Advanced Placement United States History

English Background

Levels Of Social Status
Peerage
Duke
Marquee
Earls
Count
Baron
Gentry
Baronette
Knight
Gentleman
Middle class
Professionals
Merchants
Yeoman
Shopkeepers
Merchants
Lower class
Cottager
Hired men
Vagrants

Social Transition: 1525-1776
Influx of Spanish silver led to inflation.
Helps yeoman: crop prices up, yet paying same rent under 20 year lease.
Hurts laborers & lower class: debt.
Hurts peerage – fall in trust drops property value 50%
Tudor poor laws (Elizabeth 1601).
Care for the children and the poor.
Create jobs for industrious unemployed.
Punish lazy vagrants.
Protestant Reformation
Choice largely based on social expectations.
Aristocrats = Catholic
Middling class = Protestant
Lower class = Catholic
Middle class imposed Protestantism on lower class.
Get rid of leisure saint days.
Stamp out culture of revelry.
“Church Ales” = alcohol & sex.
First conflict = vestments.
1580: clergy attempts to impose a presbyterial organization.
Ruthless repression of puritan movement:
Star court.
Presbyterianism killed off by mid-1590s.
Rise Of Parliament 18th Century
Henry VIII – dependent on landed gentry for $ to fight wars.
Confession Wars.
James I avoided parliament.
Charles I annoyed parliament, leading to the English Civil War.
The Protectorate
Cromwell sets up a government as leader of parliament that is very tyrannical.
Abolishes monarchy & House of Lords.
Crushed rebellions by democracy seekers.
Crushed rebellions in Scotland & Ireland.

posted by Jeffrey @ Thursday, September 29, 2005