AQA GCSE HISTORY - Power and the People Questions and answers 2023

AQA GCSE HISTORY - Power and the People Questions and answers 2023 MEDIEVAL SOCIETY Was based on the FEUDAL SYSTEM The KING was EXPECTED to be a STRONG LEADER / EXCELLENT WARRIOR + to CONSULT w/ HIS BARONS THE CHURCH also held A LOT OF POWER THE FEUDAL SYSTEM KING: >>RULES the COUNTRY >>GRANTS LAND to NOBLES BARONS (NOBLES): >>PROVIDE LOYALTY + SERVICE TO THE KING: MAINTAIN LAW + ORDER in their |AREAS RAISE an ARMY for the KING when NEEDED >>GRANT LAND to the KNIGHTS KNIGHTS: >>PROVIDE PROTECTION + MILITARY SERVICE to the BARONS >>GRANT LAND to the PEASANTS (aka Serfs/Villeins) PEASANTS/SERFS/VILLEINS: >>PROVIDE FOOD + SERVICES to the KNIGHTS >>ARE NOT FREEMEN (HAVE NO RIGHTS) 1215: MAGNA CARTA - ABOUT 1199: KING JOHN succeeds his brother (Richard I) + has to live up to HIGH EXPECTATIONS JOHN'S POOR KINGSHIP ANGERED THE BARONS + they FORM AN ARMY to FIGHT HIM > JOHN had NO ARMY of his own so he was FORCED TO NEGOTIATE 15 June 1215: the BARONS + KING JOHN meet at RUNNYMEDE where the BARONS w/ the help of STEPHEN LANGTON draw up a LIST of DEMANDS for the King known as the MAGNA CARTA 1215: MAGNA CARTA - LIST OF DEMANDS Some demands of the Magna Carta: STOP UNFAIR TAXATION Let the CHURCH make its OWN APPOINMENTS (i.e. Bishops) + have "ITS LIBERTIES UNIMPAIRED" Ensure a BARON'S HEIR INHERITED HIS LAND PREVENT ARREST W/OUT TRIAL PROTECT MERCHANTS ELECT a GROUP/COUNCIL of 25 BARONS to MONITOR THE KING 1215: MAGNA CARTA - CONSEQUENCES The group of 25 BARONS TRIED to IMPLEMENT the TERMS of the MC + KING JOHN REFUSED to ACCEPT THEIR DEMANDS >>COVIL WAR BROKE OUT The BARONS made an ALLIANCE w/ the KING of SCOTLAND + INVITED PRINCE LOUIS of FRANCE (heir to the French throne) to BE CROWNED KING of ENGLAND >>May 1216: PRINCE LOUIS of FRANCE brought an ARMY to FIGHT JOHN > JOHN initially had success (+ sacked the town of Berwick) but LACKED the WEALTH/SUPPORT NEEDED to DEFEAT THE BARONS October 1216: KING JOHN DIED > his SON (HENRY II) was ONLY 9 was the RIGHTFUL KING + had the SUPPORT of MOST PEOPLE >>October 1217 Prince Louis of France accepts Henry as king + leaves England 1215: MAGNA CARTA - CAUSES ECONOMY (TAXES): >>JOHN OFTEN used (+ abused) the SCUTAGE TAX >>Since 1199, John had CALLED IT 11 TIMES + EACH TIME: PRICE = INCREASED >>1214: John CALLED IT AGAIN + people REFUSED TO PAY >>The BARONS thought their MONEY = WASTED bc JOHN KEPT LOSING + they DIDN'T THINK he had the POLITICAL WILL/MILITARY MIGHT RELIGION: >>1207: the POPE appointed STEPHEN LANGTON as ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY + JOHN was DISPLEASED bc he wanted to APPOINT HIS OWN MINISTERS >>In response the Pope EXCOMMUNICATED KING JOHN (banned all church services) + said it was NO LONGER A SIN to KILL THE KING >>JOHN = INITIALLY HAPPY bc the CHURCH'S WEALTH WENT TO HIM >>1213: JOHN/THE POPE REACH AN AGREEMENT to "restore the laws of Edward the Confessor" WAR: >>1204: JOHN LOST HIS LAND NORMANDY to the FRENCH KING + spent the rest of his reign trying to win it back >>>This ANGERED many BARONS who ALSO LOST THEIR LAND >>1214: JOHN LOSES TO FRANCE at the BATTLE of BOUVINES + the BARONS RESIST his NEXT CALL for SCUTAGE (early 1215) SCUTAGE A TAX that KNIGHTS + BARONS could PAY INSTEAD OF FIGHTING for the KING : RAISED 12 TIMES 1215: MAGNA CARTA - SIGNIFICANCE (SHORT TERM) IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM >>John ONLY AGREED to the terms to AVOID A CIVIL WAR which BROKE OUT ANYWAY when JOHN WENT BACK ON HIS WORD (it ended when John died in 1216) It had LIMITED SCOPE > it was about the RELATIONSHIP between the KING/BARONS + ONLY APPLIED TO FREEMEN >>The barons were NOT INTERESTED in the RIGHTS of ORDINARY PEOPLE + PEASANTS/VILLEINS = NOT FREE HOWEVER it was REISSUED SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE 13 CENTURY (1200s): >>November 1216 >>November 1217 (as well as the 'Charter of the Forest / 'small charter') >>1225 >>1265 (w/ Simon de Montfort) >>By Edward I in 1297 + 1300 1215: MAGNA CARTA - SIGNIFICANCE (LONG TERM) AS MORE PEOPLE BECAME BECAME FREE it APPLIED TO MORE PEOPLE + its SIGNIFICANCE INCREASED It ESTABLISHED some CORE PRINCIPLES >>the KING had RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE PEOPLE + would be HELD TO ACCOUNT by the BARONS if he did not live up to them It came to be seen as the 1ST STEP TOWARDS DEMOCRACY + a SYMBOL of PEOPLE POWER. > later protest movements used it as a REFERENCE POINT: >>Stuart Times: SIR EDWARD COKE claimed that "MAGNA CARTA IS SUCH A FELLOW THAT HE WILL HAVE NO SOVEREIGN" >>1762: ARTHUR BEARDMORE was arrested for libelling the king's mother + MADE SURE he was TEACHING HIS SON to READ THE MC >>1994: the ZAPATISTA ARMY OF NATIONAL LIBERATION QUOTED THE MC to try to PROTECT INDIGENOUS PEOPLE in S. MEXICO from EXPLOITATION by BIG BUSINESSES >>1998: V Symbolic although it was SUPERSEDED by the HUMAN RIGHTS ACT >>2010: The PHILIPPINES GOVERNMENT talked of INTRODUCING a "MAGNA CARTA FOR WOMEN" >>2015: ALEXANDER LOCK of the British Library argued that MC "STILL FLOURISHES as a POTENT + RECOGNISED SYMBOL of FREEDOM UNDER the ROLE of LAW" 1381: THE PEASANTS' REVOLT - ABOUT A PROTEST against the POLL TAX led to a SERIOUS REBELLION: 30 May 1381: VILLAGERS in KENT + ESSEX REFUSED TO PAY their TAXES + THREATENED the TAX COLLECTOR > JOHN BAMPTON 2 June 1381: The CHIEF JUSTICE ATTEMPTED to COLLECT the MONEY + was ALSO THREATENED > the LOCALS BEHEADED HIS CLERKS 7 June 1381: The REBELS FREED JOHN BALL (a RADICAL PRIEST) from PRISON > JOHN BALL + WAT TYLER (LEADER of the REVOLT) MARCHED TOWARDS LONDON w/ an INCREASINGLY LARGE CROWD 7 June 1381: The CROWD ATTACKED SYMBOLS OF THE RICH > they BURNED RECORDS/ATTACKED CLERKS 13 June 1381: the CROWD REACHED LONDON + SUPPORTERS OPENED the CITY GATES > they CONTINUED to BURN DOWN SYMBOLS of WEALTH >>They ATTACKED SAVOY PLACE (the house of JOHN of GAUNT + BURNED IT DOWN 14 June 1381: RICHARD II MET w/ WAT TYLER + the REBELS at SMITHFIELD + TYLER ASKED that ALL VILLEINS be MADE FREEMEN + the KING AGREED >>Then the REBELS ENTERED THE TOWER of LONDON, FOUND + BEHEADED the TREASURER (ROBERT HALES) + the ARCHBISHOP of CANTERBURY (SUDBURY) 15 June 1381: The KING MET w/ WAT TYLER AGAIN at MILE END + this time the REBELS PRESENTED a LIST of DEMANDS 15 June 1381: There was CONFUSION + then the LORD MAYOR of LONDON STABBED WAT TYLER, + Tyler was KILLED by one of the KING'S BODYGUARDS >>Once TYLER = DEAD + MOST of the REBELS had DISPERSED RICHARD II CHANGED HIS MIND 15 June 1381: ROYAL ARMIES MARCHED into ESSEX, KENT, SUFFOLK, NORFOLK, YORKSHIRE > AT LEAST 1,500 - 7,000 DIED 1381: THE PEASANTS' REVOLT - LIST OF DEMANDS The ABOLITION of SERFDOM + UNFREE TENURE An AMNESTY for REBELS A RETURN to the 'LAW OF WINCHESTER' CHANGES to the SYSTEM of LAW CHURCH LAND to be GIVEN to the PEOPLE 1381: THE PEASANTS' REVOLT - CAUSES 1381: POLL TAXES PLACED A DISPROPORTIONATE + UNFAIR BURDEN ON THE POOR: The KING NEEDED MONEY to FUND his WARS w/ FRANCE, so he RAISED TAXES: >>1377: the 'BAD PARLIAMENT' (led by JOHN OF GAUNT) agreed to the 1ST POLL TAX at a FLAT RATE of 4D PER PERSON (a COUPLE of DAYS' WAGES for a LABOURER) >>1377: The COMMONS (MERCHANTS/TRADERS/KNIGHTS/SMALLER LANDOWNERS) REFUSED to INCREASE the AMOUNT of TAX they would PAY + PETITIONED PARLIAMENT to COMPLAIN about the VILLEINS who INVOKED DOMESDAY BOOK to DISPUTE THEIR STATUS >>1379: A 2ND POLL TAX was CALLED to PAY FOR ANOTHER INVASION of FRANCE > a SLIDING SCALE was ESTABLISHED: 'HUMBLE SORTS' paid 4D PER HEAD, whilst EARLS paid £4. There was WIDESPREAD OPPOSITION to this + AT LEAST 1/3 of TAXPAYERS 'DISAPPEARED' from the TAX LIST >>1381: the 3RD POLL TAX LEVIED a FLAT RATE of 1SHILLING 4D PER PERSON (2 WEEKS WAGES for a LABOURER) to try and RAISE £160,000 EARLIER DISPUTES/ISSUES: >>: the HARVEST FELL by OVER 50% >>1319/1320: NEARLY 1/2 the SHEEP in the COUNTRY DIED > OXEN = STRUCK by RINDERPEST > FOOD PRICES/RENTS INCREASED + so did the GAP between the RICH/POOR IMPACT OF THE BLACK DEATH: >>1348/1349: the BLACK DEATH (PLAGUE) arrived in DORSET + QUICKLY SPREAD > it WIPED OUT up to 50% of the POPULATION >>This GAVE PEASANTS MORE CONTROL + the RICH were FORCED to LOWER RENTS/RAISE WAGES in order to GET WORKERS >>>>the VILLAGERS of RUDHEATH in CHESIRE REFUSED to WORK FOR THEIR LORD UNLESS HE REDUCED RENTS by AT LEAST 33% >>>>LANDLORDS RETALIATED by ENCLOSING LAND + KEEPING MORE SHEEP (which were v profitable) > MANY VILLEINS RAN AWAY to TOWNS/OTHER MANORS w/ BETTER WAGES >>1351: PARLIAMENT passed the STATUTE OF LABOURERS >>1363: PARLIAMENT passed the SUMPTUARY LAWS >>The GAME LAWS were STRENGTHENED + PUNISHMENTS TOUGHENED >>1376: OVER 100 VILLAGES REQUESTED COPIES of the DOMESDAY BOOK > to CHALLENGE the DUTIES IMPOSED on them BY THEIR LORD WAR W/ FRANCE: >>BRITAIN'S WARS w/ FRANCE WERE GOING BADLY > 1377: a FRENCH FLEET of OVE 120 SHIPS ATTACKED + BURNED DOWN the TOWN of RYE in SUSSEX + INVADED the ISLE of WIGHT, laying SIEGE to CARISBROOKE CASTLE JOHN OF GAUNT Was the DUKE of LANCASTER Was EARL of DERBY/LINCOLN/LEICESTER HELPED to RUN THE COUNTRY AFTER EDWARD III DIED + his SON, RICHARD II WSS ONLY 11 YEARS OLD Was BLAMED for the POLITICAL/ECONOMIC FAILINGS that LED TO the PEASANTS' REVOLT RINDERPEST A v INFECTIOUS DISEASE that KILLS CATTLE + was UNTREATABLE in MEDIEVAL TIMES 1351: THE STATUTE OF LABOURERS Said that EVERY PERSON OVER 60 HAD TO WORK + WAGES would be NO HIGHER than they WERE IN 1347 1363: THE SUMPTUARY LAWS LAWS passed by the GOVERNMENT to REGULATE the CLOTHES people WORE/FOOD they ATE THE GAME LAWS LAWS passed by the GOVERNMENT to STOP ORDINARY PEOPLE POACHING DEER/RABBITS BELONGING to LANDOWNERS It DIDN'T STOP POACHING: >>1356: the DUKE of ARUNDEL LOST OVER 100 SWANS from his LAKE in ONE NIGHT 1381: THE PEASANTS' REVOLT - SIGNIFICANCE (SHORT TERM) ALTHOUGH THE REBELLION FAILED (as RICHARD II WENT BACK on his WORD + LEADERS were HANGED), it WORRIED the KING/NOBLES: >>it was the 1ST TIME that COMMONERS had REBELLED AGAINST ROYAL POWER NOT ONLY PEASANTS REBELLED: >> Many were LITERATE/ARTISANS/SKILLED WORKERS/LEADING VILLAGE MEN e.g. CONSTABLES + REEVES >>but they were ALL COMMONERS + NONE WERE NOBLES