Rise Of The Centre - Suppression Of The Local

Question 1

Hypotheses

Answer 1

Early modern government was based on consent and negotiation out of necessity
Violence was part of the political process
More effective monopolies of violence increased the state’s negotiating power

Question 2

Three views of the development of the early modern (english) state

Answer 2

Centralisation
Incorporation
Repression

Question 3

Centralisation

Answer 3

G. Elton
Centralisation theses
Importance of court and council (esp Thomas Cromwell)
Politics is central vs. Local interest

Question 4

Incorporation

Answer 4

The state is a cultural resource
Alignment of the state and particular interests
‘Amateur, part-time and unsalaried’ (mark goldie)
C. 1700 - 5% of adult males governing in any one year (50% increase in a decade)

Question 5

Repression

Answer 5

State is an inherently violent enterprise
Obedience and allegiance enforced through violent acts - encourage through violent display
1530-1630 - up to 75,000 people executed in england

Question 6

Synthesis of the three positions

Answer 6

Negotiated state power
Importance of power brokers
Discretion - and discretionary use of force

Question 7

Sources of tension

Answer 7

Venal offices 
Taxation 
Religious impositions 
Billeting
Ancient liberties

Question 8

Forms of political violence

Answer 8

Environmental violence - hedge and ditch breaking
Rioting
Symbolic violence

Question 9

The moral economy of the crowd

Answer 9

E.P. Thompson

Crowds were not irrational, riots were not random

Question 10

Rebel alliances

Answer 10

Most successful revolts link gentry with the masses

Attempts to wed broader political causes to local revolts - ultimately delegitimising

Question 11

The empire strikes back

Answer 11

Repressive response from states
Use of foreign or external troops
Responsive capability increases with availability of troops in garrisons

Question 12

Success and failure?

Answer 12

Violent riots had some success (Maldon grain riot 1629, Naples rebellion 1585, midland rising 1607)
Feedback loops
Change with constraints

Question 13

Conclusion

Answer 13

Government rested on the negotiation of common values and principles
Violence was part of the negotiation of these principles
The state gained the upper hand in violence across our period