Stuarts

Section 1: Chapter 1 - 1603 - 29

What is the definition of the Political Nation

people in early modern Britain who had economic, political and social influence.

what did the kings prerogative have power over?

• foreign diplomacy as head of state

• declaration of war as commander-in-chief of the military

• legislation, through the right to call and dissolve parliament

• religion, as supreme governor (head) of state

what is the kings prerogative

the power of the crown, derived from the divine right of kings.

What is a subsidy?

a form of financial support to aid crown policies

what were crown lands?

lands belonging to the crown which could be rented in order to make money

what are custom duties

taxes from goods imported into the country

what are feudal dues?

the crown had the right to control an estate that was inherited by ancient right by an heir under the age of 21

what was a parliamentary subsidy?

funds approved by parliament for emergencies such as war.

why did prerogative income concern parliament?

If a monarch became financially successful, they could establish themselves as absolute and would not need to rule with parliament.

what was a limit of absolution?

the monarch needed the political nation to help control the general population

which social groups were also included in the political nation?

• The aristocracy

• the lesser gentry whose status was based on land ownership

• lawyers, merchants, etc - those whose wealth relied on income not derived from land ownership (known as the pseudo-gentry)

how many people were living in england by 1603

4,110,000

what fraction of the adult male population did the political nation represent.

1/200

what happened to the population between 1500 and 1650

it nearly doubled

why did the population double 1500-1650?

• price inflation (esp food)

• food shortage

• land shortage

• unemployment

• greater reliance on the state for poor relief

what was a the ‘great chain of being’

The idea that everyone was intended to be where they were in terms of economic, social, and political standing - chosen by god

why was ownership of land a benefit?

The increasing population enabled landowners to benefit from the increasing price for food.

where did the pseudo-gentry work?

Church, medicine, music, surveying, architecture or the visual arts.