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Social Crises, War, and Revolution. Chapter 7 Section 2. “There was nothing but beating and burning, plundering, torture, and murder.
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Social Crises, War, and Revolution Chapter 7 Section 2
“There was nothing but beating and burning, plundering, torture, and murder. Most especially was every one of the enemy bent on securing [riches]….In this frenzied rage, the great and splendid city was now given over to the flames, and thousands of innocent men, women and children, in the midst of heart trending shrieks and cries, were tortured and put to death in so cruel and shameful a manner that no words would suffice to describe. Thus in a single day this noble and famous city, the pride of the whole country, went up in fire and smoke.” …from Magdeburg...
Economic and $ocial Crises • One major economic problem plaguing Europe was inflation, or rising prices. • What caused this inflation, or rise? 1.Great influx of gold and silver from the Americas 2. Growing population in the sixteenth century increased demand for land & food and drove up the prices for both
Witchcraft • A belief in witchcraft, or magic, had been part of traditional village culture for centuries. • The religious zeal that led to the Inquisition and the hunt for heretics also led to the hunting of witches. • More than one hundred thousand people were charged in the 16th and 17th centuries. • Who was charged most often? • Common people – the poor and those without property – were the ones most often accused. • Of these, more than 75% were women – single or widowed and over the age of 50.
The Accused By 1650, witchcraft hysteria lessened because people began to find it unreasonable to believe in the old view of a world haunted by evil spirits.
The Thirty Years’ War • Takes place in the Holy Roman Empire – • Several small, separate states • States paid little attention to their emperor, Ferdinand, inherited from brother Charles V • War starts over religion – • Northern states were protestant • Southern states were Catholic, led by the Hapsburgs • Soon the war turned political – • France joins Sweden in fighting the Catholic Hapsburgs
The Peace of Westphalia • Officially ended the war in Germany in 1648 • Terms of the peace: • All German states could choose their own religion • 300+ states of the Holy Roman Empire are recognized as independent states • France gains territory from Germany and Spain; the Netherlands win independence • This brought an end to the Holy Roman Empire • Germany would not be united for another two hundred years
Revolutions in England • The Stuarts and Divine Right • Queen Elizabeth I dies in 1603 without an heir and the throne is passed to her cousin, James I of England (James VI of Scotland). • James I joined the crowns and Great Britain is formed. • James I strongly believed in thedivine right of kings – the belief that kings receive their power from God and are responsible only to God. • Parliament did not think much of the divine right theory; assumed that the king or queen and Parliament ruled England together.
The Reign of Charles I • The Puritans wanted to make the Church of England more protestant; this conflict began during the reign of James I and came to a head during the reign of his son, Charles I. • Charles also believes in divine right. • 1628 – Parliament passes a petition prohibiting the passing of any taxes without Parliamentary consent. • Charles initially accepts the petition but later changes his mind when he realizes that it put limits on the king’s power. • Charles tries to impose more rituals on the Church of England • Puritans see it as a return to Catholic practices • Thousands flee to America when Charles tries to force them to accept his religious policies
Civil War and the Commonwealth • In 1642 England slips into a civil war between the Cavaliers(or Royalists) who were supporters of the king and the Roundheads (so called because of their short hair) who were the parliamentary forces. • The Roundheads were led by Oliver Cromwell, a military genius who put together the New Model Army that was made up mostly of extreme Puritans known as the Independents. Cromwell’s soldiers were well trained and disciplined in new military tactics resulting in the Roundheads winning the war. • Cromwell purged the parliament of those who did not support him and had Charles I executed. • England was made a commonwealth, or republic. • Eventually set up a military dictatorship
The Restoration • After Cromwell’s death in 1658, Parliament restores the monarchy under Charles II, the son of Charles I. • Charles II was sympathetic to Catholicism and his brother James was a professed Catholic. • Parliament grows weary of these Catholic leanings and introduces the Exclusion Bill which would have barred James from the throne as a Catholic. • Debate over the Exclusion Bill produced two political parties – the Whigs who wanted to exclude James and the Tories who did not wish to interfere with lawful succession to the throne. • Charles dismisses Parliament in 1861 and dies in ‘65 leaving James as king who in turn appoints Catholics to all top positions.
Glorious Revolution! • A group of English noblemen invite the Dutch leader William of Orange to invade England because he and his wife are protestant. (William’s wife Mary is the daughter of James II.) • In 1688, they raise and army and “invade” England with almost no bloodshed as James, his wife and infant son flee to France. • In 1689, they are offered the throne as long as they accept the new English Bill of Rights. William and Mary accept, and the divine right theory ends as they take the throne.
The English Bill of Rights • Parliament has the right to make laws and levy taxes (16th Amendment) • Armies could only be raised by parliament (Legislative Branch) • Citizens had the right to keep and bear arms and the right to a trial by impartial jury (Amendments 2 & 6) • Created a “limited monarch;” the king rules with laws and parliament is elected. (Executive Branch)
The Toleration Act of 1689 • This act granted Puritans, but not Catholics, the right of free public worship. Few English citizens, however, would ever again be persecuted for religion.
