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| (courtesy of Giacobazzi,2000) |
The Restoration: This period is known as the Restoration because the monarchy is being restored after a rocky civil war and the death of Oliver Cromwell. The crown is given to Charles II. This also mean the restoration of parliament and the established Church of England.
The Glorious Revolution: This is also known as the "bloodless" revolution. After Charles II died, his brother James II took over the throne. He was Catholic. He had a protestant daughter from a first marriage named Mary. When he married his second wife, a Catholic, and had a son by her, the public sentiment swiftly turned against him. During this time the majority of England was "anti-Catholic." The Whigs plotted against him. In the end, he decided to flee England. His daughter Mary and her husband William became joint rulers. This is the first (and I think only) time that England has had joint rulers who each completely shared the power.
Parliament and Power: During the Restoration period, the Tories (supporters of the King) and the Whigs (supporters of parliament) argued over who should have more power--the king or parliament. In the end, the balance tipped in favor of parliament and The Revolution Settlement was enacted. It outlined the rights of parliament, specified the succession of Protestant monarchs, and granted freedom of worship to most English people.
Other key kings and queens:
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Queen Anne--a bit dull, but faithfully carried out her duties. She united England with Scotland. Great Britain was now known as England, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland. |
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George I and II--these two kings established the monarchy as a figurehead and the prime minister as head of parliament. |
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George III--He is known for trying to rule on his own rather than listening to parliament. It is believed that this mistake caused unrest and the loss of the American colonies in the Revolutionary war. |
The Society:
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There’s a huge gap between the wealthy and the poor. It is known that England is both richer and poorer than it ever was before. While the wealthy waste money with powdered wigs and fake beauty marks or ‘’patches,’’ London children and the impoverished die of poor nutrition and health. |
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Among the rich, there was a rejection of moral conservatism and people lived in excess--low cut dresses, many parties, etc. |
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The wealthy people attended coffeehouses to gossip, conduct business, discuss literature, political issues, scientific discoveries, and philosophical questions. |
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The key economic philosophy was laissez faire (meaning government should not restrict the free trade of industry). As a result, trade unions were illegal and male unemployment soared. |
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Natural disasters occurred--the bubonic plague and the Great Fire of London occurred. |
The Enlightenment: Kant, a German philosopher, called this "man's emergence from his nonage" or immaturity. The Enlightenment philosophy focused on applying reason, common sense, and the scientific process of inquiry to discovering more about human nature and the natural world.
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John Locke and the "Blank Slate" theory: Locke proposed that we are born "blank" --neither good nor evil--and then society "writes" upon us. |
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Human perfectability: People of this time believed humans could become morally perfect. |
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Utopia: If humans became morally perfect they would create a Utopia or ideal society together. |
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Deism: The Deists believed (and still do) that the universe was set into motion like a masterful clock, running precisely as the creator designed. The clock, however, is mechanical, and scientific observation can make its secrets known. It is a belief in a general, rather than a specific, God. |
Scientific Discoveries: This was a time of Sir Isaac Newton who formulated the laws of gravity and motion. Astronomers also learned that "fixed stars" actually are in motion. Chemists worked to isolate hydrogen. New methods for brewing ale, making bricks, hatching eggs, harvesting, etc. became known.
