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
When did rebel peasants meet with Richard II and demand all villeins to be made free
14 June 1381
When did peasant’s demand more changes to the law (such as for Church land to be given to the people), Wat Tyler be killed, and the king agree to their demands (to prevent a riot)
15 June 1381
Was it just peasants in the peasant’s revolt
No, it also included freemen, constables and reeves but they were ALL COMMONERS, the first time commoners rebelled
What was the short term significance of the peasants’ revolt (3)
Mixed, the King went back on his word and hanged hundreds of rebels, including John Ball, however it deeply scared the King and Nobles, the government also began persecuting the Lollards, the group of christians that John Ball belonged to for the next century
What did John Ball preach
That all men should be equal
Long term significance of the peasants’ revolt (3)
Peasants were never taxed so heavily again, peasants wages continued to rise, many nobles treated peasants better and many ended up being freed
Why did Henry VIII resent the Catholic church
The pope refused to let him divorce Catherine of Aragon; and they had power and wealth in England, which he wanted some of
How did Henry VIII respond to his struggle with the Catholic church?
He made a new church, the Church of England, with him as head, and dissolved the monasteries, selling the land to the gentry
When did Henry VIII dissolve the monasteries
The 1530s
What societal problems did Henry VIII’s religious changes cause (4)
Social problems, political problems, economic problems and religious problems
How did Henry VIII’s religious changes cause social problems
The church was the centre of people’s social lives, but was now gone
How did Henry VIII’s religious changes cause political problems
Some nobles lost influence, some gained it, the balance was lost and resentment built up
How did Henry VIII’s religious changes cause economic problems
The dissolution of the monasteries came with an increase in tax
How did Henry VIII’s religious changes cause religious problems
Many people preferred Catholicism and resented the change
When did the Pilgrimage of Grace begin
1536
Over changes to which church did the Pilgrimage of Grace becagin over
the Church in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire
Who led the Pilgrimage of Grace
Robert Aske, a lawyer
Why did rebels call it the “Pilgrimage of Grace”
To show that they had peaceful intentions
What were the demands of the Pilgrimage of Grace protesters
England should return to Catholicism, Henry should fire his corrupt ministers
How many were involved in the Pilgrimage of Grace
8,000
What did Pilgrimage of Grace rebels do to get attention
Captured towns in the North
Who did Henry VIII send to negotiate with the Pilgrims
The Duke of Norfolk, because he was Catholic
How did Pilgrims respond to the Duke of Norfolk’s assurance that the King would listen
They went home, thinking it was over
When did the Pilgrims rebel a second time
January 1437
What did the Pilgrims do as their second rebellion
Attacked castles in the north
How did the Duke of Norfolk react to the Pilgrims’ second rebellion
He hanged 74 rebels
How many rebels did the Duke of Norfolk hang?
74
What happened to Robert Aske after the second rebellion
He was summoned to London, immediately arrested, and executed
Short term significance of the Pilgrimage of Grace (3)
No more religious rebellion’s during Henry’s reign // Henry diminished Catholic power in England, allowing his successor Edward to make more protestant changes // Henry had total control of the country
Long term significance of the Pilgrimage of Grace
Not much, but could have been influential to the creation of Elizabeth’s Poor Laws, which provided help for people after the dissolution of the monasteries, and therefore the welfare state 400 years later
How long did Charles I rule without calling Parliament
11 years
When did Charles I finally call Parliament
1640
Why did Charles I finally call Parliament
To raise taxes for his disastrous war in Scotland
What did MPs present Charles I with
The Grand Remonstrance
What was the Grand Remonstrance
A list of complaints and demands, such as control of the army
How did Charles I react to the Grand Remonstrance
He tried to arrest the leading MPs, but they had already fled. Instead, he left London and began to prepare for civil war
Who led the resistance army against Charles I
Oliver Cromwell
What was Cromwell’s army called?
The New Model Army
Why were the New Model Army better than the royalist army?
Better equipped, better trained and GOOD TACTICS
How were New Model Army tactics good?
Officers were appointed because of merit, not social status; the addition of a Scoutmaster-General meant that excellent reconnaissance aided them
How did the rebels charge the Charles I?
Guilty of treason
When was Charles I executed
30 January 1649
Short term significance of the English Revolution
Huge, England became a republic for 11 years, ruled by Parliament, Cromwell and the Army, however none worked out so Parliament asked Charles II to become King after Cromwell died
What years was England a republic
1649-1660
What was the English Republic known as
The Commonwealth
Long term significance of the English Revolution (3)
Parliament meant more regularly, had more independence and power, army tactics changed to emulate the New Model Army
How many British colonies were in America
13
What was the population of the American colonies
25 million
Why was ‘freedom’ an ingrained desire to Americans
Many had travelled there in search for freedom
Why did Americans think that taxation was unfair
They had no representation in Parliament, yet were taxed by it
What were the demands of the Americans?
“No taxation without representation”
When did Americans hold a series of protests and declare themselves independent
1776
When did Britain surrender as they couldn’t keep up the fight over the long distance
1783
Short term significance of the American Revolution
Trade actually picked up for Britain with the USA, so they could take over Australia, New Zealand and India // Incompetent political leadership was questioned // Political radicals were dealt with harshly for the next 50 years
Long term significance of the American Revolution
Inspired radicals, prompting the French Revolution // Gave colonies the idea to reject European Power such as India in 1947
When did India gain independence
1947
What was a Rotten Borough
a borough where no one lived, yet sent an MP anyway
Evidence that the british electoral system was out of date
New cities like Birmingham had no MP
Why was the British Electoral system “unfair” (3)
Only property owners could vote, factory owners were not represented in parliament, there were no secretly ballots which allowed for intimidation or bribery
how did the government make poverty worse after the Napoleonic Wards
Increased taxes on corn, making bread more expensive
When was the Peterloo Massacre
1819
Where was the Peterloo Massacre
St Peter’s Fields in Manchester
Who was the speaker at the Peterloo Massacre
Henry Hunt
How many people were at the Peterloo Massacre
60,000
How many died at the Peterloo Massacre
11
What Act did the government bring in after the Peterloo Massacre
the Six Acts
What did the Six Acts entail
Meetings of more than 50 people were banned
When was a petition for franchise reform started
1830
Who started the petition for franchise
Thomas Attwood
How many people signed the petition for franchise
8,000 people
What did the Whig government introduce as response to the petition for francise
the Reform Act
What did the Reform Act do
redistributed MPs so that industrial towns were represented, gave merchants and factory owners the vote, but not non property owners
When were the Chartists formed
1836
How did the Chartists demand franchise refrom
petitions, strikes and violence
What petition did the Chartists present to Parliament in 1848
The Great Petition to Parliament
Why did the Chartists fail
Incompetence (thought the petition had 5 mil signatures, but only had 2 mil) // violent protests were deal with harshly by the government after revolutions in Europe eg in France
Who were the Anti-Corn Law League
Protesters of the corn laws, which made bread more expensive
How did the Anti-Corn Law League protest
Through pamphlets and meetings, and via politics
How did the Anti-Corn Law League protest via politics
Richard Cobden and John Bright became MPs and won the support of the PM
Which famine allowed the repeal of the Corn Laws
The famine of 1845
What was significant about the Corn Law repeal
It was the first time the government had acted in the interests of the poor
