Early Modern Period: 1500-1700 Flashcards
(42 cards)
What were some changes in government?
Parliament began to restrict the powers of the crown
-in 1689, William III and Mary signed the Bill of Rights which assigned more power to Parliament meaning that MPs had a greater influence on government
How was this different to the medieval period?
In the Medieval period, the monarchs had a greater influence on government compared to Parliament, whose role was simply to advise. For example, William I adopted the Feudal system in 1066 characterized by a hierarchical structure where land ownership was exchanged for loyalty and service. In this way, nobody was considered ‘above’ the monarch who exerted the most power over the country.
What were some changes in religion between the medieval and early modern period?
At the start of the 1500s, England was a Catholic country though this swiftly changed when Henry VII deemed himself head of the Church of England in 1534 and began a chain of reforms which eventually led to Protestantism during the rule of Elizabeth I.
How did religion bring about change?
due to the reformation of the church, European Protestants, especially Huguenots, saw England as a place of safety and refuge
How did economic growth bring about change?
global trading companies developed routes to India, Africa and Europe
Merchants traded in a wide range of goods and the cloth trade dominated England’s prosperity. The cloth trade required cotton which further encouraged the Transatlantic Slave Trade wherein people were taken from Africa and forced to work on plantations in the Caribbean and America
How did the government bring about change?
-Parliament passed laws encouraging migrants to settle in England
-Jews, who had been expelled in 1290, were allowed to return by Oliver Cromwell and the Protectorate
Why did the Huguenots migrate to England?
-left France in two main periods (1550-72) and (1670-1710) due to persecution by the Catholic authorities
-Edward VI allowed a Protestant church to be founded in London in 1550
-Charles II offered them denizen status in 1681allowing migrants to live in England with certain rights
Which act allowed European Protestants full civil rights in Britain provided they swore loyalty to the crown?
The Foreign Protestants Nationality Act of 1709
Why did Palatines migrate to England?
- mainly farmers who left Germany in 1709 due to bad harvests, famine, poverty and wars between German states
- fertile soil encouraged their movement to England as they mainly worked as farmers and manual labourers
Why did Indian people migrate?
-increased trade (East India Company established in 1600) took English people to India where rich families would appoint Ayahs to look after their children- these women would often migrate to England with the families + men working on the ships (lascars) would often settle in English ports seeking a better life
Why did African people migrate to England?
-many were forced out of Spain in 1568 because they were part of a rebellion against the Spanish government
-others had been enslaved but escaped and fled to England or were brought by their ‘owners’
Why did Jewish people migrate?
-some remained after expulsion in 1290 by converting to Catholicism and practicing their own religion in private.
-by the 1650s, Jews were facing increasing anti-Semitism and persecution in Europe
-English economy was weak so Jews were allowed to return in the hope that merchants could strengthen the economy (1656)
What were the experiences of the Huguenots?
-most had a range of skills and found work easily helping them prosper
-due to an already established European community, they integrated well and worked together
- However, there were occasionally riots (May Day riots in 1517) carried out by people who resented the foreigner’s priviledges
What were the experiences of the Palatines?
- relied on charities which were initially very supportive and the support of the public (Londoners raised 20,000 alone) though soon after people began to resent their lack of contribution
-government initially funded their emigration to America though soon were no longer willing and instead deported thousands to sow the land in Ireland
-2/3 who were deported came back to England but some landowners (Sir Thomas Southwell) used their own money to offer support
What were the experiences of Jewish people?
-authorities gave them permission to open a synagogue
-worked mainly as bankers, scholars, doctors and jewellers
-experienced lots of anti-Semitism so generally looked after themselves which prompted the accusation that they were isolating themselves
-laws prohibited Jews from serving in the army, working as lawyers or attending university
- these restrictions contributed to around half of the Jewish population having to rely on support from richer members of society
What were the experiences of Gypsies?
-regarded as vagrants, wanderers and beggars who brought no economic benefit to England
- treated very poorly
-ordered to leave country in 1530 by Henry VIII within 16 days or they would be deported/ imprisoned
What did Indian migrants experience?
-Ayahs’ experiences greatly depended on their employers; when their children grew up, they were abandoned often without even a ticket back home
-Lascars settled in the ports of London, Liverpool, Glasgow and Cardiff working on the docks, in warehouses and pubs; they had to endure a life of hard labour
What did African migrants experience?
-some who had previously been enslaved were brought back to England as servants
- some African children were used as a status symbol for the rich and experienced luxury
- considered to be equal members of society
-worked in a variety of skilled jobs whilst being paid equal wages
How did migrants impact the cloth trade?
-boosted by skilled Huguenot silk weavers
-between 1650 and 1700, cloth exports were 20 times greater than between 1600 and 1650
How did migrants impact the maritime (movement of goods across seas) trade?
-Jewish traders working in England’s ports helped the growth of Britain’s maritime empire
How did migrants impact finance?
-Jewish financiers invested in businesses, enabling economic growth and helping turn London into a major financial centre
-the first governor of the Bank of England (founded 1694) was a Huguenot as were 7 of the 25 directors
-they created a ‘National Debt’ that allowed governments to borrow large sums of money for various enterprises (businesses)
How did migrants impact the manufacturing industry?
-Huguenots invested in the Sheffield steel industry and started the English paper industry
How did migrants impact the fashion industry?
-Huguenots introduced new fabrics, styles and manufacturing techniques and revitalised the silk weaving trade
How did the Dutch impact agriculture?
-In 1630, Charles I asked Cornelius Vermuyden to drain the Fens in the east of England
-Dutch engineers and labourers worked for 20 years digging ditches, straightening rivers and building pumps and windmills
-by 1642, about 40,000 acres had been turned into fertile farmland
-new jobs in agriculture were developed and landowners become rich
