Power And The People Flashcards
What was the feudal system
King rules country, grants land to nobles, who give the king loyalty and service
What was the feudal king expected to be like
A strong leader, excellent warrior, and to consult his barons
Why didn’t King John live up to the barons aims- 4 reasons
1) argued with church, 2) increased tax, 3) poor in war, 4) was incompetent
Result of King John arguing with church
The pope ended up banning church services; people were afraid they would go to hell because of John
How did King John increase tax, why did this upset the barons?
He increased scutage (tax paid in lieu of military aid) to pay for his wars, but kept losing, so barons felt like they were losing money
How was King John poor in war?
He lost Normandy in 1204, losing the barons’ land, and earned the nickname “Softsword”
When did King John lose Normandy?
1204
How long had English Kings held Normandy until King John lost it?
1066
Why was King John seen as incompetent
He even lost the crown jewels in marshes near the Wash
Why did the barons want the Magna Carta?
They were fed up with John’s poor kingship
How did the barons enforce King John signing the Magna Carta
They raised an army; he didn’t have one so had to sign it
When did King John sign the Magna Carta
15th June 1215
Where did King John sign the Magna Carta
Runnymede
What were the main two aims of the Magna Carta?
Stop unfair taxation and to stop arrest without trial
What were the lesser aims of the Magna Carta (4)
Ensure a baron’s heir inherited his land; let the Church make its own appointments; protect merchants; create a group of 25 barons to monitor the King
Was the Magna Carta significant in the short term?
Not really
Why wasn’t the Magna Carta significant in the short term (2)
John only agreed to avoid civil war and later went back on his word- the civil war restarted and only ended when he died // It had limited scope as it only covered the barons relationship to the king, not ordinary people who weren’t freemen such as peasants and villeins
What year did King John die?
1216
Which new king agreed to the Magna Carta after John
Henry III (he was 9 at the time)
Was the Magna Carta significant in the long term?
Yes
Why was the Magna Carta significant in the long term(4)
As more people became free, it applied to more people // it established the idea that a king has responsibilities to the people and could be held to account // it became a symbol of the power of the people // it was the beginning of democracy
Example of later movements drawing from the Magna Carta
Benjamin Franklin, during the American Revolution, asserted his rights “as declared by the Magna Carta” to challenge unfair taxation
Why were the barons unhappy with King Henry III
He ruled unpredictably and lived extravagantly, meaning he was always short on money; he lost two major wars in France; listened to only a few advisers -> the barons were afraid of history repeating itself as with his father John
What were the Provisions of Oxford
A demand for a new form of government, created by the barons under the leadership of Simon de Montford
What did the Provisions of Oxford entail (4)
Fifteen barons would be in the Great Council, elected by 24 men, twelve chosen by the king and 12 by the barons // foreign members would be banished from the royal household // castles would be held by englishmen // each county would have a sheriff and taxes would be collected locally
What did the Provisions of Oxford mean?
The barons had more decision-making power than the King, who was accountable
Who lead the barons with the Provisions of Oxford
Simon de Montford
When were the Provisions of Oxford presented
1258
Why didn’t King Henry III sign the Provisions of Oxford
The barons were divided, and he could see it
What did the barons do after Simon de Montford didn’t sign the Provisions of Oxford
They asked Simon de Montford to lead an army against the king
In which battle did Simon de Montford win against the King?
The Battle of Lewes
What did Simon de Montford do after capturing the King in the Battle of Lewes
He reissued the Magna Carta and the Provisions of Oxford
Why did the turn on Simon de Montford
They thought he was too powerful
How did Simon de Montford try to increase support after the barons turned on him
He asked commoners, merchants and nights, to attend the meeting of the Great Council. This was England’s first parliament, the first time commoners were consulted on national matters.
Why were the barons furious after Simon de Montford’s first parliament?
He did not consult them over inviting commoners, they felt he was acting like a King, so switched support back to Henry III
How did Simon de Montford die
The King’s forces (now the barons were on his side) overwhelmed his own at the Battle of Evesham
In which battle did Simon de Montford die
The Battle of Evesham
How was Simon de Montford and his parliament significant in the short term
The next king, Edward, knew he couldn’t demand money from the barons, so called the Model Parliament to raise money
How was Simon de Montford and his parliament significant in the long term (4)
Parliament included commoners (though not peasants) // established the principle that parliament should be called to raise taxes // became a symbol of democratic principles // martyr for freedom and encouraged people to rebel about unfair rule
When did the Black Death arrive in England
1348
How much of the population did the Black Death kill
1/3
Which part of the population were most impacted by the Black Death
The peasants, AKA the majority of the population
What were the consequences of most peasants being killed by the Black Death?
They could choose who they worked for and for what price, angering lords who lost power and control over the peasants, who were also scared of their crops failing and income decreasing
What law did King Edward III pass to control the peasants after the Black Death?
The Statute of Labourers
What did the Statute of Labourers entai?
Peasants had to work for their pre-black death wages
Why did government revenue fall after the black death?
because the decreased population meant less people paying taxes
Why did King Richard II introduce poll tax?
The government had little money after the Black Death, and he needed money to fight a war with France
What was the medieval poll tax
Everyone had to pay the same: 1 shilling and 4 pence
Why was the medieval poll tax devestating for the peasants?
It was over two weeks’ worth of a labourers wages
When did villagers in Kent and Essex refuse to pay the poll tax and threaten the tax collecter
30 May 1381
What was the Tax collector threatened by villagers in Kent and Essex called
John Bampton
When did the Chief Justice attempt to collect poll tax from the villagers of Kent and Essex, but instead had his clerk beheaded
2 June 1381
When did the rebel peasants free John Ball, a radical priest and kill the Archbishop of Canterbury
7 June 1381
When did the peasant’s revolt reach london?
13 June 1381
