Power and The People Flashcards
Why did the barons hate King John?
Scutage (high taxes) - to pay for wars, also kept losing wars
Poor war leader - Lost important land in France, nicknamed ‘softsword’
Argued with the Pope, so Pope banned church services, made people fear they’d go to hell
What are the events of the Magna Carta?
Met at Runneymede 1215
Signed barons’ demands (63 promises they want King John to keep) - agreed to stop unfair taxation, ensure baron inherited his land, prevent arrest without trial, create group of 25 barons to monitor king
What is the short term significance of the Magna Carta?
First time a king had been forced to agree legal limits on his power, putting barons in more powerful position
Made King subject to law and consent given before taxes imposed
Reinforced right to free and fair trial
Only barons involved in dispute and John never intended to keep Magna Carta - temporary agreement while rebuilding forces
What is the long term significance of the Magna Carta?
Referred back to when people defend their rights against government/ assert rights to free and fair trial
Idea grew that Kings subject to law too
Symbolic, and seen as powerful icon for freedom - influenced US Constitution of 1787.
What were the issues between King Henry III and the barons?
Close ties with French, due to marriage - alarmed barons as English severely disliked french
Alarm increased once allowed french men into parliament - felt England coming under foreign rule
Angered with schemes e.g. lost two major wars in France - De Montfort becoming spokesperson, refused to fund schemes
Henry now needed support from barons but they did not support increased taxes
Who is Simon De Montfort?
Earl of Leicester from 1239 until death
Worked for king - eventually led rebellion - resulted in Second Baron’s War
Died Battle of Evesham, 1265, fighting against King
What was the Great Council in 1258?
Simon De Montfort led barons in calling a Great Council where forced king to agree to Provisions of Oxford. Demanded foreign members of royal household to be banished, castle held by Englishmen, and 15 barons in the Great Council
What is significant about the Battle of Lewes, 1264?
Henry refused to sign Provisions of Oxford, so De Montfort led army.
Used military strength instead of negotiating , were victorious
England on its way to becoming republic as de Montfort captured king and imprisoned son.
Without King, de Montfort in charge
What did Simon de Montfort do once barons thought he had become too powerful and turned against him?
To gain support, which was lacking from powerful barons, invited burgesses and knights from every county to attend meeting of Great Council. First time commoners were consulted on national matters
(England’s first Parliament)
Why did the Barons turn against de Montfort and what then happened?
thought he was ruling as an autocrat, and concerned with own interests
Began to put support behind Henry - Prince Edward (son) released and raised army
Battle of Evesham, 1265 - de Montfort hacked down on battlefield - body pieces sent around England as warning
Why was the Parliament of 1265 significant?
First time ordinary people invited to have their say - inclusion of knights and burgesses known as Commons
Showed how de Montfort lost power due to lack of support from barons
Explain the significance of Simon de Montfort for the development of a democratic government [8 marks]
Led barons who called Great Council against Henry 1258 - King agreed to Provisions of Oxford - more power to barons and less to king, could not make decisions without approval of council
Expanded political voice during invitation of Commoners to Parliament - increased those involved in government
Longer term:
Legacy for creating parliament
Once Prince Edward became King - instead of demanding money, called many parliaments to raise funds required
1295, Lords invited to attend parliament but commoners elected. Shows significance for democratic government as this element of society never lost in long term.
What was the cause of the Peasants Revolt?
Black Death of 1348 killed 1/3 of people in England, creating shortage of labour
- surviving peasants could chose who they worked for and for what price - Angered lords
- Edward III passed Statute of Labourers in 1351 to try and control the peasants - forced them to work for pre- Black Death wages
- Gov revenue from taxes fell due to decreased population.
- Richard II introduced Poll Tax to raise funds for war with France - everyone pay 1 shilling, 4 pence = 2 weeks wages for labourer
What were the events of the Peasants Revolt?
May/June 1381 - villagers in Kent and Essex refused to pay Poll Tax, threatened tax collector and beheaded his clerks
Rebels freed radical priest John Ball from prison (criticised church as thought exploiting peasants)
John Ball + Wat Tyler gathered large group rebels, marched into London, killing Archbishop on way
14th June Richard II met Tyler and rebels at Smithfield
Demanded all peasants made freemen, Richard agreed but rebels went on killing spree
15th June met again, demanded changes to law and for church lands to be given to people
Supporter of Richard killed Wat Tyler
Richard promised to grant rebels request on revolt over
What was the short term significance of the Peasants Revolt?
First time commoners rather than nobles rebelled against royal power - scared King and nobles
Rebellion failed, Richard went back on promise, leaders of revolt hanged, John Balls body cut into pieces, head stuck on spike of London Bridge
What was the long term significance of the Peasants Revolt?
Poll Tax never repeated, although similar charges, and taxes never as high again
Worker’s wages began to rise as still lack of workers, meant peasants could demand higher wages.
Landowners agreed as needed workers
Parliament stopped trying to control workers wages
Ideas of John Ball were picked up again in later centuries by different groups such as, Levellers of 17th century, and socialists of early 19th century
What were the causes of the Pilgrimage of Grace, 1536?
People disliked changes made to church - Henry dissolved the monasteries and sold off the land and assets to make himself rich
Monasteries provided education, alms and centre of peoples lives
Many feared pace of religious change - in favour of traditional Catholic faith and also anger that Catherine of Aragon had been divorced and princess Mary declared illegitimate
Henrys religious changes cause political problems - many prominent nobles lost influence. Fell out of favour as they were Catholics. Disliked Cromwell, creator of new religious policies who was son of blacksmith
People protesting due to economic hardship - poor harvest in 1535 and 1536 raised food prices and caused inflation which meant prices went up. At same time Henry raised taxes, so people felt threatened by poverty. Not just about religious disputes - more about taxes and food prices
What were the events of the Pilgrimage of Grace?
1536, uprising broke out in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire by devout Christians against changes to Church, led by lawyer Robert Aske
Called Pilgrimage of grace to show peaceful intentions
8000 pilgrims captured towns in north
Demanded monasteries restored, Pope recognised s head of church, and dismiss Cromwell and other ministers giving King poor advice
Henry VIII sent Duke of Norfolk, a Catholic, to negotiate, and rebels went home. Believed demands had been granted, such as no more monasteries closed down and a Parliament at York. And all rebels be pardoned
1537, revolt broke out again and rebels attacked castles in north. Henry used as excuse to take back pardon and concessions, decided to crush north, executing 216 people, including 38 monks. Robert Aske hanged in chains in York in July 1537
What was the significance of the Pilgrimage of grace?
Had been serious threat to Henry VIII’s rule, as most levels of society were involved - lords, knights, gentry and commoners. For a time, 50,000 armed men in north England involved
Was total failure - rebels accelerated changes they had tried to stop
No more religious rebellions took place in England during Henry VIII’s reign - Henry had control of country and ended power of Catholic Church in England - position stronger
Henry dissolved rest of monasteries in 1539
Why were people unhappy about Henrys changes?
Rising prices: continued to rise under Henry
Changed to religion: many disliked changes - wanted monasteries back and Pope as head of Church
Landowners lost influence: landowners who were advisors to King lost favour after divorce. Had been supporters of Catherine and felt pushed out. Blamed Cromwell
Cromwells power: seen as creator of new religion policies. Son of Blacksmith, not seen as good enough to advise King
Why did Henry change the Church?
During reign, saw Pope as competing power and wanted people to listen to him instead of Pope. Also wanted to divorce Catherine of Aragon - Pope wouldn’t allow
Dissolving monasteries meant Henry gained a lot more money and no longer had to pay tax to Pope
The English Civil War
What happened?
King Charles and Parliament in conflict about where power lay.
Civil War then broke out in 1642
By 1649 Charles was defeated and executed and England was declared a Commonwealth
How was England ruled up to 1660?
as a Republic with no monarch, by Oliver Cromwell during most of the period.
After his death, monarchy restored in 1660 with Charles I’s son, Charles II being called out of exile abroad made monarch
How did Charles ideas lead to the deterioration of relations between Charles and Parliament and descent to civil war?
Believed in Divine Right of Kings (had right to rule without Parliament as appointed by God)
What are the examples of Charles ideas causing conflict between him and Parliament?
Raised taxes without consulting Parliament as was required.
Chose a Catholic wife without consulting Parliament.
Parliament believed they had a rightful and legitimate role to introduce legislation and agree taxes, and Charles was exceeding his authority
How did Charles Religion lead to the deterioration of relations between Charles and Parliament and descent to civil war?
Charles was a High Church Protestant with Catholic learnings
Parliament mostly strict Puritan Protestants who were suspicious of Catholicism as a foreign influence
What are the examples of Charles religion causing conflict between him and Parliament?
Appointed Archbishop Laud as Archbishop of Canterbury, who had Catholic learnings too and introduced a new prayer book in 1537 which caused uproar amongst the people and parliament and particularly upset the Scots who went to war with England about it.
How did Charles Money lead to the deterioration of relations between Charles and Parliament and descent to civil war?
Charles inherited debt and disliked going to parliament to raise revenue through taxation
What are the examples of Charles money causing conflict between him and Parliament?
Upset parliament and people by raising taxes such as Ship Money, and making all counties pay the increased tax, when Ship money was only supposed by coastal counties in time of war
Some individuals such as John Hampden protested and refused to pay.
How did Parliament respond to Charles causing the situation to deteriorate?
in later years, Parliament responded harshly, also causing the situation to deteriorate:
1640: Charles forced to recall Parliament to raise money to fund war against Scots.
Parliament presented Charles with list of demands which would reduce his power
Charles forced to agree as needed money
1641: new list of demands called Grand Remonstrate presented to him by parliament to further reduce power
1642: Final set of demands called 19 Propositions led Charles to refuse and divided Parliament - most thought King exceeding authority but some more radical than others
What was included in the first list of demands given to Charles in 1640?
reversing Archbishop Laud’s religious reforms, no taxes without Parliament’s agreement
What was the second list of demands given to Charles in 1641 called?
Grand Remonstrate
What was included in the third list of demands given to Charles in 1642?
Parliament controls army,
all ministers approved by parliament
Parliament control church and education of King’s children
What was the Civil War?
August 1642 the 2 sides gathered armies and when Charles raised his standard in Nottingham, war had broken out
King’s supporters: Royalists or Cavaliers
Parliament: Parliamentarians or Roundheads
Royalists defeated and by 1649, King on trial for High Treason - acting in his own personal interest against interest of country
What factors helped Parliament win and shape attitudes towards future?
New Model Army
Levellers at the Putney Debates
Diggers
What did the New Model Army involve? And how influential was it?
first fully professional
many soldiers were veterans of other battles
soldiers well paid
had an immediate military impact, was decisive factor in winning the war for parliament
What did the Levellers at the Putney Debates involve? And how influential was it?
Programme involved abolition of the Church, ending of monopolies and implementation of rule of law - no one should be above justice
Army leaders and conservative parliamentarians thought things getting out of hand, Cromwell imposed rule that only property owners could vote
What did the Diggers involve? And how influential was it?
Radical group - believed property was theft, and equality could be achieved by communities planting and digging crops together - wanted abolition of private property
Planted vegetables on common land near Weybridge, other groups followed by suit in different parts of country
What are the key dates for the English Revolution?
1642-1649 - The English Civil War
1649 - The execution of Charles I
1649-1660 - England ruled without a king, first by parliament, then Oliver Cromwell, then by army
1660 - Monarchy restored: Charles II invited to be King by Parliament
1685 - James II became King. Favoured Catholics, so very unpopular with Parliament
1688 - William of Orange, protestant married to James II daughter, invited by Parliament and leading army generals to become King - would rule through parliament (Glorious Revolution)
Explain the short term significance of the execution of Charles I
England had no monarch for 11 years, 1649 - 1660
Sudden shift of power from monarchy to Parliament
Extremely significant at time as previously, England always had a king
However, monarchy reinforced its power in 1660 when Charles II became king and Cromwell ruled increasingly as if he were a king
Explain the long term significance of the execution of Charles I
Made the glorious revolution possible:
William and Mary forced to sign the Bill of Rights when became King and Queen
Ultimately gave Parliament power over monarchy
If Charles not executed, may have still been King meaning William and Mary wouldn’t have had to replace James
What were the consequences of the English Revolution?
Commonwealth set up after Charles’ execution - rare for a world dominated by kings
By 1650, Cromwell and the conservative army leaders were firmly in control of the country -radical groups like the Diggers and the Levellers were marginalised
After the Glorious Revolution, Parliament became ever-more powerful, kings would never be able to do anything without consulting it again
What is the short term significance of the English Revolution?
Rebellion divided the nation - royalist and parliamentarians
King found guilty of treason and executed on 30th of January 1649. Thus it was a successful overthrow of monarch
Charles not replaced by another king. For 11 years country was a republic with no monarch
What is the long term significance of the English Revolution?
Although the monarchy was restored, it was still only with the consent of Parliament.
The Civil War cemented the House of Commons’ independence from the monarchy
Civil War inspired certain groups, Levellers, Diggers, that would inspire future movements that called for political and social change
