Early Modern Migration - Overview Flashcards
What was the Reformation and its impact on European history?
The Reformation was a period when millions of people rejected the Roman Catholic Church and turned to Protestant Churches. It had a significant effect on migration to Britain.
What was the religious landscape of England in 1500 compared to 1750?
In 1500, England was a Roman Catholic country. By 1750, after the Reformation and civil wars, Britain emerged as the leading Protestant power in Europe, with Catholic Spain and France as its main enemies.
Who were the key Protestant refugees who sought safety in Britain and where did they come from?
The key Protestant refugees included Walloons from what is now Belgium, Huguenots from France, and Palatines from what is now Germany.
How were Protestant refugees treated in Britain?
Initially welcomed, Protestant refugees were eventually treated differently based on their wealth and the skills they could offer.
How did immigration contribute to religious acceptance in British society by the mid-18th century?
Immigration led to a more accepting attitude towards different religious practices. Protestant and Jewish communities had their own places of worship, and similar freedoms were extended to Nonconformists and eventually Catholics.
What significant event occurred in 1707 regarding England and Scotland?
Following the Act of Union in 1707, England and Scotland joined together to form Great Britain.
Describe England’s territorial expansions by 1500
By 1500, England already had an empire. Wales had been conquered in the Middle Ages, and much of Ireland was under English military control.
How did English power expand in the 17th and early 18th centuries?
English power expanded as they seized coastal areas directly accessible by sea. They invaded the east coast of North America and Caribbean islands such as Barbados, St Kitts, and Jamaica.
What were the activities of the Royal African Company and the East India Company?
The Royal African Company established fortresses on the West African coast to transport enslaved people across the Atlantic to work on plantations in the Americas. The East India Company’s trading posts in India evolved into military forts, and it gained control of trade with Asia, previously held by the Dutch and the Mughal Empire, through agreements with Indian rulers.
How did England evolve into the British Empire by 1750?
By 1750, England had transformed into the British Empire through its territorial expansions, trade agreements, and establishment of colonies. This growth, along with the Triangular Trade in enslaved Africans, led to new patterns of migration to Britain from Africa, India, and the Americas.
Who were instrumental in the transition to a capitalist economy in Britain?
Walloons and Huguenots played a key part in the transition to a capitalist economy in Britain.
What characterized the shift towards a capitalist economy during the early modern period?
The shift towards a capitalist economy involved the movement of wealth and power from aristocratic landowners to businesses trading internationally in commodities such as sugar, tobacco, spices, tea, coffee, and textiles.
What were the key financial institutions that formed the financial hub of Britain during the early modern period?
The Bank of England, partly financed by Huguenots, and the London Stock Exchange formed the financial hub of Britain during this period.
What were the consequences of Britain’s trade and profit system during the early modern period?
Britain’s trade and profit system required access to raw materials and cheap or enslaved labor, leading to the increasing importation of African and Asian people to Britain, mostly as forced labor.
How does the economic system established in 17th and 18th century Britain persist into the 21st century?
The world of commerce and stock markets that emerged in 17th and 18th century Britain remains the dominant economic system in the 21st century.
