power and the people part one Flashcards
1
Q
what kind of system was medieval society built on?
A
the feudal system
2
Q
what was the order of the feudal system?
A
the king
bishops + barons
knights
peasants
3
Q
who was the King when the Magna Carta was signed?
A
King John
4
Q
what did the king give the barons and what did they do in return?
A
he gave them land, they gave him money ad men to fight in wars
5
Q
what did the barons give to the knights?
A
they gave them some of their land if they promised to fight when needed
6
Q
what were the main objectives of a medieval king?
A
- defend the people by leading the army well
- keep the country peaceful
- successfully deal with any rebellions
- maintain a good relationship with the church + pope
7
Q
what did king john and the pope disagree about?
A
they argued over who should be the archbishop of Canterbury
8
Q
who did the pope want to be the Archbishop of Canterbury?
A
Stephen Langton
9
Q
why was the Archbishop of Canterbury an important role?
A
the archbishop often ended up being the King’s key adviser
10
Q
why didn’t King John want Langton to be appointed?
A
he wanted someone less loyal to the church who would listen to him
11
Q
what did the pope do in retaliation to King John after their disagreement ab the archbishop?
A
he banned all church services including marriages and funerals in england
12
Q
why were people concerned when the pope banned church services?
A
they believed that if they didn’t attend mass regularly they’d go to hell
13
Q
why were the barons concerned about the poor relationship between John and the pope?
A
it could lead to an invasion by a foreign king
14
Q
why was John considered a bad king?
A
- poor relations with the pope
- scutage
- bad military record
15
Q
why did John charge scutage?
A
to fund wars in france (which he lost)
16
Q
what two nicknames were given to John?
A
‘lackland’ and ‘softsword’ because he kept losing battles and losing land in France
17
Q
why were the barons upset about england losing battles overseas?
A
they lost their land in france so they lost money, and were forced to pay very high taxes to John
18
Q
what made the Barons question John’s competence?
A
he lost the crown jewels in an area of marshland called the Wash
19
Q
why do some historians claim that no matter what John would have been considered a bad king?
A
- he couldn’t live up to his brother and father’s expectations (Henry II and Richard I (the lionheart)
- Richard left John in debt from his wars in France, so John couldn’t raise enough money to govern and defend the country
20
Q
did John have any military success?
A
yes, he won some wars against the Scottish and the Welsh, and strengthened the Navy
21
Q
what is a good thing that John did?
A
he ensured the people of England could have a fair trial (with a judge and jury), and would sometimes delay proceedings to personally be present which helped everyone not just rich barons
22
Q
who led the Baron’s army?
A
Robert Fitzwalter
23
Q
what did the Baron army do?
A
they occupied London and were prepared to fight a king
24
Q
why couldn’t John fight the Baron’s army?
A
in order to raise an army, John needed the Barons so he was forced to negotiate with them
25
when did John meet with the Barons to sign the Magna Carta?
15th of June 1215
26
where did John and the Barons meet to sign the Magna Carta?
Runnymede
27
what were the main reasons the Barons were upset?
- worried about foreign invasion because of relations with the pope
- scutage
- Johns military failures
- John repeatedly ignored the demands of the Great Council so they didn't feel their views were respected
28
when did the barons have to pay scutage?
when they didn't want to fight
29
how many promises did the Magna Carta contain?
63
30
what were the 6 main clauses of the Magna Carta?
- a baron's heir shall inherit his land on payment of £100
- no scutage shall be imposed on the barons except with the common counsel of the realm
- no feemen shall be arrested or imprisoned without a proper trial and according to the law of the land
- the english church shall be free to make its own appointments
- all merchants shall have safety in staying and travelling in england, for buying and selling goods, free from evil tolls
- a group of 25 barons will be created to monitor the king and ensure he commits to the Magna carta (clause 61)
31
did John stick to the magna carta?
no, he had no intention to, he only signed it to avoid civil war and get the barons back on his side, then he backed out of it and claimed he had been forced to sign it
32
what did the Pope do about John backing out of the Magna carta and when?
on August 1215, the pope came out in support of John and claimed the Magna Carta was invalid and that John was forced to sign it
33
what did ordinary people at the time think of the Magna Carta?
they didn't really care about it. Peasants and Villeins weren't free so it didn't affect them. the Barons only did it for their own interest and only included the Church and merchants to get more support
34
what was the main short term impact of the Magna Carta?
- nothing changed for ordinary people
- the King went back on his word so it didn't make an immediate impact on society
- only the politically powerful (barons, the Church, merchants) benefited
35
what was the short term significance of the Magna Carta?
- first time a King had agreed to legal limits on his power, so made Barons more powerful
- made King subject to law
- taxes had to be consented to
- reinforced the right to a free and fair trial
36
what was the long term significance of the Magna Carta?
- it applied to more people as more people gained their freedom
- people still refer back to it
- Magna carta grew the idea that Kings were subject to law too, they couldn't just do whatever they wanted
- still hugely symbolic, seen as a powerful icon for freedom
- influenced the US constitution of 1787
37
what castle did the Barons occupy and why?
they occupied Rochester Castle because it was in between London (under Baron control) and Dover(under John's control)
38
when did John arrive at Rochester castle and what did he have with him?
in October 1215, brought 5 siege engines
39
what did John do when the catapults couldn't break the castle walls?
he tried to starve them out, then dug a tunnel (supported by a wooden ceiling) under the castles foundations
40
what did John order to be brought to Rochester and what did he do with it?
40 fat pigs, set them on fire to burn the props holding up the castles walls which made them collapse
41
when was the Siege of Rochester over?
by the 30th of November 1215
42
who did the Barons promise the English throne to?
Prince Louis of France
43
when did prince Louis arrive?
may 1216
44
when and where was Prince Louis announced King?
2nd June 1216 at Saint Paul's Cathedral, even the Scottish King Alexander II swore allegiance to him
45
when did John die?
October 1216
46
who was crowned king after John's death and when?
John's son, Henry III on 28th of October
47
did Henry agree to the terms of the Magna Carta?
yes
48
who was the King during the SdM thing?
Henry III
49
who did Simon de Montfort marry?
Henry III's sister, Eleanor
50
what did pope Innocent IV convince Henry III to do?
to pay extra money to him so the pope could fight wars in Europe, and convinced Henry to help him remove the Royal family of Sicily and put Edmund (Henry's son) on the throne instead
51
what happened when Henry couldn't pay the promised money four years later to the pope?
Alexander IV (the new pope) threatened to excommunicate him
52
what did Pope Alexander IV suggest?
he suggested that Henry's brother, richard, should beome the Holy Roman Emperor because it would put part of Europe under the pope's control and it meant England would have to pay for the war ( so an increase on Baron's taxes)
53
was henry close to the french?
yes, he married one, his advisor ( Peter de Roches) was one, and he started to allow French men into the parliament, which the barons were not happy about
54
when was SdM sent to fight the french to win back land lost by John?
1248
55
what happened after SdM won back the lost land in france?
- the king was happy until he heard of the force SdM had used against the french in occupied towns
- he was sympathetic to the French so he called him back for an inquiry
- SdM found innocent but SdM was furious with King
- Henry suggests Edward (his son) should take over campaign
- SdM considers staying with the French and fighting against the king, but returns to england
56
when did SdM lead the Barons to call a Great Council meeting with Henry and what did he have to agree to?
1258, had to agree to the provisions of Oxford
57
what did the provisions of Oxford state?
- a council of 15 barons would be in charge of the Great Council, elected by 24 men (12 appointed by Barons, 12 appointed by King)
- foreign members of royal household would be banished
- castles would be held by Englishmen
- each county would have a sheriff and taxes would be decided locally
58
how did power change between Barons and King after Prov of ox?
barons could make decisions without King, King could not make decisions without Barons
59
who was against the prov of ox and why?
- older barons (eg Richard de Clare); felt reforms were interfering with their local interests
- younger barons; had not been appointed so had lost influence
- both didn't like that those lower in society and less wealthy had been given more power and missed when knights had less influence
60
when was the prov of ox extended?
October 1259, creation of prov ox Westminster
61
what did Henry do about the provisions?
he asked pope for permission to cancel provisions, given confirmation in 1261, so he appointed his own men to the council and de MontFort left for France in disgust
62
when did the Barons call back SdM?
after 3 years of Henry's revived rule
63
when was the Battle of Lewes?
1264
64
what happened at the battle of Lewes?
SdM captured King and imprisoned his son, Edward
65
what council did SdM appoint?
he appointed a council of nine, which consisted of his own allies/friends
66
when did simon call a meeting of the great council and who did he invite?
1265, he invited burgesses and knights from every country, so commoners were had been invited to the Great council for the first time which increased support for SdM
67
when was the battle of Evesham?
4th August, 1265
68
did Henry ever call another meeting of the Great Council?
no
69
when did Edward call the 'model parliament?
1295
70
what was the model parliament?
lords invited and commoners
71
what was the short term significance of SdM?
- prov of oxford 1258's effect on King's power
- victorious at battle of Lewes and essentially became king
72
what was the long term significance of SdM?
- set a precedent to invite commoners to parliament
- reissued magna carta
- 'father of parliament'
73
what were the limitatins of SdM's significance?
- acted for personal gain
- took advantage of other people's misfortune
- used common people to advance his own wishes
74
what was the short term significance of the parliament of 1265?
- Henry II ruled until 1272 but never called another council meeting
- Edward's model parliament from 1295
75
what was the medium term significance of the parliament of 1265?
- Kings power challenged again in 1649 with death of Charles I
- King's power was not totally changed until Glorious revolution of 1688
76
what was the long term significance of the parliament of 1265?
- 1840s - chartists campaigned for representation for working class
- women had to wait to get their voiced heard
77
what is the impact of the parliament of 1265 today?
- the queen is a figure head with no direct influence over the government
78
where had the plague been spread to by 1350?
scotland
79
when was the plague brought to England?
1348
80
how was the plague brought to England?
from a ship that came to Melcombe Regis in dorset
81
what amount of the population died from the plague?
a third
82
how did the plague affect the peasants/workers in the farms?
it was good for them because the workforce had shrunk, so workers were more in demand and they got more power as they had options to choose from (they could move to another village to find a fairer lord) and they could demand higher pay
83
when was the Statute of Labourers passed?
1351
84
who passed the statute of Labourers?
Edward III
85
what did the Statute of Labourers do?
it made peasants wages go back to what they were before the plague and forced the peasants to work for the same lord
86
what percentage of the people brought before the Justices of Peace between 1377-79 were accused of breaking the stature of Labourers?
70%
87
what king introduced a poll tax?
Richard II
88
why was a poll tax introduced?
to help pay for unsuccessful campaigns against the French in the Hundred Years War + because gov revenue from tax decreased after plague because small population
89
who had to pay a poll tax by 1380?
everyone over 15
90
how much did everyone over 15 have to pay by 1380?
4 groats a year
91
how much did they have to pay to the king before 1380 (or before they were paying 4 groats a year)?
one groat a year
92
who were the two main priests speaking out about the way the Church had been exploiting peasants?
John Wyclif and John Ball
93
what did the Johns argue that the Church was doing wrong?
they didn't think the church should be charging for pardons for sins and also thought they shouldn't own that much property while others are starving
94
who did King Richard II have arrested to stop the peasants wouldn't be influenced by their preaching?
John Ball
95
what year did the Peasants' revolt begin?
1381
96
where did the uprisings start?
Kent and Essex
97
who were the peasants rebelling in Essex and Kent most upset with?
the bad priests and evil landowners who were exploiting them, weren't necessarily angry with king but angry at oppressive system
98
what was John Ball's famous Adam and Eve speech about?
when God created Adam and Eve, he made everyone equal - no rich or poor
99
why were the Local lords and the King worried about the peasant's increase in power after the plague?
they were worried they were getting too powerful and the feudal system would break down
100
when did the Peasants threaten to kill the tax collector and where?
30th May 1381 at Fobbing
101
who was the tax collector that the peasants threatened to kill at Fobbing?
John Bampton
102
what happened in Fobbing in May 1381?
- tax collector John Bampton comes to collect poll tax
- peasants refuse to pay
- threaten to kill Bampton
- Bampton rides back to London bc he's scared
- villagers hide in woods bc they're worried they'll be punished
103
when did the Chief Justice come to collect poll tax?
2nd June 1381
104
where was the main action on the 2nd of June 1381?
Brentwood
105
what happened on the 2nd June 1381 in Brentwood?
- rebels from other villages join forces
- chief Justice comes to collect poll tax
- villagers threaten to kill Chief Justice
- villagers find Bampton's clerks and behead them
- they also set fire to the houses of those who support the poll tax
106
when did the peasants march to maidstone?
7th June 1381
107
who became the leader of the Peasants on the 7th of June 1381?
Wat Tyler
108
where did the peasants march to on the 7th of June 1381?
Maidstone
109
what happened on the 7th of June 1381?
- peasants in Kent march to Maidstone
- hear Wat Tyler speak and make him their leader
- free John Ball from prison
- storm Rochester castle
- destroy tax records by burning down gov buildings
110
when do the peasants reach London + where in London?
12th June 1381, Bishopsgate
111
who comes to the peasants at Bishops gate (on the 12th June)?
King Richard II
112
what happened on the 12th of June 1381?
- men make it to outskirts of London and set up camp
- King leaves tower of London and sails to them
- too much booing and shouting when men see king, so King's men don't let him get off the boat
- Richard II says he'll meet them on the 17th June and doesn't think they'll breach the city walls
113
when do the rebels enter the city gates?
13th June 1381
114
what happens on the 13th June 1381?
- city gates opened for rebels by supporters
- they storm the Savoy Palace of John of Gaunt and burn it down
- kill foreign merchants and supporters of the king
- not all are violent - Tyler gave orders to be peaceful
- King offers to meet the next day
115
when does the King meet Wat Tyler and where?
14th of June 1381 at Mile End
116
what happens on the 14th of June 1381?
- Wat Tyler meets king and outlines peasant's demands
- King agrees and asks them to go home in peace
- some peasants go on another killing spree and kill Archbishop of Canterbury
117
when did the King meet the rebels for a second time and where?
15th of June 1381 at Smithfield
118
what happens on the 15th of June 1381?
- king meets rebels again
- Tyler is bold and refuses to go until King agrees to demands
- king agrees
- one of king's men kills Tyler
- peasants are confused and some are ready to fight
- king rides forward shouting 'will you shoot your king? i am your leader, follow me!
- peasants follow king out of london and revolt is over
119
what were Wat Tyler/the peasant's demands?
- all men involved in revolt be given royal pardon
- all villeins to be made freemen
- full change to system of law
- church lands given to people
- all bishops except one be removed
120
did Richard stick to the demands of the peasants?
no, he again claimed he was forced into it
121
what happened to John Ball after the revolt?
he was hung and his body was cut into pieces and his head was put on a spike on London Bridge (next to Wat Tyler's head)
122
what was the short term significance of the peasant's revolt?
- it was the first time commoners rebelled against royal power
- rebellion failed (in the short term), richard went back on his promise
123
what was the long term significance of the peasant's revolt?
- poll tax wasn't repeated (until 1989 in scotland and 1990 in england + wales)
- worker's wages rose bc situation was still the same, parliament eventually gave in and stopped trying to control their wages
- some peasants were even able to buy their own land because there was so much unused after black death
- by 1450, all villeins were free - could work for whatever wages they wanted
- ideas of John ball inspired rebels by levellers in 1600s and socialists in early 1800s
- poll tax rioters of 1989 chose same route as peasant's revolt
124
why do some think peasant's revolt wasn't significant?
- they say it was unecessary and serfdom was already coming to an end and society was already changing
125
why do most think the peasant's revolt was significant?
- first revolt of ordinary people
- start of English ideas of freedom
