Social Crises, War, and RevolutionChapter 7 Section 2

…from Magdeburg...

“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.”

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

The Witchcraft Trials

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.

Trials in Salem

The AccusedBy 1650, witchcraft

hysteria lessened because

people began to find it

unreasonable to believe in

the old view of a world

haunted by evil spirits.

Tombstones of the Victims

Gallows Hill

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 the divine 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.

ARGHHHHH!!!

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.