Society alevel history

1 Britain 1625-1701: Soc Pop. Increase. Migration

Particular impact of migration on pop growth especially around times of revolution and war. 

2 Commonwealth and religious toleration established 1649 - large numbers or foreign immigrants arrived in 1651. 

3 Migrants made up 35% of the population of Norwich by 1600 - economic migrants (skilled Dutch weavers) from the Low Countries(Netherlands).

4 Migration within Britain taking place - living in towns for work - job/economic security lead to more children being born.

5 Widespread poverty in both town and country lead to large numbers leaving.

6 Only 5% of Britain’s pop lived in towns with over 5,000 inhabitants outside of London

Britain 1625-1701:Soc Pop.Increase,Mortality & fertility 

 Death rates were lower than in the preceding 3 centuries due to lack of plague.

2 Epidemics hampering pop growth reduced greatly by 1625 not due to medical advances, but the pop increasing the isolation of victims 

3 Pop killed by bouts of disease often replaced within 10 yrs. Death of elder relatives = early marriage = more children

4  Death rates high = fertility high     Death rates low = lower birth rate

5 The pop expanded and contracted through period - did not always follow clear pattern 

6 High fertility driven by massive growth of London. Low fertility due to the high average age of marriage - less time to have children

 Britain 1625-1701:  Soc Pop. Impact Towns. London

London became the largest city in Western Europe - overtook Paris and Naples in 1650.

2 400,000 people lived in London (7% of British pop) - 4 times bigger than the next largest English towns (Norwich and Bristol) 

3 Growth of London impacted rural economy because nearly 400% more grain was sent to to feed London.

4 London was the heart of the road and shipping networks.

5 The growth of the Stuart economy was due to drastic growth of London.

4 Britain 1625-1701:  Soc Pop. Impact towns. Other

1600 = 8 towns 5000+ people    1700 = over 30 towns 5000+ people 

2 towns that expanded during this period were generally ports or industrial centres - expanded due to increase of trading activities.

3 Norwich = centre of East Anglian cloth industry,welcomed many Dutch migrants.

4 Port towns like Bristol and Liverpool became industrial centres, processing imported goods.

5 N.E England became centre for coal extraction industry.

6 Outside major pop centres there were 600-750 towns with <2,000 people. 

 Britain 1625-1701: Soc Pop. Impact towns. Pop growth

In 1650 7% of English population lived in London increasing over 9% in 1700’s this compares 2.25% in 1520  

2) The growth of London also impacted the rural economy as a huge amount of agricultural goods were needed to feed the city, including 400 % more grain being produced

3) In the 17th norwich was the most populous town outside of london with 30,000 inhabitants the next largest was bristol with 25,000

4) Ports such as bristol and liverpool became industrial centres, processing the goods imported from abroad 

5)Outside the major population centres there was between 600-750 provisional towns and at least 500 had these populations >2000

6) the number of manufacturing led to the growth of the size of Ipswich where the population increased from 4000 in 1600 - 7500 in 1680

6 Britain 1625-1701: Pop. Impact rural LIFE

The economy was dominated by agriculture it was the heart of the     (economy one of these counties was Gloustichere,

2) 9 million acres of english land was used for growing crops                                                                              (eg.wheat and barley) 

3) 17th century pop increasing by reasonable rate, however after 1650 inflation meant small landowners couldn't invest in their farms so they had to sell them

4) As population increased more farms were amalgamated and enclosed in order to make larger farms that focuses on production of one crop

5) The growing number of people living in towns caused the countryside to support the growth and employmnt in agriculture became the most reliable

6) As london and other towns expanded new markets needed so infrastructure of countryside transport had to be improved

7 Britain 1625-1701: Soc Pop. Poor Law. Before 1660

Number of poor laws were passed under the tudors, culminating in Elizabeth’s poor relief act in 1601 (old poor laws)

2) The basic principal behind the original poor law was provision should be made for the relief for those unable to work through disability

3) The earlier laws were inevitably interpreted to suit local circumstances, with some able bodied people receiving relief and other disabled people being punished

4) The 1601 act overseers of the poor: became chief local officials; overseers were appointed to parishes;poor could be sent to poorhouses

5) The act provided poor relief throughout the reign of Charles I

6) in 1650 state relief act stood at at least £188,000compared to £30,000 in 1614

 Britain 1625-1701: Soc Pop. Poor Law. After 1660

1) After the restoration of the monarchy 1660 the poor rates were grudgingly paid and wealthier parishioners began to complain about vagrants squatting in common land.

2) The cavalier parliament passed the poor relief 1662 which gave more power to local admins;restricted the movement individuals taking poor relief.

3) If a resident decided to move to a new parish they were entitled for poor relief if they remained for 40 days if complaints were made they would be sent back to their original parish

4) The act was significant as it proved where they lived and the definition of poor had been constituted for the first time

5) It was was now easier for parishioners to expel newcomers and wandering around parishioners was a criminal offence

6)Owners of large estates could demolish houses on their land, preventing those who had left

Britain 1625-1701: Soc Structure. Gr Poverty. The Poor

 Competition for work as a result of population growth led to an increase in poverty.
2 Population growth led to an increase in poverty which was caused by falling wages and rising prices in the Stuart period. 

3 Contemporary writers believed that the number of poor was larger than it actually was.
4 There was an increase in migration as people looked for work.

5 Another impact of this would be that it introduced the Poor Laws and actions against beggars and Vagrants.

6 Increased enclosure of land led to lack of space for the poor to graze animals and a shortage of food meant that living conditions for the poor were getting worse.

10 Britain 1625-1701: Soc Structure Gr Poverty Divisions

The poor was divided into two groups the Settled poor and the Vagrant poor.
2 The Settled poor were those who were established in one parish and did not move around to beg to find work.
3 Vagrant poor were those who travelled in order to beg to find work they were treated like criminals under the law. 

4 In reality the number of vagrants was a lot lower than contemporaries suggested.
5 Vagrants were seen as genuine threat to society and roughly 0.5% of the population were arrested.

6 The settled poor made up around one quarter of the population, the number of vagrants were a lot less.

11Britain 1625-1701: Soc Ideas. Gr Poverty. Price inflation

 The poor became poorer in the 17th century as a result of price inflation. 

2 The price inflation was at around 4% per year for consumable goods in the first half of the century. 

3 Without government help the effect of inflation on the poor may have threatened social and political order.

4 This was only helped by voluntary relief and limited state as so many people were in poverty at the time. 

5 The role of servants became much more popular (two fifths of the workforce being servants) as it safeguarded the poor from inflation as they were given free housing,clothing and food from their masters.

 Britain 1625-1701: Soc Pop. Rad Id. Levellers

Active from 1645-Leaders were John Lilburne, William Overton and William Walwyn- Called for widening of voting and equality under law.

2- Most influential work was An Agreement of the People (1647-49). Levellers became influential in the aftermath of the Civil War.

3- Leveller demands - House of Commons to be central government, House of Lords abolished, new constitution, people equal before the law.

4- Argued reform to the legal system and wanted local courts to be staffed by elective judges and calling for end to imprisonment for debt.

5- Most successful revolutionary group and ideas influenced later democratic movements. Although encouraged conservatism in others.

6- Another limit to success was disagreements between leaders and lacked a cohesive and consistent message. Minor national support.

Britain 1625-1701: Soc Pop. Rad Id. Ranters

- Small group of preachers in London in 1650, argued that those predestined to be saved by God were incapable of sin.

2- Therefore, believed that immoral sexual behavior, drinking, swearing and crime were legitimate activities.

3-Indulged in drunken orgies of which they were accused is doubtful, but but claims were believed and by 1651, leaders were in prison.

4- Were effectively banned by the Blasphemy Act of 1650 and there is doubt whether they were a significant force.

5- Sources discussing the Ranters were written by conservatives who would benefit from a population fearful to stray from Protestant church

6- The fear of the ranters was more important than the threat they actually posed. The Rump used this to pass acts to reduce religious toleration

 Britain 1625-1701: Soc Pop. Rad Id. Diggers

Equally scandalous, calling themselves the ‘True Levellers’ claiming that land ownership was based on man made laws invalidated by King's death

2- Set up rural communes for the poor and began to dig vegetables on common land in 1649. Group grew and became small community

3- Leaders interviewed by New Model Army leader,Thomas Fairfax, and refused to remove their hats in his presence 

4- Eventually left after losing court case brought by local landowners. Other Digger communities emerged and met the same fate

5- Had modern ideas on society, believing in,compulsory unisex education, House of Lords to be abolished and common ownership of production

6- Message was relevant to rural communities. Ideas too revolutionary for 17th century, more than the levellers,  leading to less support. 

Britain 1625-1701: Soc Pop. Rad Id. Seekers & Quaker

-Seekers were dissenting groups, emerging in the 1620s. Believed churches and clergy were unnecessary as God is to be found in individuals

2- More dangerous to suggest a radical change to personal beliefs than to structural changes than the Levellers/Diggers suggested.

3- Denied any religious or moral authority outside of the individual conscience of the voice of God within.

4- George Fox founded the Quakers, the largest and most enduring of all the groups. Believed that religion came from voice of God within.

5- Appeal in his personality and tireless missionary work. Quaker groups needed no external support to function, making them ideal for rural districts.

6- Wandering preachers could be arrested but movement flourished anyway. 35,000 Quakers in England by the end of the 1660s

6 Britain 1625-1701: Soc Soc. Nobility

Below the Monarch in social structure, around 2% population, held land and status, property and titles.

2. Significance began to decline towards the end of Elizabeth’s reign

3. Trevor-Roper argued that the fortunes of the nobility increased over the period.

4. Some of the Nobility had less influence than certain members of the Gentry because it was possible for a ‘gentlemen’ to be wealthier and have a higher status than the Nobility

5. Held land, property and titles that had been in their families for generations, including Lordi. 

6. The Nobility did not have much expendable wealth in their estates. The Nobility controlled 15% of wealth and property across the country.

17 Britain 1625-1701: Soc Soc. Rise of Gentry

. R.H. Tawney holds the view that the fortunes of the gentry increased in contrast with the fortunes of the nobility that decreased.

2. Increased in number by 300% between the early Tudor period and the middle of 17th century. 

3. the total number of Gentry was 15,000 with 12,000 lesser Gentry and 3000 higher.

4. Half of all wealth across the country belonged to the Gentry. 

5. Members of the lesser Gentry could become constables or judges whereas the higher Gentry could aspire to become MP’s.

Britain 1625-1701: Soc Soc. Gentry in politics

It became normal for the second or third sons of Gentry to enter a career in law which was seen as an ideal prerequisite for becoming an MP or joining the Privy council.

2. As parliament became more important in the build up to the civil war, the role of the Gentry was enhanced, most MP’s were members of the Gentry and, after personal rule, Charles had no choice but to turn to them to help fight the Scots.

3. Many of the officers who fought for parliament during the Civil War and later became high profile figures in the Republic were from the Gentry. 

4. With the abolition of the House of Lords in 1649, new opportunities were created.

5. According to the historian Tawney, the fortunes of the gentry peaked in the middle of the century. For example, the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell came from a relatively minor gentry background and achieved his position through his political skills and godly zeal.

Britain 1625-1701: Soc Soc. Urban. Merchants

As London and other major towns grew, the merchant class began to grow in power and influence.

2 It is estimated that around 64,000 merchants were trading in 1688 compared to around 34,000 in 1580

3 Depended on the growth of urbanisation including towns such as Bristol and Liverpool. The growth of London also helped their increase in fortunes. 

4 Some became hugely wealthy, however they could never command the same of influence and respect as the landed elites.

5 Merchants were often desperate to leave towns due to the threat of disease and the instability of the world of commerce.

6 Younger sons in landowning families would typically attempt to pursue a career in business.

Britain 1625-1701: Soc Soc. Urban. Professionals

. The number of professionals rose as a direct result of the rise in living standards of the gentry and merchants.

2. Improvements living standards meant people needed more services; the numbers of lawyers, doctors, architects, academics and bankers rose.

3. Membership of Greys inn rose from 120 barristers in 1574 to more than 200 in 1619.

4. Before, the only notable profession was the clergy, who would have gone to university. Now doctors and lawyers were gaining a similar status.

5. At the inner temple where lawyers trained,, 90% of the 1,700 students between 1600-40 were sons of nobility and gentry, the rest of nobles or merchants. This reflects the lack of education for lower classes as entry to grammar schools wasn’t possible for most yeomen and certainly not for girls.

21 Britain 1625-1701: Soc Soc. Women. Status

In the 17th century women were proporty of their husbands and fathers, unmarried wommen were viewed with sucpiction.

2. The vast majority of women acused of witch craft were unmarried

3.Progress for women was slow and relitivly nonexistant until the civil war.

4. The womens role was  to raise children, some could read to keep household reccords, but their education was milimal and bassed on class. gentry would direct staff, acricultural would carry out manual laybour.

5. The view women were irational, devious and a threat, came from the bible. Women could be punished by wearing the brank which meant they couldent speak, or being acused as a wich which was punishable by death.

6. After 1642, the ciivil war gave women opertunities to take on the roles of men. Many gentry women managed the estates, some such as Brilliana Harley and Mary Banks directed troops to protect their estates.

 Britain 1625-1701: Soc. Women. Impact puritanism

Puritains belived in wider education and in a religious structure where family was at the heart of worship, rather than the church. This made it nescicary for women to be able to read, to instruct their children religiously.

2. Other than this, even the puritains education for women was incredibly minimal. Many belived that too highly educated women were dangerous.

3. Even the quakers who advocated womens education, only 4/15 schools established before 1617 were willing to educate girls.

4. Dispite a lack of change in family lif eand education, women were at the forefront of polotical and social campaigns, especialy around the civil war.

5. There were a number of protests. August 1643: 6000 women petitioned parliment for peace, When the levler leader John Lilburn was imprisoned, his wife Elezibeth got 10,000 women to sighn a petition for his relese.

6. Parliment rejected it as they were sexist even though the women reminded them that women were also created in the image of god and should therefore be treated the same as men.

Britain 1625-1701: Soc Soc. Women. Impact law

The Toleration act of 1650 meant quakes could hold meetings in which women were able to speak freely

2. Their leader George Fox, argued in 1676 for the constitution of seperate women’s activities.

3. After the restoration in 1660, Charles II lifted the restriction on women performing in plays.

4. The marrige act in 1653 alowed civil mariges to take place, however it was largely avoided as it didn’t give men as much contol as a church did.

5. The adultery act of 1650 meant both men and women could be centenced to death, however women were often centenced more frequently and still seen as worser crimes so it was used against more women.

6. For example, in Middlesex, 24 women and 15 men were tried for adultery in the 1650’s. In Devon, male suspects made up only 10% of the 255 charges between 1650 and 1660.

4 Britain 1625-1701: Soc Id. End DM. 1625

1. A divine right monarchy is the belief that you’ve been chosen by God

2.  In 1625 england was a confessional state 

3.  They didn’t force one religion but it was so strongly believed that no one  challenge it

4.  Very few people opposed the concept and those who did accepted that they could be punished by the state

5.  those who did not conform didn’t object to the idea of uniformity but disliked the particular inversion being opposed

Britain 1625-1701: Soc Id. End DM. 1640

1. in 1640 there was plenty questioning the confessional state and organised to end the authority in religion

2. The Civil War encouraged people to explores alternatives to the church of England and Charles I

3.  Many radical groups wanted to see the end of the divine right monarchy

4.  A debate had started that would lead to a change in the role of the monarchy

5. between 1640 and 1660 increased freedom and toleration strengthened opposition

Britain 1625-1701: Soc Id. End DM 1688

1. Any attempt to reimpose the confessional state would fail

2. Attempts had failed after the civil war

3. Following the glorious revolution the monarch was now subject to law

4. there was still arguments within government about the monarch’s role in state in church

5. By 1688 the clergy’s view was shifting. Richard claridge announced that god shouldn’t have a role in government

6. Arminian priest, Daniel whitby, suggested that God did not intend divine right rule.

Britain 1625-1701: Soc Id. Phil. Hobbes

1. He was a philosopher with a background of tutoring the landed elite. 

2. He published his most important ideas in the book The Leviathan 1651, while tutoring the young charles II

3. The leviathan explained how people are driven by a lust for power

4. Because people are naturally afraid of each other they agree to a social contract where they confer all power to one political body. 

5. People should give up their personal liberties in order to be protected. 

6. Hobbes was influenced by the context of The civil War where he saw a struggle for power leading to a chaotic society. 

Britain 1625-1701: Soc Id. Phil. Locke

 John Locke was the most vocal proponent of what we would call today, liberalism. 

2) He is seen as opposing absolute monarchy in favour of individual rights and liberties (opposite of Hobbes views).

3) Locke’s father fought for Parliament in the Civil War.

4) Locke fled to Holland in 1675 and only returned in 1688, with the new queen Mary.

5) Locke is seen as the father of empiricism, as he only made conclusions from experience or from observing the experiences of others.

6) The treatises are seen as his most important pieces of work and were generally accepted as the justification of the glorious revolution, although they were written earlier.

Britain 1625-1701: Soc Id. Phil. Locke significance

His significance for the world of politics is in the contribution he made towards the contemporary debate between the Whigs and Tories.

2) He rejected the Tory view that absolutism was necessary for a fully functioning society.

3) He strongly believed that the confessional state should not be resurrected, and his patron, campaigned against crowning James II.

4) Locke believed that people entered a social contract, and that the contract meant that the government couldn’t interfere with basic human rights.

5) He believed the role of the government was to protect the basic rights of life, liberty and property, and that if the government didn’t do that, they people could destroy it.

 Britain 1625-1701: Soc Id. Sc Rev. Francis Bacon

 Bacon didn’t make a single scientific discovery, and he is instead remembered for his contribution towards the scientific method.

2) Method: Any preconceived theories should be rejected; Methodical and meticulous observation of facts was the best way to understand phenomena; Lots of data should be accumulated on the subject.

3)Bacon’s ideas were not widely implemented until after the CIvil war,due to the changes in social attitudes.

4) Bacon greatly influenced the founding of the Royal Society nearly 40 years after his death.

5) Bacon applied his empirical thinking to the study of nature, but others adopted his ideas ideas when they tried to understand religion.

6) The rational method made by Bacon, also spread to be used in the study society, philosophy and eventually history.

1 Britain 1625-1701: Soc Id. Sc Rev. Isaac Newton

He is widely recognised as one of the most influential scientists in history, due to his theories about calculus, classical mechanics and gravity.

2) His first letters to the Royal Society, concerning his research, led him to be invited to present his new invention, the reflective telescope.

3) His work built on the advances in astronomy, mathematics and physics that had been made before him.

4) By 1687, Newton was able to present his Galileo’s idea, along with his most famous discovery of universal gravitation, in his most respected work.

5)  Newton was aware that he would not have been successful if not for the previous thinkers who began the scientific revolution.

6) In 1703, Newton was elected as the twelfth president of the Royal Society, a post he held until his death.

Britain 1625-1701: Soc Id.  Royal Soc. Before 1662

In 1645 a group of natural philosophers formed what became known as the ‘invisible college’, a loosely organised collective who shared an interest in experimental investigation.

2 This shows that the need for a national scientific association was understood as early as 1645.

3 In 1660 (the Restoration) the political climate was suited to the formation of a more formal organisation.

4 Charles II’s interest in science inevitably contributed to the swift royal charter given to the society.

5 The society was formally proposed in November 1660, at a lecture by the architect Christopher Wren.

6 It was established in July 1662.

Britain 1625-1701: Soc Id. Royal Soc. Organisation

1. The society was divided into a number of committees each responsible for a different area of study

2. There was in investigation into the best way to improve the english language

3. Most experiments followed Bacon’s method in all areas of intellectual endeavor

4. After 1684 the society dedicated itself to scientific pursuits

5. Religious non conformers were excluded from oxbridge and many would attend for status rather than the desire to learn. 

6. Those who were engaged in pushing the boundaries of science did so through society.

 Britain 1625-1701: Soc Id. Royal Soc. Impact

 

the society has been seen by some historians to be less than significant, as it was simply a channel for scientists to air their discoveries.

2- However society agreed that the knowledge it would gather would only be used for the public good, not for a small group of intellectuals.

3- Encouraged foreign scholars to share discoveries and in 1665 these were presented in the first scientific journal, Philosophical Transactions.

4- The society also created a model to be followed by groups on the continent. 1666 the French Royal Academy of Sciences was established.

5- Aim to carry out work beneficial for public good achieved through public demonstrations. By 1688 science was part of the public consciousness.

6- Society gave a boost to increasing belief in Europe that humans could progress without divine assistance.