The Political Nation and Social Basis of Power

Question 1

What is meant by ‘Political Nation’?

Answer 1

People who had economical, political or social power and had the ability to vote

Question 2

What were the main sources of the Political Nations power?

Answer 2

Wealth and Land Ownership

Question 3

Who was the head of the Political Nation?

Answer 3

The monarch

Question 4

How did the monarchs lead the Political Nation?

Answer 4

Through prerogative

Question 5

What is the definition of ‘Prerogative’?

Answer 5

A right or privilege exclusive to a particular individual or class

Question 6

What key areas did the monarchs prerogative give them power over?

Answer 6

‣ Foreign Diplomacy (relations with other countries) as Head of State
‣ Declaration of War as commander-in-chief of the military
‣ Legislation (passing of laws) through the right to call and dissolve Parliament
‣ Religion as the Supreme Governor (head) of the Church of England

Question 7

What is meant by the term ‘Absolutist’?

Answer 7

An all-powerful monarch

Question 8

What limited the monarch from becoming completely absolutist?

Answer 8

Finances

Question 9

Why couldn’t the monarchs income meet their expenses?

Answer 9

Due to a century of inflation and general rise in prices

Question 10

How could the monarch raise substantial funds?

Answer 10

Parliamentary subsidies

Question 11

What is meant by ‘Subsidies’?

Answer 11

A sum of money granted by parliament to meet the monarch’s needs

Question 12

How was subsidies raised by Parliament?

Answer 12

Taxing the Political Nation

Question 13

Why was Parliament reluctant to grant subsidies?

Answer 13

Because it required taxing the Political Nation due to their wealth, and those were the people who had elected and voted them into power.

Question 14

Who did the Political Nation consist of?

Answer 14

‣ Aristocracy
‣ Gentry
‣ Wealthy Lawyers
‣Merchants etc.

Question 15

What do monarchs resort to due to the limited availability of subsidies?

Answer 15

Exploiting their prerogative income

Question 16

What were the main sources of income for the Crown?

Answer 16

‣ Crown Lands
‣ Customs Duties
‣ Feudal Dues
‣Parliamentary Subsidies

Question 17

What are Crown Lands as a source of income for the crown?

Answer 17

King owned all of the land and rented or sold much of it to others at a fixed rate

Question 18

What are customs duties as a form of income for the Crown?

Answer 18

Taxes from goods imported to the country as well as selling the right to temporarily collect taxes to raise funds quickly

Question 19

What are feudal dues as a form of income for the Crown?

Answer 19

The Crown had to the right to control lands inherited by an heir under 21

Question 20

What did parliamentary subsidies allow the parliament to have?

Answer 20

An element of control over the monarch

Question 21

What did the monarch need the Political Nation for?

Answer 21

Control the general population and ensure central and local governments could func

Question 22

Why didn’t the Crown have this control independently?

Answer 22

Fewer than 2000 paid officials

Question 23

What is local government?

Answer 23

Parliaments in a specific local area

Question 24

What is a central government?

Answer 24

Parliaments within the capital

Question 25

What were the Political nation responsible for?

Answer 25

‣ Collecting taxes
‣ Enforcing laws
‣ Training the military
‣ Conducting trials

Question 26

Why was the English laws open to interpretation?

Answer 26

Because it was an unwritten constitution

Question 27

During the periods 1500 - 1650, the population doubled. What issues did this cause?

Answer 27

‣ Price Inflation
‣ Food Shortage
‣ Land Shortage
‣ Unemployment
‣Reliance on state for poor relief

Question 28

What is the ‘Great Chain of Being’?

Answer 28

Idea of an ordered society created by God, everyone should accept their place as it must not change