England in the XVIIth century: Stuart England

The death of Elizabeth, who died childless, marks the end of the Tudor dynasty. This is the beginning
of the Stuart Dynasty. The royal Stewart line was founded by Robert II, and they were Kings and
Queens of Scots from the late 14th century until the union with England in 1707. Mary, Queen of
Scots, was brought up in France, where she adopted the French spelling of the name, Stuart. Her
son, James VI of Scotland, inherited the thrones of England and Ireland upon the death of Elizabeth I
in 1603. Except for the period of the Commonwealth, 1649–1660, the Stuarts were monarchs of the
British Isles and its growing empire, until the death of Queen Anne in 1714.

Economic Situation
Agriculture was still the most important activity. The enclosures continued for two main reasons: To
grazing sheep and to improve the standard agriculture.
As regards the industrial situation, it was still organized on domestic basis: most work was produced
by small family units. The coal industry and the iron mining continued during this period as well as
the foreign trade. The manufacture of woollen cloth was still the principal industry.
Grow and development of industries: There was a minor industrial revolution, where all industries
expanded (Coal mining, Iron mining, Ship building, Glass, Salt).

Social Situation
There was a high degree of social mobility between high classes and middle classes (thanks to the
special titles James I sold to pay off national debts which were bought by the Higher Middle Classes).
The number of lay peerage1 doubled.
There were two groups:
On the one hand, the ruling classes, composed by the peers and the gentry (Landowners, Old gentry
and New Gentry)
On the other hand, the ruled classes, composed by the yeomen (they earned their living from the
land → small freeholders, copyholders, leaseholders) and the common people → They were the
labouring people.
There was a community of interests btw city dwellers (merchants and traders who had invested in
countryside) and country dwellers (began to invest in trade- big land holders).

Political Panorama
The parliament wanted to become a permanent part in the machinery of government.
The beginnings of a revolutionary process as a result of the struggle between crown and parliament.
The friendly relationship between the Crown and the Parliament that was held during the Tudor
Dynasty was finished. In Trevelyan’s words, the Stuarts are to blame because of their change of
attitude. In Ashley’s words, the Parliament is to blame because of the demands the put forward and
the attempt to modificate the traditional right.

1
title of nobility (members of the House of Lords).
Tudor and Stuart Absolutism

House of Tudor House of Stuart

Political Field *Absolute Monarchy. *Absolute Monarchy.
*Strong, absolute, despotic. *Strong, absolute, despotic.
*Divine Hereditary Right of *Divine Hereditary Right of
Monarchs. Monarchs.
*King-worship: “implicit”, not *King-worship: “explicit”,
materialized. materialized, voiced openly.
*Community of interests and *No community of interests
purposes between the and purposes between the
monarch and Parliament. monarch and Parliament.
*Supported by the Nation *Not supported by the Nation.
Economic Field *Mercantilism (State control *Mercantilism (State control
and intervention). and intervention).
Religious Field *Church of England (mid *Church of England (mid
position between position between
Protestantism and Protestantism and
Catholicism). Catholicism).
Legal Field Supremacy of the Monarch Supremacy of the Monarch
over the Law. over the Law.
Both supported the continuation of the old order (Conservatives)
.
The Stuarts Parliamentary Demands
» Sovereignty of Divine Origin. » Sovereignty of Civil origin.
» Absolute, unlimited royal power: no checks » Limitation and checks on the royal power and
on royal prerogatives. prerogatives.
» A for life and hereditary monarchy. » Participation in government.
» No criticism and opposition admitted. » Freedom of speech: the right to have a say
↓ and to give advice on the affairs of government.
Supremacy and predominance of the monarch » The end of the Crown´s illegal means to raise
in the State. money.
↓
Supremacy and predominance of Parliament
in the State.
By the end of the century, there was a Parliament predominance over the Monarch.