Day 31-33 Chapter 16 (p.448-452) (4.19) Puritan Revolution

Britain: The Puritan Revolution

Review • Absolutism

Characteristics

• Divine Right of Kings

• Sovereign power

• Centralization of Power

– Mercantilism

• Great Five Farms

• Commercial Code

– Edict of Fontainebleau

• Controlled nobility

– Palace of Versailles

• Bureaucracies

– Intendants (nobles of the robe)

• Standing army

• War of Spanish Succession

– “The Pyrenees exist no longer

– Balance of Power

– Grand Alliance v. Louis XIV

– Peace of Utrecht

Crane Brinton’s Anatomy of a Revolution• Proposed that all revolutions run in stages similar to a flu• Begin with moderation, progress to crisis stage, return to “normal”• Stage 1- Moderate Phase

– Revolution precipitated by financial crisis– Moderates (Nobles) take control– Attempt to address immediate issues

• Stage 2- Radical Phase– Radicals (Revolutionaries) take control– Reign of Terror/Regicide– Attempt a complete remake of society

• Stage 3- Thermidorian Phase– Reactionaries (Bourgeoisie & Nobles) regain control– Purge government of Radicals– Reject Radical ideals– Rule by tyranny– Stage noted for decadence

• Stage 4- Restoration Phase– Old order is restored with some changes adopted

Constitutionalism• Defined: gov. which is limited by

law• Balance between authority and

power of gov. and liberty of people

• Can be written or unwritten• Can be single document

(Constitution) or series of documents (Court decisions, parliamentary decisions, etc.)

• Can be monarchial or republican• Not necessarily a democracy

– Franchise (vote) did not come until late 1800s

• England went from absolutism to a Constitutional monarchy during the 1600s – How?

Constitution

English Absolutism

1603 1625 1629 1640 1649 1653 1660 1685 1688

James I Stuart Reign begins

Charles I comes to

power

Charles I dissolves Parliament after it issues Petition of

Right

Charles I beheaded

Charles II Stuart reigns

Glorious Revolution

Long Parliament

begins

The Protectorate

James II

Interregnum RestorationThorough

Moderate Radical Thermidorian RestorationBrinton’s Phases

English Society Circa 1603• Proportionally larger middle class than the rest of Europe

(except Netherlands)• More social mobility than other nations• House of Lords

– Old and declining nobility• House of Commons

– Comprised of wealthy landowners– Many had moved up from middle class– Richer, more educated than House of Lords– Had power of the purse

• Paid taxes so long as they had a say in expenditures– No stigma in paying taxes– Adopted capitalism– Largely Puritan (Ultra-zealous Calvinist)

• Anti Catholic• Wanted to “purify” Anglican Church• Wanted to eliminate Bishop

– Viewed as hierarchical and Catholic

– Adopted Protestant Work ethic

Elizabeth I died in 1603. Enter James I (Stuart)

• Contemporary Description of James• His beard very thin: his tongue too large for his

mouth, and made him drink very uncomely, as if eating his drink, which came out of the cup of each side of his mouth. his skin was as soft as taffeta sarsnet, which felt so, because he never washed his hands, only rubbed his finger ends slightly with the wet end of a napkin. His legs very weak, having had (as was thought) some foul play in his youth, or rather before he was born, that he was not able to stand at seven years of age, this weakness made him ever leaning on other men's shoulders, his walk was ever circular, his fingers in that walk ever fiddling about his codpiece. He was very temperate in his exercises, and in his diet, and not intemperate in his drinking.‘ Sir Anthony Weldon

WhoWhatWhenWhereHowWhy

James I (r.1603-1625)• 1603 Elizabeth I died with no heir• English crown went to James the IV of

Scotland – son of Mary (Queen of the Scotts) Stuart – became James I of England – Raised Calvinist but rejected its

democratic nature (Presbyters)– “the wisest fool in Christendom”– Had been King of Scotland for 35 years– Known for his decadent lifestyle– Believed in Absolutism!!!! – Wrote book called The True Law of Free

Monarchy• Free meant free to rule as he pleased• Rejected traditional power of Parliament

– Adopted the theory of the Divine right of kings

• King is responsible only to God

Why?

Source: King James Address to Parliament, 1609

The state of monarchy is the supremest thing upon earth; for kings are not only God's lieutenants upon earth, and sit upon God's throne, but even by God himself are called gods. .. Kings are justly called gods, for that they exercise a manner or resemblance of divine power upon earth: for if you will consider the attributes to God, you shall see how they agree in the person of a king. God hath power to create or destroy make or unmake at his pleasure, to give life or send death, to judge all and to be judged nor accountable to none; to raise low things and to make high things low at his pleasure, and to God are both souls and body due. And the like power have kings: they make and unmake their subjects, they have power of raising and casting down, of life and of death, judges over all their subjects and in all causes and yet accountable to none but God only. . . .

• As James IV of Scotland he was used to a weak Parliament

• Lectured Parliament on the royal rights– “There are no privileges and

immunities which can stand against a divinely appointed King.”

– Contradicted English tradition of Magna Carta

– Said he should not have to ask for money

• Wars with Spain left big debt and James wasn’t thrifty

• Took advise from incompetent “friends”

• Asserted Medieval right of Tunnage and poundage=– right of king to collect fixed income on

imports/exports

James I

George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham (1592–1628), by Peter Paul Rubens, 1625

The Gunpowder Plot• James I was raised Calvinist

– But rejected Presbyterian style of democratic churches

• James believed in “No Bishop, No King.”

• Absolutist point of view– Catholics had hoped that he would be

sympathetic to them but did not lift restriction on them

– Gun Powder Plot (November 5, 1605)• Catholic terrorist plan to assassinate

the King and entire Parliament• Placed 2.5 tons in basement under

Westminster Hall• Led by Guy Fawkes• Guy Fawkes night (Nov. 5, 1605)

celebrates the discovery of the Plot– James and his son Charles I were under

influence of Archbishop Laud

Guy Fawkes burned in Effigy

Today’s Agenda

• Review Stuff

• Finish Chapter 16 Puritan Revolution

• Homework

• Read handout, “The English place limits on Monarchial Power” and answer Questions 1-3 in a short paragraph

Review• How was the English nobles of the H of C

different from the French noble class?

• To what political belief did James I ascribe?

• Evidence?– True law of Free Monarch– Tonnage and Poundage

• What is the French equivalent to:– “No bishop. No King”– Parliament

• What are the four stages of a revolution according to Crane Brinton?

James I and Religion• James I had absolutist view of religion

– “No Bishop. No King!”• Had been petitioned by numerous

puritan ministers to rid England of “Popish errors”– Wedding rings, confirmations, certain

hats, kneeling• Instead King James forbade petitions to

the King• Commissioned the writing of a standard

Bible– King James Bible (1603-1611)

• Influenced by Archbishop Laud– Wanted uniform, centralized

standards throughout Britain– In 1627 he imposed the Book of

Common Prayer and bishoprics• Puritans and Presbyterians persecuted

Play from 3:00-

Big Picture

• V

Charles I (1625-1649)• An Absolutist• Reasserted justification of his rule

by divine right of Kings• Early Rule plagued by financial

crisis due to the 30 Years War• To save & raise money

– Quartered soldiers in homes• Led to martial law in certain

regions of England• Army is judge, jury, executioner

in any dispute– Forced loans

• Collected Taxes not approved by Parliament

– Arrested over 70 nobles who refused to “loan”

– But Still needed money• Convened Parliament in 1628 to

ask for more $$

The Petition of Right• Political document which

asserts limits to the King’s power

– Asserted Parliament’s right to levy taxes

– Called for due process– Right of habeas corpus

(trial)– No quartering– No martial law in

peacetime• Charles accepted

provisions at first• Later he dissolved

Parliament and ruled as an absolutist

The King willeth that right be done according to the laws and customs of the realm; and that the statutes be put in due execution, that the subject may have no just cause of complaint for any wrong or oppression, contrary to their just rights and liberties, to the preservation whereov he holds himself in conscience as well obliged of his just prerogative.

• Charles attempted to rule without Parliament (as an absolutist)

• Ship Money Dispute– Traditionally coastal towns paid taxes or provided

ships in time of war– Charles I needed money

• Extended medieval policy of ship money to all towns in England not just coastal cities

• An absolutist view of power• Parliament (most lived inland) resisted new tax

without its consent• Short Parliament

– In 1640 Charles called Parliament for $$– Refused his demands unless he agreed to Petition

of Right/Church reforms• Charles I dissolved the Parliament, called for

new elections BUT the same members returned

Thorough Period (1629-1640)

Long Parliament• Charles was desperate for $$ to stop the Scots• Long Parliament (1640-1649)

– Enacted legislation curbing King’s power (Moderates)

– Triennial Act• Parliament must be summoned every 3

years– Impeached Laud & abolished his

ecclesiastical court• I.e. his central control of the Anglican

Church– Demanded royal advisers be removed and

put to death– Abolished the Star Chamber– Abolished bishops (Calvinist view against

clergy)– Charles Agreed

Civil War (Part I)• Irish rebellion broke out but Parliament would

not give King an army• In 1642 Charles tried to arrest certain

Puritans in Parliament who opposed him– Crowd of 4 thousand stopped him

• Charles declared war on Parliament• Cavaliers

– Supported King– Comprised of clergy, old nobility from

House of Lords, and Irish Catholics who feared Puritanism

• Roundhead – Puritans and Congregationalists– Named for close haircuts of the Puritans– Allied with Scotland in return for Solemn

League– Sign Solemn League and Covenant

• Made Presbyterianism established religion of England, Scotland, and Ireland

Civil War (1642-1649)

Royalists(Cavaliers)Royalists(Cavaliers)

Parliamentarians(Roundheads)

Parliamentarians(Roundheads)

a House of Lords

a N & W England

a Aristocracy

a Large landowners

a Church officials

a More rural

† House of Commons

† S & E England

† Puritans

† Merchants

† Townspeople

† More urban

Oliver Cromwell • Radical Puritan leader of

the Roundheads• New Model Army• His army was religiously

zealous and highly organized

• Professional (not a militia)– 1st in English history

• Promoted on merit, not birth

• Known as the Ironsides • Fought beyond their region

of birth• Viewed as dangerous b/c in

followed Cromwell alone, not Parliament

• Cromwell called for the execution of Charles I for treason

• Parliament resisted• Pride’s Purge

– Cromwell sent in General Pride to get rid of members of Parliament who disagreed with him

– Cromwell purged the Parliament to a “Rump”

– Rump Parliament– had 500 members in 1640 and sunk to

150 in 1649• Cromwell reduced it to 50-60• King Charles I

– condemned for treason and executed “regicide” in 1649

– Rump Par. Vote was 68 to 67• British Isles declared a republican

commonwealth

The Commonwealth (1649-1653) (Interregnum)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKqJV6qC_2Y

• England is theoretically a republic• Monarchy and House of Lords

abolished• In reality it’s a military dictatorship• Rump Parliament resisted Cromwell• Cromwell disbanded Parliament and

became “Lord Protector” 1653• “Instrument of Government”

– Written constitution• Theoretically gave power of

purse to Parliament• Cromwell tore up document• Ruled as military dictatorship• Divided England into 12 military

districts• Closed ale houses, prohibited

sports, dancing, gambling– 1658 Cromwell died– His son unable to retain control

The Protectorate (1653-1660)

• Cromwell granted religious toleration– Except to Catholics– Not a popular policy with English– Gave rise to new sects

• Levellers – Radical revolutionaries– led by John Lilburne (civilian)– The Agreement of the People

(their political manifesto)• Abolish corruption within

the Parliament &judicial process

• Toleration ofreligious differences

• Laws written inthe vernacular

• Universal suffrage as a “natural right”

The Protectorate1. That no man be taken or imprisoned, but per legem terrae, that is by the common law, statute law, or custom of England. 2. No man shall be disseised, that is, put out of seisin, or dispossessed of his freehold (that is, lands or livelihood) or of his liberties or free customs (that is, of such franchises and freedoms, and free customs, as belong to him by his free birthright) unless it be by the lawful judgement, that is verdict of his equals (that is of men of his own condition) or by the law of the land (that is, to speak it once for all) by the due course and processes of law.3. No man shall be in any sort destroyed unless it be by the verdict of his equals or according to the law of the land.

Other Religious Sects• Quakers

– Society of Friends or Quakers– insisted that believers can have

revelations (inner light) of spiritual truth and rejected hierarchies

– Rejected church authority– Pacifists– Allowed for female preachers– Led by George Fox

• Diggers – Agrarian “communists” led by

Gerrard Winstanley and William Everard

– rejected the idea of property– land should be distributed to the

poor• Food prices had reached record

highs in the 1640s– alarmed the Commonwealth

government and angered the local landowners

• Cromwell regarded Irish Catholics as treasonous and Scots treacherous

– Irish were Catholic (remember the Gun Powder Plot)

– Scots not pleased with Stuart execution (he was a Scot)

• Invaded Ireland in 1649:– Protestants had been massacred during

the Irish Rebellion of 1641 in Ulster– Irish Confederate Army had signed treaty

with the Royalists (supported the Stuarts)– Invasion noted for its brutality

• Siege of Drogheda – massacred Irish Garrisons – Priests, women, children murdered

• Killed 40% of ethnic Irish• Protestants now take over aristocracy of

entire island (not just Ulster) (mostly absentee landlords)

• Sewed seeds of hatred

Invasion of Ireland

Massacre of Drogheda25:34

Ulster PlantationEstablished

UnderKing James

Ulster Plantation: 1609-1660

% Of Land Owned by Catholics in Ireland

[in green]

• England established a “penal” code over Ireland to keep it in check during the early 1600s (1607)– Catholic clergy was banned– 'recusant fines' levied for not

attending Anglican mass– Catholics could not vote– Catholic teachers could not teach– Catholic parents could not send

children to Catholic schools– Catholics could not take a degree at

Trinity College– Catholic Irishmen could not purchase

land– Catholic Irishmen could not own a horse

worth more than 5 pounds– Irish exports are prohibited– Irish imports must come from England– Ireland was the most repressed

population in Europe

Irish Threat of Revolution

Click for Link

The Protectorate• Economic Policy• Mercantile Policy

– Navigation Act of 1651• Required that English goods

be transported on English ships

• Helped develop English merchant marine

– maritime attack on the Dutch, preying on the Spanish empire

– Anglo Dutch Wars• Fought over Navigation Acts• England took New

Amsterdam

Stuart Restoration• Thermidorian Reaction• Charles II coroneted 1660 • Agreed to pardon many

regicides– 9 were drawn and

quartered– Cromwell’s body

exhumed & decapitated

• Excess democracy or “levelling” is considered abhorrent