Power And The People Flashcards
(135 cards)
1
Q
What was the feudal system
A
King rules country, grants land to nobles, who give the king loyalty and service
2
Q
What was the feudal king expected to be like
A
A strong leader, excellent warrior, and to consult his barons
3
Q
Why didn’t King John live up to the barons aims- 4 reasons
A
1) argued with church, 2) increased tax, 3) poor in war, 4) was incompetent
4
Q
Result of King John arguing with church
A
The pope ended up banning church services; people were afraid they would go to hell because of John
5
Q
How did King John increase tax, why did this upset the barons?
A
He increased scutage (tax paid in lieu of military aid) to pay for his wars, but kept losing, so barons felt like they were losing money
6
Q
How was King John poor in war?
A
He lost Normandy in 1204, losing the barons’ land, and earned the nickname “Softsword”
7
Q
When did King John lose Normandy?
A
1204
8
Q
How long had English Kings held Normandy until King John lost it?
A
1066
9
Q
Why was King John seen as incompetent
A
He even lost the crown jewels in marshes near the Wash
10
Q
Why did the barons want the Magna Carta?
A
They were fed up with John’s poor kingship
11
Q
How did the barons enforce King John signing the Magna Carta
A
They raised an army; he didn’t have one so had to sign it
12
Q
When did King John sign the Magna Carta
A
15th June 1215
13
Q
Where did King John sign the Magna Carta
A
Runnymede
14
Q
What were the main two aims of the Magna Carta?
A
Stop unfair taxation and to stop arrest without trial
15
Q
What were the lesser aims of the Magna Carta (4)
A
Ensure a baron’s heir inherited his land; let the Church make its own appointments; protect merchants; create a group of 25 barons to monitor the King
16
Q
Was the Magna Carta significant in the short term?
A
Not really
17
Q
Why wasn’t the Magna Carta significant in the short term (2)
A
John only agreed to avoid civil war and later went back on his word- the civil war restarted and only ended when he died // It had limited scope as it only covered the barons relationship to the king, not ordinary people who weren’t freemen such as peasants and villeins
18
Q
What year did King John die?
A
1216
19
Q
Which new king agreed to the Magna Carta after John
A
Henry III (he was 9 at the time)
20
Q
Was the Magna Carta significant in the long term?
A
Yes
21
Q
Why was the Magna Carta significant in the long term(4)
A
As more people became free, it applied to more people // it established the idea that a king has responsibilities to the people and could be held to account // it became a symbol of the power of the people // it was the beginning of democracy
22
Q
Example of later movements drawing from the Magna Carta
A
Benjamin Franklin, during the American Revolution, asserted his rights “as declared by the Magna Carta” to challenge unfair taxation
23
Q
Why were the barons unhappy with King Henry III
A
He ruled unpredictably and lived extravagantly, meaning he was always short on money; he lost two major wars in France; listened to only a few advisers -> the barons were afraid of history repeating itself as with his father John
24
Q
What were the Provisions of Oxford
A
A demand for a new form of government, created by the barons under the leadership of Simon de Montford
25
What did the Provisions of Oxford entail (4)
Fifteen barons would be in the Great Council, elected by 24 men, twelve chosen by the king and 12 by the barons // foreign members would be banished from the royal household // castles would be held by englishmen // each county would have a sheriff and taxes would be collected locally
26
What did the Provisions of Oxford mean?
The barons had more decision-making power than the King, who was accountable
27
Who lead the barons with the Provisions of Oxford
Simon de Montford
28
When were the Provisions of Oxford presented
1258
29
Why didn't King Henry III sign the Provisions of Oxford
The barons were divided, and he could see it
30
What did the barons do after Simon de Montford didn't sign the Provisions of Oxford
They asked Simon de Montford to lead an army against the king
31
In which battle did Simon de Montford win against the King?
The Battle of Lewes
32
What did Simon de Montford do after capturing the King in the Battle of Lewes
He reissued the Magna Carta and the Provisions of Oxford
33
Why did the turn on Simon de Montford
They thought he was too powerful
34
How did Simon de Montford try to increase support after the barons turned on him
He asked commoners, merchants and nights, to attend the meeting of the Great Council. This was England's first parliament, the first time commoners were consulted on national matters.
35
Why were the barons furious after Simon de Montford's first parliament?
He did not consult them over inviting commoners, they felt he was acting like a King, so switched support back to Henry III
36
How did Simon de Montford die
The King's forces (now the barons were on his side) overwhelmed his own at the Battle of Evesham
37
In which battle did Simon de Montford die
The Battle of Evesham
38
How was Simon de Montford and his parliament significant in the short term
The next king, Edward, knew he couldn't demand money from the barons, so called the Model Parliament to raise money
39
How was Simon de Montford and his parliament significant in the long term (4)
Parliament included commoners (though not peasants) // established the principle that parliament should be called to raise taxes // became a symbol of democratic principles // martyr for freedom and encouraged people to rebel about unfair rule
40
When did the Black Death arrive in England
1348
41
How much of the population did the Black Death kill
1/3
42
Which part of the population were most impacted by the Black Death
The peasants, AKA the majority of the population
43
What were the consequences of most peasants being killed by the Black Death?
They could choose who they worked for and for what price, angering lords who lost power and control over the peasants, who were also scared of their crops failing and income decreasing
44
What law did King Edward III pass to control the peasants after the Black Death?
The Statute of Labourers
45
What did the Statute of Labourers entai?
Peasants had to work for their pre-black death wages
46
Why did government revenue fall after the black death?
because the decreased population meant less people paying taxes
47
Why did King Richard II introduce poll tax?
The government had little money after the Black Death, and he needed money to fight a war with France
48
What was the medieval poll tax
Everyone had to pay the same: 1 shilling and 4 pence
49
Why was the medieval poll tax devestating for the peasants?
It was over two weeks' worth of a labourers wages
50
When did villagers in Kent and Essex refuse to pay the poll tax and threaten the tax collecter
30 May 1381
51
What was the Tax collector threatened by villagers in Kent and Essex called
John Bampton
52
When did the Chief Justice attempt to collect poll tax from the villagers of Kent and Essex, but instead had his clerk beheaded
2 June 1381
53
When did the rebel peasants free John Ball, a radical priest and kill the Archbishop of Canterbury
7 June 1381
54
When did the peasant's revolt reach london?
13 June 1381
55
When did rebel peasants meet with Richard II and demand all villeins to be made free
14 June 1381
56
When did peasant's demand more changes to the law (such as for Church land to be given to the people), Wat Tyler be killed, and the king agree to their demands (to prevent a riot)
15 June 1381
57
Was it just peasants in the peasant's revolt
No, it also included freemen, constables and reeves but they were ALL COMMONERS, the first time commoners rebelled
58
What was the short term significance of the peasants' revolt (3)
Mixed, the King went back on his word and hanged hundreds of rebels, including John Ball, however it deeply scared the King and Nobles, the government also began persecuting the Lollards, the group of christians that John Ball belonged to for the next century
59
What did John Ball preach
That all men should be equal
60
Long term significance of the peasants' revolt (3)
Peasants were never taxed so heavily again, peasants wages continued to rise, many nobles treated peasants better and many ended up being freed
61
Why did Henry VIII resent the Catholic church
The pope refused to let him divorce Catherine of Aragon; and they had power and wealth in England, which he wanted some of
62
How did Henry VIII respond to his struggle with the Catholic church?
He made a new church, the Church of England, with him as head, and dissolved the monasteries, selling the land to the gentry
63
When did Henry VIII dissolve the monasteries
The 1530s
64
What societal problems did Henry VIII's religious changes cause (4)
Social problems, political problems, economic problems and religious problems
65
How did Henry VIII's religious changes cause social problems
The church was the centre of people's social lives, but was now gone
66
How did Henry VIII's religious changes cause political problems
Some nobles lost influence, some gained it, the balance was lost and resentment built up
67
How did Henry VIII's religious changes cause economic problems
The dissolution of the monasteries came with an increase in tax
68
How did Henry VIII's religious changes cause religious problems
Many people preferred Catholicism and resented the change
69
When did the Pilgrimage of Grace begin
1536
70
Over changes to which church did the Pilgrimage of Grace becagin over
the Church in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire
71
Who led the Pilgrimage of Grace
Robert Aske, a lawyer
72
Why did rebels call it the "Pilgrimage of Grace"
To show that they had peaceful intentions
73
What were the demands of the Pilgrimage of Grace protesters
England should return to Catholicism, Henry should fire his corrupt ministers
74
How many were involved in the Pilgrimage of Grace
8,000
75
What did Pilgrimage of Grace rebels do to get attention
Captured towns in the North
76
Who did Henry VIII send to negotiate with the Pilgrims
The Duke of Norfolk, because he was Catholic
77
How did Pilgrims respond to the Duke of Norfolk's assurance that the King would listen
They went home, thinking it was over
78
When did the Pilgrims rebel a second time
January 1437
79
What did the Pilgrims do as their second rebellion
Attacked castles in the north
80
How did the Duke of Norfolk react to the Pilgrims' second rebellion
He hanged 74 rebels
81
How many rebels did the Duke of Norfolk hang?
74
82
What happened to Robert Aske after the second rebellion
He was summoned to London, immediately arrested, and executed
83
Short term significance of the Pilgrimage of Grace (3)
No more religious rebellion's during Henry's reign // Henry diminished Catholic power in England, allowing his successor Edward to make more protestant changes // Henry had total control of the country
84
Long term significance of the Pilgrimage of Grace
Not much, but could have been influential to the creation of Elizabeth's Poor Laws, which provided help for people after the dissolution of the monasteries, and therefore the welfare state 400 years later
85
How long did Charles I rule without calling Parliament
11 years
86
When did Charles I finally call Parliament
1640
87
Why did Charles I finally call Parliament
To raise taxes for his disastrous war in Scotland
88
What did MPs present Charles I with
The Grand Remonstrance
89
What was the Grand Remonstrance
A list of complaints and demands, such as control of the army
90
How did Charles I react to the Grand Remonstrance
He tried to arrest the leading MPs, but they had already fled. Instead, he left London and began to prepare for civil war
91
Who led the resistance army against Charles I
Oliver Cromwell
92
What was Cromwell's army called?
The New Model Army
93
Why were the New Model Army better than the royalist army?
Better equipped, better trained and GOOD TACTICS
94
How were New Model Army tactics good?
Officers were appointed because of merit, not social status; the addition of a Scoutmaster-General meant that excellent reconnaissance aided them
95
How did the rebels charge the Charles I?
Guilty of treason
96
When was Charles I executed
30 January 1649
97
Short term significance of the English Revolution
Huge, England became a republic for 11 years, ruled by Parliament, Cromwell and the Army, however none worked out so Parliament asked Charles II to become King after Cromwell died
98
What years was England a republic
1649-1660
99
What was the English Republic known as
The Commonwealth
100
Long term significance of the English Revolution (3)
Parliament meant more regularly, had more independence and power, army tactics changed to emulate the New Model Army
101
How many British colonies were in America
13
102
What was the population of the American colonies
25 million
103
Why was 'freedom' an ingrained desire to Americans
Many had travelled there in search for freedom
104
Why did Americans think that taxation was unfair
They had no representation in Parliament, yet were taxed by it
105
What were the demands of the Americans?
"No taxation without representation"
106
When did Americans hold a series of protests and declare themselves independent
1776
107
When did Britain surrender as they couldn't keep up the fight over the long distance
1783
108
Short term significance of the American Revolution
Trade actually picked up for Britain with the USA, so they could take over Australia, New Zealand and India // Incompetent political leadership was questioned // Political radicals were dealt with harshly for the next 50 years
109
Long term significance of the American Revolution
Inspired radicals, prompting the French Revolution // Gave colonies the idea to reject European Power such as India in 1947
110
When did India gain independence
1947
111
What was a Rotten Borough
a borough where no one lived, yet sent an MP anyway
112
Evidence that the british electoral system was out of date
New cities like Birmingham had no MP
113
Why was the British Electoral system "unfair" (3)
Only property owners could vote, factory owners were not represented in parliament, there were no secretly ballots which allowed for intimidation or bribery
114
how did the government make poverty worse after the Napoleonic Wards
Increased taxes on corn, making bread more expensive
115
When was the Peterloo Massacre
1819
116
Where was the Peterloo Massacre
St Peter's Fields in Manchester
117
Who was the speaker at the Peterloo Massacre
Henry Hunt
118
How many people were at the Peterloo Massacre
60,000
119
How many died at the Peterloo Massacre
11
120
What Act did the government bring in after the Peterloo Massacre
the Six Acts
121
What did the Six Acts entail
Meetings of more than 50 people were banned
122
When was a petition for franchise reform started
1830
123
Who started the petition for franchise
Thomas Attwood
124
How many people signed the petition for franchise
8,000 people
125
What did the Whig government introduce as response to the petition for francise
the Reform Act
126
What did the Reform Act do
redistributed MPs so that industrial towns were represented, gave merchants and factory owners the vote, but not non property owners
127
When were the Chartists formed
1836
128
How did the Chartists demand franchise refrom
petitions, strikes and violence
129
What petition did the Chartists present to Parliament in 1848
The Great Petition to Parliament
130
Why did the Chartists fail
Incompetence (thought the petition had 5 mil signatures, but only had 2 mil) // violent protests were deal with harshly by the government after revolutions in Europe eg in France
131
Who were the Anti-Corn Law League
Protesters of the corn laws, which made bread more expensive
132
How did the Anti-Corn Law League protest
Through pamphlets and meetings, and via politics
133
How did the Anti-Corn Law League protest via politics
Richard Cobden and John Bright became MPs and won the support of the PM
134
Which famine allowed the repeal of the Corn Laws
The famine of 1845
135
What was significant about the Corn Law repeal
It was the first time the government had acted in the interests of the poor
