Relevant Context - Economic

Question 1

What three economic factors contributed to the economic crisis?

Answer 1

1. Poor harvests
2. changing land use
3. Civil War

Question 2

How did crop failure affect the economic picture of east anglia?

Answer 2

• Wat summers and freezing winters
• 1646 - staples of wheat and rye were inedible and rotted with ergot
• The price of meat and cheese rose
• 1646 - the price of wheat rose by 20%
• October of both 1645/46 - heavy rain and trodden fields
• Seen as a sign from the heavens - punishment from God
• Puritan preachers said it was a sign that Charles should not be returned to the throne but should be punished

Question 3

How was the price of wheat affected?

Answer 3

Price increased 20%

Question 4

What is ergot?

Answer 4

• Fungal disease
• Resulting in poisoning causing headaches, vomiting and spasms

Question 5

Why was the change in the livelihoods of tenants and peasants inevitable?

Answer 5

• Inflation
• Increased inequality coming with the enclosure of common land
• Wealthy refused to give to charities.
• Landlords tempted by improved profits of evicting tenants and shifting to agriculture

Question 6

What were the wealthy residents expected to pay?

Answer 6

• Poor rates
• A local tax levied at parish level to finance the support of the poor
• Seen to subsidise their lifestyle and was viewed as reckless. and believed idleness was a sign of sinfulness so tenents should earn.

Question 7

Give an example of a particularly aggressive landlord

Answer 7

• Sir Miles Sandy of the Isle of Ely
• 4,000 acres of common land
• 30 families were evicted
• The inhabitants sent a petition to the Court of Chancery with 100 signatures - failed
• Inhabitants began to riot.

Question 8

How was the price of livestock affected by the civil war?

Answer 8

Increased by 12%

• As Horses regularly confiscated by soldiers

Question 9

How was the price of grain affected by the civil war?

Answer 9

Increased 15%

• Food from land consumed by passing soliders

Question 10

What tax did the parliament implement in 1643?

Answer 10

Weekly assessment

• 12 times higher than Ship Money

Question 11

Who was Margaret Moone?

Answer 11

• Witch
• Thorpe-le-Soken
• Evicted from the cottage when a man offered her landlord ten shillings more than she could afford
• Fell into begging
• Blamed for the death of livestock and crop failures and killing a child.