Homework Sample

Jane Smith

History 1.2, Spring 16

Hw# 1, Chapter 13

Topic: Witches

Amidst all other hardships in seventeenth century England, there was also a growing issue with witch hunts and trials. It’s speculated that this arose due to the suffering that was caused by historical events such as England’s civil war and the plague. With people having difficulty accepting and understanding all of the terrible circumstances that England was subject to throughout these years, they began looking for somewhere to point the blame. Unfortunately for many, these scapegoats were normal people that were once neighbors and friends. The accused were often people that had some type of physical abnormality, such as a birth mark or defect, and were mostly female. They were searched out by people who proclaimed themselves as witch exposing professionals that were paid very generously. Once a person was accused they would be stripped down by midwives to reveal/identify whatever physical abnormality had been suspected. They would then undergo questioning and be tortured sometimes to the point where they would actually confess to being a witch. Another common practice was to tie the suspect up and throw them in a river or pond because it was believed that floating was proof of guilt. People that sunk were believed to be innocent and would be yanked from the water by a rope that was tied around their waist. Thousands of people died due to ignorance and the superstitious belief that people were making pacts with the devil.

Key Terms:

Sumptuary Laws: Sumptuary laws were a variety of regulations that were put on citizens and/or social classes in sixteenth century England. Although there have been different types of Sumptuary laws enforced in different locations throughout history (and sometimes for different purposes), the Sumptuary laws that are specific to chapter 13 in the textbook refer directly to regulation of clothing. The laws restricted lower class citizens from being able to purchase and wear specific types of clothes that were designated for wealthy members of society. In a time when higher classes were fighting to hang on to their titles, government imposed these laws as a form of segregation between nobility and lower classes. The historical relevance of this topic is an interesting one to consider. In todays society, there is often a clear distinction between the social hierarchy based on attire alone. However, the difference is there are no specific laws in place to regulate what people are wearing. These early sumptuary laws may have been significant enough to influence the clothing that is worn in different social classes today.

Constitutionalism: Constitutionalism came about it seventeenth century England as backlash due to the leadership of King James I. He was king of Scotland before his reign in England and had ruled by absolutism. When he became king in England, King James I immediately wrote off parliament and determined that he would be the only person that would have a say in state affairs. Constitutionalism is the resistance to the power of the king that took place among certain land owning individuals and nobility that had an invested interest in the state. They didn’t feel that the king alone should make decisions that would ultimately affect everyone else. Constitutionalism is historically relevant because it helped shape government in the way that we recognize it today in our society and helped branch away from the idea of rulers having power due to divine right.

Critical Thinking Questions:

1. There were few things that were more important to monarchs than power. Without power they would have nothing. So, it makes sense that they would spend their reign trying to increase their power by whatever means possible. One example of this is absolutism. If a monarch claimed that it was their divine right to rule, then any questioning or opposition of the monarchs authority would mean that the people were disobeying god himself. Thus, people lived in fear of the consequences that they would be subject to if they should decide to defy their ruler in any way. Absolutism may have not been created for the purpose of gaining power (it was actually believed by the monarchs that they were given special “talents” that made them qualified to rule), but it definitely put ultimate authority in the hands of the king. Monarchs would also strengthen their own power by weakening the power of others that could oppose them. This was so in the case of King James I, who simply refused to call on parliament. Another example of this involved the constant threat to monarchy rule that came from nobility. As a solution, King Louis XIV cleverly manipulated members of the nobility in order to keep them under his control. He did this by creating somewhat of a popularity conquest using the appeal of court at the Palace of Versailles to distract them from the fact that their power as nobility was being taken from them. There were also countless times when monarchs used the church to increase their power. This often proved successful when they needed to form large armies. A monarch that had control and support of the church, also was believed to have god on his side. When large standing armies were formed there was an increase in taxes which insured that the poor would stay poor. Armies were often used to put down any resistance to higher taxes that might take place.
   
   
2. Although there are still places around the world that are ruled by a monarchy, it is often (but not always) a constitutional monarchy in which authority is shared. There are many places in the West that have fought against monarchy throughout history that would have a difficult time letting go of what rights they have obtained. I think an absolutism monarchy would have even more opposition. People of the 17^th century would have found a divine right to rule a little easier to believe. I say this because the majority of people, at the time, had very strong religious beliefs. This may not prove to be as true for people of this century. People in the West today may justify their opposition by looking to the mistakes of rulers in the past. For example, the monarchical rule of King James I, which plunged England into a time of great distress and civil war. This example alone is significant in that it led to the deaths of many people, famine, and disease. They may argue that, throughout history, people that have tried to rule by monarchy have for the most part been confronted with revolt. We live in a time where people feel they have a right to take part in decisions that will directly affect them. The people in the West today would likely feel similar to the members of nobility that had vested interest in the state. As we learned in class this week, they were not very happy when monarchs tried to make them conform and forced them to give up what little power they believed they had.