17th Century British History Review

Flashcards reviewing key events and figures from 17th century British History

Who was Elizabeth Isham?

A pious noblewoman whose diary provides insight into the intellectual and spiritual life of early 17th-century Protestant women.

What is the Chain of Being?

A hierarchical structure of all matter and life, decreed by God, that reinforced monarchist and patriarchal structures.

What is the significance of the term 'Daughters of Eve'?

It refers to the misogynistic notion that women were inherently sinful, influencing social, legal, and religious views of women.

What was Emmanuel College known for?

Training Puritan ministers and spreading reformed theology, contributing to the intellectual base for Parliamentary resistance.

What was the Calvinist Consensus?

A broad Protestant agreement under Elizabeth I and James I based on Calvinist doctrine.

What was the Gunpowder Plot (1605)?

A failed Catholic plot to blow up Parliament and kill King James I, leading to stricter anti-Catholic laws.

What was the Amboyna Massacre (1623)?

The execution of English traders by the Dutch in Indonesia, used as propaganda to promote anti-Dutch sentiment and imperial ambitions.

What was the Ulster Plantation?

The colonization of Northern Ireland with English and Scottish Protestants, deepening sectarian divides.

What role did tobacco play in Britain's transformation?

It became a key economic driver via colonies like Virginia, linking Britain’s transformation to global commerce and colonial exploitation.

What was the New England Way?

A Puritan model of church governance in early American colonies, emphasizing congregational independence and moral society.

What was the Overbury Scandal (1613)?

The murder of Sir Thomas Overbury revealed court corruption, undermining public trust in the monarchy.

Who was George Villiers (Duke of Buckingham)?

A royal favorite under James I and Charles I whose monopolization of patronage fueled resentment.

Who was Frederick V?

A Protestant Elector Palatine and briefly King of Bohemia whose defeat in the Thirty Years’ War influenced English foreign policy.

What was the Spanish Match?

Charles I's proposed marriage to a Spanish Catholic princess, sparking opposition in Parliament due to anxieties about Catholic influence.

Who was Henrietta Maria?

The French Catholic queen consort of Charles I, seen as a threat to Protestantism due to her religion and influence.

What was the Forced Loan (1626-27)?

Charles I's attempt to raise funds without Parliament, considered illegal taxation and a cause of political unrest.

Who was John Felton?

The assassin of George Villiers (Duke of Buckingham) in 1628, seen by some as a hero due to Villiers' unpopularity.

Who was Jenny Geddes?

She allegedly threw a stool at a minister in protest of the Anglican-style BOCP in Scotland (1637), symbolizing Presbyterian resistance.

What is the 'Beauty of Holiness'?

Aesthetic and ritual emphasis in worship promoted by Archbishop Laud, seen as 'popish' by Puritans.

Who was Thomas Wentworth (Earl of Strafford)?

Charles I’s key advisor and enforcer of authoritarian policies, executed by Parliament in 1641.

Who were the Covenanters?

Scottish Presbyterians who opposed Charles I's religious reforms, leading to the Bishops’ Wars.

What was the Irish Rebellion (1641)?

A Catholic uprising against Protestant settlers, used by Parliamentarians to justify war against Charles I.

Who were the Independents?

Radical Puritans advocating for congregational autonomy, influencing the New Model Army's ideology.

What was the New Model Army?

Parliament’s professional military force in the Civil War, radically democratic and central to the execution of Charles I.

Who were the Levellers?

A radical political group advocating for suffrage, equality, and religious freedom, influencing modern democratic theory.

What were the Putney Debates (1647)?

Discussions within the New Model Army about governance and rights, a critical moment for democratic thought.

What happened at Drogheda (1649)?

A brutal massacre by Cromwell’s forces in Ireland, symbolizing English cruelty and deepening Irish hostility.

What is the Royal Oak symbolic of?

Charles II’s escape after the Battle of Worcester, becoming a royalist myth after the Restoration.

Who were the Quakers?

A radical religious group emphasizing inner light and equality, challenging church and state authority.

What was the Clarendon Code?

A series of laws aimed at enforcing conformity to the Church of England and suppressing dissenters after the Civil War.

What was the RAC (Royal African Company)?

Chartered in 1672, it monopolized English involvement in the transatlantic slave trade.

What was the Great Fire (1666)?

A devastating fire in London blamed on Catholics, leading to modernization but also reinforcing religious paranoia.

Who was Louis XIV?

King of France and model of absolutist Catholic monarchy, fueling English fears of 'popery and tyranny'.

What was the Test Act (1673)?

It required public officials to swear against transubstantiation, barring Catholics from office.

Who were the Tories and Whigs?

Emergent political factions: Whigs were anti-absolutist and pro-Parliament; Tories were royalist and pro-church.

Who was Aphra Behn?

One of the first professional female writers, a staunch royalist reflecting post-Restoration ideologies.

Who was Mary of Modena?

Catholic wife of James II, her birth of a Catholic heir triggered the Glorious Revolution.

What was the Battle of Boyne (1690)?

A decisive Protestant victory over James II in Ireland by William III, cementing Protestant ascendancy.