THE PURITANS
THE RESTORATION
THE AUGUSTAN AGE
The social & political developments of the XVII century are closely associated to religious disputes
The Roman Catholic Church
The Church of England (Anglicans)
a minority
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The Tudors
Henry VIII Anglican Schism (1534) ≠ Clement VII
Elizabeth I – (1558-1603) – ostracism against Cath.
practised absolute monarchy →
and believed in the divine right of
kings
Gunpowder Plot (5th November 1606 –
Guy Fawkes’ Night)
Mayflower: The Pilgrim Fathers (11th
November 1620 – Cape Cod) – they
left because they felt discriminated as
Puritans
The Stuarts
James I – (1603-25)
Shakespeare’s
tried to rule without Parliament
times (1564the Catholics tried to seize power
(1616)
reaction ≠ Catholics
Charles I – (1625-49) a sincere Anglican, he
married a Catholic (Henriette Marie of France)
he lessened the persecutions ≠ Catholics
tried to suppress Parliament
the Puritans sat in the House of Commons
the House of Lords sided with Charles
Puritans, Presbyterians, Dissenters
The Angl. Ref. had not been radical enough
– strict moral principles – life of hard work.
The Puritans had arisen from Protestantism
inspired by a radical Calvinist thinking. They
censored what they termed the ‘superstitious’ Puritan reaction
symbols of Catholicism, which were retained « Long Parliament » refusal to grant the King’s
in Anglicanism, such as statues, stained-glass
requests
windows in churches, sacerdotal vestments;
they were also against ostentatious dress and
hair-styles, ceremonies and music.
Civil War (1642-1649)
The country was split down the middle. But, as with the causes of any other war, other
factors had determined the division into two sides: on the side of the parliamentarians stood
the south-eastern part of the country, where agriculture was more advanced and where
stronger economic interests were at stake (textiles and trade); with the King remained the
north-west and western regions that were less urbanised and dominated by a backward
agricultural and pastoral economy.
Ireland
Defoe’s
times(16611732)
The Republic (Commonwealth)
Oliver Cromwell (1649-1658)
Cromwell’s true victories were: a) the re-establishing of England’s control over Ireland
through strong military campaigns and the granting of land to English and Scottish Puritans
(in order to re-affirm the country’s subjection to London – as James I had done before *); b)
the extending of England’s influence on international commerce and trade, through the
Navigation Act (1651), which banned any non-English ship from transporting goods to
England and the subsequent Anglo-Dutch Wars.
On Cromwell’s death, in 1658, no one seemed to be able or willing to succeed him. So the
Commonwealth collapsed and the Monarchy was restored.
Charles II - (Stuart - 1660-1685)
Opposition from Cath. and Pur. was suppressed but he managed to maintain a peaceful balance.
James II – C (Stuart - 1685-1688)
Wanted to re-establish Catholicism – appointment of Cath. at the top of the Gvrnmt. Threat to
the Puritans, who summoned William of Orange (1689-1702) – James fled to Ireland (Battle
of the Boyne) – definite end to Catholic (and Irish independence * ) hopes – Bill of Rights –
Start of Constitutional Monarchy
Queen Anne (last of the Stuarts - 1702-1714)
The Hanovers (the Georges)
The country could look forward to a new century of peace, stability and prosperity