The History of Great Britain 2

Flashcards about The Early Modern Age – Religion, Growth, Consolidation and Conflict

Early Modern Period

A period marked by the Age of Discovery, Renaissance, Humanism, and Reformation.

The Tudors

• Henry VII

• Henry VIII

• Edward VI

• (Lady Jane Gray)

• Mary I

• Elizabeth I

Henry VII

Tudor monarch during the Early Modern Period.

Henry VIII

Tudor monarch who initiated the English Reformation.

Henry VIII and the English Reformation

Broke from the Catholic Church to secure a divorce, became Supreme Head of the Church of England, leading to the English Reformation, dissolution of monasteries, and English Bible use—despite earlier being named Defender of the Faith for opposing Luther.

Edward VI

Tudor monarch who further introduced Calvinist Protestantism.

Mary I

Tudor monarch who returned England to Catholicism ('Bloody Mary').

Elizabeth I

Tudor monarch who restored a moderate form of Protestantism.

Defensor Fidei

Honorary title given to Henry VIII by the Pope for arguing against Martin Luther.

English Reformation

Initiated by Henry VIII, leading to the monarch as 'Supreme Head' of the English Church.

Dissolution of the Monasteries

The act of Henry VIII dissolving monasteries to strengthen the English monarchy.

Reformation in Wales

Fairly successful, with the Bible in Welsh boosting the language.

Reformation in Ireland

Unsuccessful, with Ireland remaining largely Catholic and religion becoming a dividing line.

Reformation in Scotland

Radical, Calvinist Protestantism taking hold, weakening ties with France.'

but: the Highlands and Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, remain Catholic

John Knox

Scottish Reformator.

Reformation in England

Imposed by the monarchy, faced early revolts (e.g. Pilgrimage of Grace). Shifted from Calvinist reforms under Edward VI, to Catholicism under Mary I, then to moderate Protestantism under Elizabeth I. Elizabeth, as Supreme Governor, led England to become a Protestant nation aiding Protestants abroad in a mostly Catholic Europe.

Pilgrimage of Grace

Initial revolts against changes during the Reformation in England.

Supreme Governor

Title of Elizabeth I as head of the English Church.

Elizabethan Religious Settlement

A 1563 compromise aiming to unite Protestants and moderate Catholics under Elizabeth I, leading to religious tensions, the 1605 Gunpowder Plot, and rebellions in Ireland with early English Plantations in Munster.

Gunpowder Plot

A Catholic plot in 1605 led by Guy Fawkes to assassinate James I.

Plantations in Munster

First plantations in Ireland during Elizabeth I's reign due to rebellions.

Guy Fawkes Day

5th November, a Protestant holiday commemorating the failure of the Gunpowder Plot.

The Virgin Queen

A title of Elizabeth I, also known as Gloriana.

• The Elizabethan Age

Elizabethan Age

Time of growing proto-nationalism and literature.

• William Shakespeare, Philip Sydney, Edmund Spencer, Christopher Marlowe, …

Elizabeth I – Politics

Elizabeth had to deal with Mary, Queen of Scots, who wanted her throne and was later executed. The Pope made her an enemy in 1570. She fought Catholic Spain and won by defeating the Spanish Armada in 1588. Elizabeth helped Protestant countries, supported explorers like Francis Drake, tried to start colonies in America, and set up trade companies like the East India Company.

Mary, Queen of Scots

Cousin of Elizabeth I, involved in plots to establish her on the English throne.

Excommunication of Elizabeth

Happened in 1570 by Pope Pius V.

Spanish Armada

Defeated by England in 1588, marking the beginnings of England's rise to world power.

East India Company

Chartered company established in 1600.

Sir Walter Raleigh

Attempted unsuccessful settlements in Virginia.

Elizabeth I in Popular Memory

Elizabeth is famous for beating the Spanish Armada, starting England’s rise as a world power. She said she had the heart of a king. She was seen as a hero for Protestantism and the Elizabethan Age is called England’s Golden Age.

Speech at Tilbury

Famous speech by Elizabeth I in 1588, displaying strength and resolve.

Sir Francis Drake

One of Elizabeth I's favorites.

Earl of Essex

One of Elizabeth I's favorites.

Union with Scotland (1603)

James VI of Scotland inherits English throne, becoming James I & VI.

England under the Early Stuarts

King Charles I faced fights over religion (moderate Anglican vs. Puritans) and power (King vs. Parliament). He tried to rule without Parliament. Scotland rebelled because they didn’t like his religious rules.

Charles I

Early Stuart monarch in conflict with Parliament and Scotland.

Puritanism

More radical Calvinism, in conflict with moderate Anglicanism under Charles I.

The Path to Civil War

Charles I needed money and called Parliament. Parliament wanted to limit the king’s power, control money, meet regularly, and support stronger Protestant rules. Charles refused and used force, leading toward war.

The Long Parliament

Demanded reforms limiting the power of the king.

English Civil War

(1642-48) King vs. Parliament / Cavaliers vs. Roundheads.

1649

Execution of Charles I, monarchy abolished, England becomes a ‘Commonwealth’

Commonwealth

England after the execution of Charles I.

Oliver Cromwell

Ruled as Lord Protector from 1653-1658.

England in the Interregnum

Under Puritan rule: theatres closed, Christmas banned, Jews and some Protestants tolerated but not Catholics. Churches were purified, and some wanted more people to vote and big changes.

The Interregnum in Ireland

• 1607 ‘Flight of the Earls’ (after failed rebellion)

• 1607ff. Ulster Plantations

• 1641 Rebellion in Ireland

• Brutal conquest of Ireland under Cromwell, much land taken away from Irish owners

The Interrengnum in Scotland

Scots loyal to Stuart Kings, invade England under Charles II → Cromwell conquers Scotland, land placed under English rule

Restoration

Puritan rule ended, and Charles II became king. He struggled with Parliament over money. Theatres reopened with the first actresses. Charles II was called The Merry Monarch and had famous friends like actress Nell Gwyn. It was also a time of science, with the Royal Society founded in 1660

Samuel Pepys

Naval administrator and diarist during the Restoration.

Charles II

The Merry Monarch during the Restoration.

Nell Gwyn(ne)

Actress and mistress of Charles II.

Royal Society

Founded in 1660, a time of science during the Restoration.

Isaac Newton

Figure of science during the Restoration.

The Restoration – Problems

People worried Charles II might favor Catholics. Laws (Test Acts) kept Catholics out of government and army. Puritans and dissenters faced restrictions. England suffered the 1665 plague and the 1666 Great Fire of London, which led to rebuilding the city.

Test Acts

Excluded Catholics from army, Parliament, and other offices during the Restoration.

Great Plague

Happened in England in 1665.

Fire of London

Happened in 1666, leading to the rebuilding of London.

The Glorious Revolution (1688/9)

James II, a Catholic king, wanted to give Catholics more rights. When his son was born, people feared a Catholic ruler for long. James was removed, and William of Orange and Mary (his Protestant daughter) were invited to rule together.

Glorious Revolution

1688/9, deposition of James II, William of Orange and Mary invited to rule.

Bill of Rights

1689 Signed by William III and Mary II, establishing a constitutional monarchy.

Toleration Act (1689)

Granted religious toleration to Dissenters, not to Catholics.

Battle of the Boyne

1690, William of Orange defeats troops loyal to James II in Ireland.

Act of Union (1707)

Creates the United Kingdom of Great Britain.

Act of Settlement (1701)

No Catholics may inherit the English throne.

No Monarch may leave England without consent of Parliament

No foreign wars without consent of Parliament

Showed: monarchy dependent on Parliament

George I

Hanoverian succession (1714).

Jacobite Rebellion

1715, loyalty to Stuart dynasty.

The Old Pretender

Son of James II.

Bonnie Prince Charlie

The Young Pretender.

Battle of Culloden

1746, Bonnie Prince Charlie was beaten.

Highland Clearances

End of traditional Highland culture after the Battle of Culloden. (scotland)

Jacobitism

Loyalty to Stuart dynasty to restore them to the throne.

Alexander Pope

Famous Jacobite.

Penal laws

Anti-Catholic laws.

Declaratory Act

1720, British Parliament may pass laws on Ireland.

Wolfe Tone

United Irishman patriotic group that fights for rights of Irish (all dominations represented) → Insurrection with French support, put down → England strengthens control over Ireland.

Act of Union (1800)

Parliamentary union between UK and Ireland.

John Cabot

Discoveries of John Cabot in Newfoundland (1497).

Jamestown

1607 foundation of Jamestown by Virginia Company.

Plymouth

1620 foundation of Plymouth by Pilgrim Fathers.

Anglo-Dutch Wars

Rivalries against the Netherlands.

Seven Years’ War

Rivalries against France.

Triangle of Trade

Britain and the Slave Trade.

Captain James Cook

Exploration in Pacific since 17th c. 1770s.

Adam Smith

Shift away from Mercantile Protectionism to Free Trade.

War of the Grand Alliance

1689-1697, England and European Politics in the late 17th and 18th Centuries.

War of the Spanish Succession

1701-1714, England and European Politics in the late 17th and 18th Centuries.

Duke of Marlborough

Becomes a military hero in the War of the Spanish Succession.

French Revolution

1789 The Third Estate forms a National Assembly and establishes a constitutional monarchy.

Napoleon Bonaparte

Becomes First Consul • 1804-1815 Napoleon becomes Emperor of France.

London Corresponding Society

Fear radicalism.

Congress of Vienna

Post-Napoleonic order in Europe.

Admiral H. Nelson

Victors of the Battles of Trafalgar.

Duke of Wellington

Victors of the Waterloo.

Whigs

Protestant values, sympathetic to Dissenters and the ‘Glorious Revolution’.

Tories

Great respect for powers of monarchy and the Anglican church.

Robert Walpole

PM,Political system based on patronage, bribery and family loyalties.

Georg Friedrich Handel

German-born Baroque composer • Settled in London in 1712.

Zadok the Priest

Used as Coronation Anthem.

Enlightenment and learning

e.g. Isaac Newton, Adam Smith, John Locke.