Political Nation (S1.1) Flashcards
What was the Political Nation?
People in early-modern Britain who had economic, political and social influence.
> Economic influence was the most important (i.e. landowning) as it built political and social influence.
Who was at the head of the Political Nation?
The monarch.
Who are the six monarchs of Stuart Britain?
James I (1603-1625)
Charles I (1625-1649)
Charles II (1660-1685)
James II (1685-1688)
William III (1689-1701) and Mary II (1689-1694)
What is prerogative?
Prerogative is the power of the Crown, derived from the idea that the divine right to rule is given by God to monarchs.
> Right to call and dissolve Parliament, and declare war
What is a subsidy, and what did it come in the form in?
A form of economic support; a sum of money to promote or aid Crown policies, such as warfare.
> Came in the form of parliamentary taxation.
What were the four main types of income for the Crown?
Crown lands
Customs duties
Feudal duties
Parliamentary subsidy
What were Crown lands?
These were leased out for rent, but often on long leases which did not keep up with inflation. Income had also declined because of sales of land by Elizabeth
What was wardship?
This was the King’s right to act as guardian to the children of tenants who died before the child was old enough to inherit; Profits could be made from administrating the estate
What was livery?
This was the King’s right to recieve a gift of money (set by him) from those who inherited land from him in feudal tenancy.
How did marriage monetarily benefit the Crown?
This was the King’s right to arrange marriages for the female heirs of tenants or the remarriage of widows.
What was purveyance?
This was the King’s right to buy food and supplies for the Court at reduced prices
What was tonnage and poundage?
These were custom duties on wine and wool, normally granted to the King for life by his first Parliament
What were impositions?
These were new import duties which the King was entitled to raise to protect English trade and industry.
Why was prerogative income a problem for Parliament?
It meant that a monarch could become financially self-sufficient, leading to further absolutism / no need to call Parliament
What was the concept of the ‘Great Chain of Being’?
Monarch was positioned as God’s direct representative on Earth, giving rise to the doctrine of the Divine Right of Kings.
> People were born into social ranks, and mobility was incredibly difficult, if not impossible; maintained that it was for the benefit of all to accept what social position God had placed them in.
What link did the monarch have to the Church?
The monarch was the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, and had total authority over the direction of religious policy.
