation of George of Hanover
Earl of Mar organised an uprising 10,000 infantry and cavalry against government’s 4,000.
Rebellion ended after an inconclusive battle at Sheriffmuir
1716 The Old Pretender and Mar leave Scotland
Convict emigration 1688-c.1730
1640s and 50s Irish and Scottish political prisoners, Banished to the Americas
Scottish rebels after the 1715 rebellion, banished to North America / the Caribbean
Political enemies, men, women, and children from England, Scotland and particularly Ireland, 1718 Transportation Act (shipment of convited ciminals across the Atlantic), and removal of all groups the political system wanted gone. To Americas.
All groups ended up field workers, soldiers, a few set free by sympathetic people.
Worked on tobacco plantations, sold on arrival.
Indentured servants emigration 1688-c.1730s
Work opportunities, skilled workers who had something to offer who were so poor and desperate they would sell themselves into slavery across the sea to have a chance at freedom. Sent to the Americas or the Caribbean.
Temporary workers, who worked for 7-8 years before being freed (many did not survive this period because of conditions)
Ulster Scots emigration 1688-c.1730s
Emigrated to Ireland in hope of better weather and soil, due to the Treaty of Limerick - Scots settled on the land the Irish were forced to leave
Adventurers emigration 1688-c.1730s
All over the world, for trade opportunities, or jobs in the EIC, soldiers etc.
What impact did the transatlantic slave trade have on Britain?
Increased quantities of imports from West Indies and Americas
Increase in ideas of social darwinism - racism
Triangular trade - very efficient money making, greatly increased British economy strength. Boats are never empty and are therefore always making money, workers are all enslaved, so don’t have wages to be paid.
Why was piracy such a big issue for the British during the early 1700s?
Pirates would capture ships, leading to a loss of slaves, trading goods and therefore profit - losing even one ship could damage profits by a large amount. Overall, pirates cost traders around £100,000 worth of goods (£14mil now)
How did the government act against piracy?
1722 Act for the Suppression of Piracy - attack on pirates where many were captured and killed, and black pirates were forced into slavery
How did the RAC operate and how did this link to the monarchy?
Given complete monopoly of triangular trade by the royal charter, created by Stuart royal family for their own gain. Because they had shares in the company, they directly profited
What is the legacy of the RAC today?
‘Elephant and Castle’ common name for pubs / train stations.
Many countries in the commonweath asking for compensation
Treaty of Utrecht
1713 signed towards the end of the War of Spanish Succession.
Established Britain as the major slave-trading nation - granted them control of the Asiento (agreements to provide slaves to other countries).
From this point on Britain dominated the Atlantic Trade
Timeline of the Development of Plantation Systems
1620s - Barbados land starts being cleared for cultivation, Settlers clear land and experiment with crops on various islands.
1640s - Colonies switched from growing tobacco to growing sugar cane, which grew well in fertile, well watered soil. Richer landowners start buying land to create bigger plantations.
1690s - Trade in enslaved Africans opened up to private businesses. Tobacco plantations in Virginia and sugar plantations in Barbados were efficient, thriving businesses, setting an example for North American and Caribbean plantations
Labour force
Europeans : Africans
1676-1700 - 67,000 : 9,800
1701-25 - 42,000 : 37,000
1726-50 - 108,800 : 96,800
Journey conditions: extreme physical violence and violation, claustrophobic conditions, disease ridden, many dying, not allowed any freedom or privacy.
Treatment of indentured workers: Were more likely to have a positive outlook so could be worked harder as they believed there was a better life waiting for them after labour. Treated very poorly and many died of disease.
What is a plantocracy?
Societies controlled and governed by and for the planters, supported by military force and the law. This term was used to describe the Caribbean and North American colonies.
Advantages of enslaved African workers
Coped better with climate, so lived longer. Agricultural skills had been developed in a similar climate.
More resourceful - looked after themselves
Faster at aquiring skills
More productive
Cheaper to clothe and maintain
High numbers needed and supplied
Skin colour made them easier to identify
Could be sold on
Disadvantages of European servants
High death rate
Unable to work well in environment
Agricultural skill from a completely different environment
Could be unpredictable and dangerous, especially convicts
Often ran away (as did the Africans, but they were easier to identify)
Temporary
As wages rose in England, indentured servants became more expensive
3 periods of the EIC
1600-88 (start) EIC given monopoly of English trade and begins to set up bases, Relationships with emperor break down, Anglo-Mughal war embarrasses EIC and makes British hated in India
88-1700 (shame) EIC loses English supporters and monopoly. Less profit generated as government made it illegal to bring in Asian silk or cotton for the sakes of local workers
02-30 (gain) EIC merges with newer company, continues as it had before and now also has military power. Uses death of emperor to gain power until they actually rule India
How and why did the British economy change?
1688-mid1700s, small class of rich people accummulating vast amounts of wealth.
1694 government needed money for wars and economy growth - bank of England set up and credit system introduced. Government raised money by taxing people and giving companies a monopoly within the empire (credit system = loaning money that people have put in the bank and earning higher interest on it to be able to give the investers interest on their money). Companies agreed to higher taxes if they could have monopoly.
South Sea Bubble
South Sea Company was a joint-stock company set up to trade with South America.
1713 given monopoly of slave-trade.
Jan 1720, shares worth £128. To encourage investment, directors began to spread false rumors that the company was making huge profits, to drive up the share price. By May, shares were worht £550.
June, Government introduced the Bubble Act - prevented the company from competition, made investors more confident, drove share prices up to £1050.
July, people began to realise that the shares were overpriced and started to try to sell of their shares, sending the prices down rapidly, people who had bought shares at the height of the bubble lost huge sums of money and many were financially ruined.
How did the Empire affect working lives?
Increase in jobs available, as more trade meant more products being manufactured, more dock jobs created, more suppliers needed etc.
Everyday people benefitted. Coastal areas became trading hubs.
Trading hubs
Liverpool, Bristol, London
All have streets, banks and other locations named after the legacy of the slave trade, as that’s where all the starting wealth came from. As coastal areas (or areas with good ports / natural ports), they could generate a lot of wealth by being trading hubs, where imports and exports were shipped off the various locations.
Coffee shops
Coffee shops became the places where decisions were made in politics, where rich folk could go for a talk and also where not so pious activity happened (e.g. some coffee houses were places of sale of enslaved africans.)
Coffee houses were soon so common, business areas could have one per street.
They became more common as coffee became more popular with the wealthy.
As well as political ideas, coffee houses were also places were New Enlightenment ideas of freedom of thought and ideas and human rights were disucced. Pamphlets and broadsheets were shared, as it was where the wealthy who could make a difference would gather.
