T3: Structure of society- social hierarchy

Question 1

what percentage of the population did the nobility and gentry make up in the 17th century?

Answer 1

2%

Question 2

how much land and wealth did the nobility own?

Answer 2

15%

Question 3

how much land and wealth did the gentry own?

Answer 3

50%

Question 4

how did the Civil Affect the nobility?

Answer 4

• some lost land, property and titles during the CW, but many regained in Restoration
• House of Lords abolished by Rump 1649, but they still retained influence. HofL restored 1660

Question 5

since when had the nobility been declining?

Answer 5

1590s

Question 6

why were the nobility declining?

Answer 6

• inflation
• high levels of spending expected of the aristocracy

Question 7

why did the nobility have to spend so much?

Answer 7

• maintaining large estates
• paying for servants
• having guests
  etc

Question 8

when did the nobility take the biggest hit to their social position?

Answer 8

during the Civil war and Interregnum

Question 9

what does it mean to be part of the ‘nobility’?

Answer 9

highest status below the monarch.
have titles that have been in family for generations.
held much land and property.

Question 10

evidence that the position of the nobility stayed the same in the 17th century?

Answer 10

• still highest status
• some lost titles, land and property in CW + Interregnum, but many regained in Restoration
• still retained local power and influence in Interregnum as the Rump needed them to rule
• many still comfortable despite costs

Question 11

example of nobility still being comfortable in the 17th century?

Answer 11

the Marquis of Newcastle could donate £900,000 to the royalist cause in 1642.

Question 12

overall, how did the status of the nobility change in the 17th century?

Answer 12

stayed the same/ declined slightly

Question 13

how many gentry were there in the 17th century?

Answer 13

15,000

Question 14

evidence that shows a rise in the gentry in the 17th century?

Answer 14

• increased political participation of the gentry- increasingly dominated. this was because younger sons of the gentry would often enter law, which could lead to being an MP or Privy Councillor.

Question 15

examples of gentry in politics

Answer 15

Thomas Wentworth, Oliver Cromwell, John Pym, George Monck.
Gentry ran the country in the Civil War in the House of Commons and various committees. New opportunities were created with the abolition of the House of Lords.

Question 16

evidence that shows that the gentry remained the same in the 17th century?

Answer 16

most members lived as they always had done - within a few miles of their manor house, perhaps taking an interest in local affairs but not in national events. Lesser gentry even in decline.

Question 17

overall, how did the status of the gentry change in the 17th century?

Answer 17

improved

Question 18

why was there an increase in the number of merchants in the 17th century?

Answer 18

due to urbanisation and the growth of trade

Question 19

stat for number of merchants?

Answer 19

in London, Liverpool and Bristol it is estimated that 64,000 merchants were trading in 1688, compared to 30,000 in 1580

Question 20

how were merchants viewed by the gentry?

Answer 20

looked down on- seen as ‘new money’ and not owning land

Question 21

when and why did London witness a consumer boom?

Answer 21

after 1650 due to improved trading conditions after Navigation Act 1651 (restricted use of foreign ships trading in England) and the Navigation Act 1661 (listed a number of goods that could only be shipped on English ships)

Question 22

when were the 2 Navigation Acts?

Answer 22

1651 and 1660

Question 23

what did the first Navigation Act do?

Answer 23

restricted the use of foreign ships to trade in England

Question 24

what did the second Navigation Act do?

Answer 24

listed a number of goods that could only be traded on English ships

Question 25

what links existed between the merchants and the gentry?

Answer 25

- some merchants were the younger sons of the gentry - others married into gentry families - some became wealthy enough that they could buy land and become gentry themselves

Question 26

what kind of influence did merchants have?

Answer 26

many wealthier merchants held positions of similar influence in towns as gentry in the countryside did e.g. as mayors

Question 27

for what did many merchants receive knighthoods?

Answer 27

for commercial success or public service, rather than family background

Question 28

what happened to the number of professionals in this period, why?

Answer 28

rose. a result of improved standards of living of the gentry and merchants - could now pay for these services

Question 29

what kins of jobs are 'professionals'?

Answer 29

doctors, lawyers, bankers, academics

Question 30

stat for number of professionals?

Answer 30

the records of Gray's Inn (the largest Inn's of Court for lawyers) show membership increased from 120 barristers in 1574 to more than 200 in 1619

Question 31

evidence to show that the position of professionals and merchants did not change?

Answer 31

- merchants looked down upon - many from or related to gentry families - at the Inner Temple Inn's of Court, 90% of the 1,700 admissions 1600-1640 were sons of nobility or gentry - educational opportunities remained closed to most yeomen and women

Question 32

overall, how did the status of merchants and professionals change in the 17th century?

Answer 32

improved

Question 33

how did the status of the monarchy change in the 17th century?

Answer 33

plummeted in CW + Interregnum (became non-existent) but pretty much recovered in 1660, although with new restrictions

Question 34

how did the status of the poor change in the 17th century?

Answer 34

improved only slightly

Question 35

overall, how much change was there in the order of hierarchy 1625-88?

Answer 35

very little! - consistent rise in status and wealth of an emerging middle class - significant change during the CW + Interregnum, though not long-lasting