Power and the people Flashcards
How was the medieval society structured
Built on feudal system meaning King ruled the country but granted land to nobles (barons) who provided services in return e.g. loyalty and maintaining law and order
How did people expect King John to be
Strong and a good leader like his father however he was actually a poor leader of war
What caused the Magna Carta to be created
John caused unrest among barons by raising taxes to pay for wars, in return they presented a list of demands (m.c)
What were the main demands of the Magna Carta and how did John respond
Mainly about taxation and unfair unrest, he refused to accept demands and went to civil war and barons won
When was the Magna Carta signed
1215
How was the Magna Carta significant in the short term
Didn’t solve problem as he went back on his word however the fact that these issues were raised shows barons were thinking about their human rights
How was the Magna Carta significant in the long term
As more people became free, it applied to more people, it became a symbol of peoples power and was often referred back to
Relationship between Henry (successor of John) and Simon De Montfort
1232 Simon made promise of loyalty to Henry and faught wars on his behalf, Henry put him on trial several times for his actions but let him off
What led to Simon capturing the King and his son
Henry refused to sign the provisions of Oxford (requested by Simon) which would’ve let the barons have more power over decision making. As a result the Barons wanted a civil war against the King and Simon agreed, they captured the king
How did Simon De Montfort die
Simon was effectively in charge but many thought him too powerful and turned against him, to raise support he started the great council but barons angry as he didn’t ask their permission. Barons switched sides and Simon killed in battle of Evesham
Significance of Simon De Montfort
His parliament was first to include commoners which encouraged Henry to do the same
Became a symbol of democratic principles that were more fully realised hundreds of years later
What caused the peasants revolt
Richard II introduced poll tax meaning everyone had to pay 1 shilling 4 pence for their house in tax and in 1381 villager is Kent and Essex attacked a tax collector after refusing to pay the tax
What did the rebels do after attacking the tax collector
20,000 peasants rebelled and freed rebel priest John Ball from prison and asked Wat Tyler to be leader.
They burned records, attacked clerks and killed the archbishop of canterbury
What happened when the rebels reached London
They continued burning things down
Tyler met with the King and demanded for all men to be free and equal but was killed by a supporter of the King
To prevent riot, the King agreed but went back on his word
When was the peasants revolt
1381
Significance of the peasants revolt
First time commoners had rebelled against royal powers, scaring King and his nobles
Peasants were never taxed so heavily again and wage continued to rise
What caused the Pilgrimage of Grace
Henry VIII angry with pope for refusing his divorce so set up on church of England and stopped paying the pope taxes, dissolved monasteries and sold monastery land to the gentry limiting church’s power and making Henry rich
What did the people do in response to Henry VIII
1536 uprising in Lincolnshire led by Lawyer Robert Aske, called a pilgrimage as it was peaceful. they demanded England return to Catholicism, 8000 pilgrims captured towns
What did Henry do in response to the Pilgrimage
Sent Catholic Duke to negotiate, assuring them the King would listen and invited Aske to his house, rebels went home.
Jan 1537 northern uprising so as a warning 74 rebels hanged and Aske executed
Significance of the Pilgrimage of Grace
No more religious rebellions took place during Henry’s reign and Henry now had full control of the country (absolute monarch)
When was the Pilgrimage of Grace
1536
Religious causes of the English civil war
Strong anti-Catholic mood in country after Henry
Many accused Charles of trying to unite Catholics and Protestants after new Catholic prayer book introduced
Also accused of favouring Catholics as he was married to one
Political causes of the English civil war
Charles believed in Divine right so didn’t call parliament for 11 years, was forced to call it in 1640 to raise taxes to fund wars against the Scots who opposed new prayer book
Economical causes of the English civil war
MPs didn’t trust Charles as he’d raised taxes without parliament for long time so demanded parliament take control of the army. They drew up the Grand Remonstrance of complaints and demands
What was ship money
A way for Charles to make money. He was entitled to impose ship money on coastal countries during time of war to help protect them and pay for the navy
What problems did ship money cause
Many refused to pay, causing unrest, those who refused were sent untried to prison e.g. John Hampden
What did parliament demand from Charles
Abolition of ship money, parliaments control of army and parliament being the only ones able to dissolve parliament, also grand remonstrance (204 clauses)
How did the civil war begin
Due to such opposition, Charles forced to leave London and set up battle standard in Nottingham. Civil war began in 1642
Who created the new model army and when
Oliver Cromwell in 1645, also known as ‘Army of God’
What was the new model army
Fully professional army, many soldiers and strong religious views, though god was on their side
This army made the decisive breakthrough in the war and captured the king
Charles’ trial
MPs divided over how to treat Charles, army rejected 300 MPs leaving only a Rump who put the king on trial
Charles’ execution
He was found guilty of high treason and executed on 30th January 1649
What did Charles’ execution mean
Charles was the first King that’s been abolished to not be replaced by a monarch, England declared a commonwealth from 1649-1660
What did Oliver Cromwell do straight after the execution
He ended Catholic rebellion in Ireland, imprisoned Levellers and marginalised Diggers.
By 1650 Cromwell and army leaders in control of parliament and the country
What made Cromwell unpopular
He tried hard to establish stable rule but his strict puritan rule made him unpopular as he closed theatres, banned Christmas and stopped women wearing makeup
How was the monarchy restored
The ‘Glorious revolution’ in 1688 saw William of Orange (married to Charles’ niece) become King as long as he ruled along side parliament
What was the American revolution
British government wouldn’t agree to America’s demand of ‘no taxation without representation’ so 12 American colonies met in Philadelphia and issued a declaration of independence from Britain in 1783
Significance of the American revolution
British empire grew and took over Australia, New Zealand and India, also industrial revolution
First time colony had rejected rule by a European power and influenced French revolution
What were rotten boroughs
Areas that had very few people living there yet still had MPs whereas Birmingham had many people living there but no MP
What was wrong with the electoral system in the early 1800s
Corrupt and out of date, rotten boroughs, only people who owned property could vote and no secret ballot so people often intimidated or bribed
When was the Peterloo Massacre
1819
What happened in the Peterloo Massacre
After Nepoleonic wars, government ^ corn prices so meeting held in Manchester to hear Henry Hunt call for reformation of parliament
Was peaceful but scared authorities so soldiers sent ans killed 11 people, injuring 400
Government then introduced Six Acts banning meetings of more than 50 people. asking for reform became treason
When was the reform act
1832
What was the reform act
Radicals felt if contributing to the economy then should be able to vote so Lord Grey introduced R.A but was blocked by house of Lords but became scared of revolution so passed the reform bill
What did the Reform act mean
Redistributed MPs (removed rotten boroughs) so industrial towns now represented, merchants and factory owners could vote but still had to own property to vote so working class unhappy
What did the Chartists demand
Votes for all men over 21, secret ballots, equal electoral districts, payments for MPs etc.
Were the Chartists successful
They presented their Great Petition to parliament in 1848 claiming they had 5 million signatures but many were forged. Was never agreed to by the government
What were the corn laws
Government introduced corn laws making bread expensive which helped the landowners but hurt the poor
Who were the anti-corn law league
They used pamphlets and meetings to protest. Were best organised protest group ever
Bad harvests led to famine in 1845 allowing the p.m to convince parliament to repel corn laws in 1846
What did Robert Owen do to improve factory conditions
Introduced 8 hour day and opened schools for child workers
What did Titus Salt do to improve factory conditions
He built a whole town for his workers
What did Lord Shaftesbury do
He was an MP and spent his life campaigning for reform and was asked to lead factory reform in 1833
Passed factory act, mines act and became leader of ragged schools union which educated poorer children
How did workers help themselves in the 19th century
Friendly societies- every member contributed each week then drew out money if they hit hard times
Trade societies- specialist craftsmen organised into these groups to control quality and maintain prices
violence- some workers destroyed machines that took their jobs
What were the combination acts
Passed by government in 1800 preventing workers and employers combining
Robert Owen tried to start a trade union combining workers and employers but it failed however worried the government
Who were the Tolpuddle Martyrs
1834, 6 farm workers in Tolpuddle tried to form trade union when employer cut their wages
Arrested as made their members sign path which was illegal, all sentenced to 7 years in Australia
200,000 people attended a protest in London demanding their release
Was granted and was a turning point
Master and Servants Act 1823
Said it was illegal to break contract with employer i.e. go on strike and this was used to weaken unions
When was education made compulsery
1870
When was the secret ballot introduced
1872
Match girl’s strike
Annie Besant helped girls working in match factory who weren’t being payed enough, poor working conditions (phossy jaw). She helped formulate list of demands and took 50 of them to parliament to demand fairer wage
After 5 weeks most demands met, first time unskilled women had gone on strike and won
Formation of Labour party
Formed in 1893 as result of strikes. Before this workers tended to vote for liberal party but they weren’t doing enough
General strike 1926
After the war, mines given back to owners, demand for coal fell and wages decreased, working hours increased so TUC called general strike which lasted 9 days, after union membership fell dramatically and strike failed.
Sympathy strikes and picketing were banned in 1927
Union decline
1979 Margaret Thatcher became conservative p.m and introduced laws reducing union power. She banned flying pickets and fine unions for losses
Miner’s strike 1984-85
1984 NCB announced they were closing 20 mines resulting in 20,000 jobs lost
Arthur Scargill (leader of NUM) called for strike in the mines still open
Strike lasted 1 year and cost £3 billion and many mining villages left permanently scarred
In the Victorian era, how were women viewed
Women belonged at home and working-class women expected to work and do everything at home Law favoured men who could file for divorce, own property and most could vote
Suffragists
Formed in 1897 (NUWSS) led by Millicent Fawcett
Used peaceful methods; marches, meetings and petitions
Gained support from many MPs but were always defeated and some thought progress too slow
Suffragettes
1903 Emmeline Pankhurst broke away from NUWSS and formed Suffragettes, took direct action; smashed windows, heckled at meetings, set fire to post boxes
Belived in ‘Deeds not words’
Many thought they were too extreme and they lost some support
Women during the war
Suffragettes suspended campaign, encouraging women to help with the war effort
War changed attitudes and 1918 women over 30 could vote
Why was the vote not given to women over 21
There would be too high women : men ratio as so many young men died during the war
Dagenham strike
1968 Women at ford factory went on strike as only paid 85% of what men are for same job
Had no support from colleagues so persuaded local union for support and other factories joined in the strike, lasted 3 weeks and then earned 92% of men
