Why did some people emigrate from Britain in the 17 th century? (8 marks)
Some people such as Catholics emigrated from Britain in the 17 th century, as from the 1530s
onwards, England became a Protestant country. This meant that many people faced persecution as
they were not allowed in Protestant churches and were given fines to pay under a Protestant
monarchy of Elizabeth I. Europe was predominantly Catholic so lots of people suffered from this and
were pushed out of England. For example, some Catholics even moved to France. England tended to
welcome migrants if they were Protestant, so Protestant minorities such as the Huguenots fled from
France and the Protestant Palatines from the Rhineland.
Indentured labourers also emigrated from Britain, they were poor people who wanted to go to
America for land but could not afford the fare. For this reason, they would sell themselves for
labour. Landlords who were very rich would pay their fare and treat them as slaves until they had
paid off their debts after a given number of years, which was usually around 9 years. They could then
set themselves up as independent farmers.
What impact did Africans have in Tudor England? (8 marks)
There were at least 350 Africans in England during the Tudor and early Stuart period, so their impact
was not huge. The impact of one African was that of John Blanke. He was one of the trumpeters for
the royal court of Henry VII and that of Henry VIII. Records show he married, presumably to a white
woman. Also, evidence shows that Blanke asked – and was given - a pay rise by King Henry VIII as a
royal trumpeter. This shows the value of his skills as a musician, and he was treated no differently to
everyone else.
Another man that had impact in Tudor England in 1547, was a West African called Jacques Francis.
He was a diver helping to salvage cargo from sunken ships such as the Mary Rose in Portsmouth
harbour. He was allowed to give evidence in a court case, which suggests he was treated as an equal
too.
Some Africans married other Africans, and some married English people. Their free status made for
an interesting contrast to their treatment in other parts of Europe at this time, as well as in English
colonies later in the seventeenth century. None were slaves and they do not seem to have suffered
racial abuse. This could be because there were so few of them. Overall, the impact Africans made on
Tudor England was in fact very little, as the small number that did move to England were treated no
differently, for example they had the right to testify in court and find work in which they were paid
wages.
Some people such as Catholics emigrated from Britain in the 17 th century, as from the 1530s
onwards, England became a Protestant country. This meant that many people faced persecution as
they were not allowed in Protestant churches and were given fines to pay under a Protestant
monarchy of Elizabeth I. Europe was predominantly Catholic so lots of people suffered from this and
were pushed out of England. For example, some Catholics even moved to France. England tended to
welcome migrants if they were Protestant, so Protestant minorities such as the Huguenots fled from
France and the Protestant Palatines from the Rhineland.
Indentured labourers also emigrated from Britain, they were poor people who wanted to go to
America for land but could not afford the fare. For this reason, they would sell themselves for
labour. Landlords who were very rich would pay their fare and treat them as slaves until they had
paid off their debts after a given number of years, which was usually around 9 years. They could then
set themselves up as independent farmers.
What impact did Africans have in Tudor England? (8 marks)
There were at least 350 Africans in England during the Tudor and early Stuart period, so their impact
was not huge. The impact of one African was that of John Blanke. He was one of the trumpeters for
the royal court of Henry VII and that of Henry VIII. Records show he married, presumably to a white
woman. Also, evidence shows that Blanke asked – and was given - a pay rise by King Henry VIII as a
royal trumpeter. This shows the value of his skills as a musician, and he was treated no differently to
everyone else.
Another man that had impact in Tudor England in 1547, was a West African called Jacques Francis.
He was a diver helping to salvage cargo from sunken ships such as the Mary Rose in Portsmouth
harbour. He was allowed to give evidence in a court case, which suggests he was treated as an equal
too.
Some Africans married other Africans, and some married English people. Their free status made for
an interesting contrast to their treatment in other parts of Europe at this time, as well as in English
colonies later in the seventeenth century. None were slaves and they do not seem to have suffered
racial abuse. This could be because there were so few of them. Overall, the impact Africans made on
Tudor England was in fact very little, as the small number that did move to England were treated no
differently, for example they had the right to testify in court and find work in which they were paid
wages.
