Political,+Religious,+and+Social+History+181A

=Political, Religious, and Social History of the Restoration and 18th Century=

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The English political system was constructed around the parlimentary system, with a symbolic monarch. The parliament consisted of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. While both were initially houses of England they have transformed into the Parlimentary system of the United Kingdom of Great Britain which incorporated the Kingdom of Scotland and Kingdom of England by the Acts of Union in 1707. The Kingdom of Ireland also joined in the cursor Acts of Union 1800.======

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The House of Commons consist of 646 representatives of the different constituencies of the United Kingdom. These representatives are commonly elected by the people. Much like all other bicamel legislative systems, the house elected and essentially ruled by the people was held with less standing and power than the House of Lords.======

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The [|House of Lords] was a more elite grouping of ecclesiastical members. These ecclesiastical members were never elected during this period but were instead given by right of birth. The House of Lords consists of [|Lords Spiritual], who were the majority and consisted of the archbishops, diocensan bishops, abbots, and priors. During the English Civil War the Lords Spiritual were excluded entirely from the House of Lords but were restored in 1661. The Church of Scotland has never had a member of the Lords Spiritual because they are a Protestant faith and therefore have no archbishops or bishops. The House of Lords also consists of the [|Lords Temporal]. These lords are allowed to be publically partisan with parts from the House of Commons or be non-partisan and be known as cross-benchers. [|Law Lords] were also a portion of the House of Lords and performed the legal and judicial function of the Parliment. Life peers are not in a particular legislative group but are part of the Prime Minister's party and while they are generally appointed by the PM, the head of each party is generally allowed to choose some peers to maintain peace in the House.====== Between 1649 and 1660, there were many types of Parliments tested and it was not until 1660 that King Charles II restored the monarch. Shortly after, in 1689, a Bill of Rights was signed into law which gave Parliment power over the monarchy. This put the monarchy into a figure-head position, with little power in the goings of the country and was more of a symbol for the people and the country. The Parliment then became the only governing body in the nation.

Social History
The [|British social order]of the 18th century was not one of money and power but was instead determined through land and estate ownership and essentially a person's heritage. Though modern times would frown upon this open segregation and inequality, it was welcomed by the masses as a firm and definite standing as to who they were and who they could be. Each person was happy to do what their social status dictated and did so without complaint. The [|Enlightenment] period took place largely during the 17th century and supported the idea of using reason, facts, and common sense to justify and explain everything from religion to the social structures of the time. The vast bloom of enlightented thinkers began a belief that a perfect society could be founded upon the ideas of tolerance and common sense. The Religious and Aristocratic elite were quick to spread the knowledge that Enlightenment was dead, but it was quite the reverse. Human rights were beginning to be realized and attractive to the majority of society after years of oppression.

Despite the growth of intellectuals english 17th century was plagued by censorship from the Church and state and marked conflicts between the Catholic and Protestant sects. There was a rush to towns, from rural areas, by peasants in search of greater freedom and prosperity. With new work and ways of trade the townspeople and majority of England soon began to thrive and act in the ways that proved the transition from social status by heridity to social standing by hard work and individual merit.

[|Religious History]
The 17th and 18th Century were particually lacking in religious zeal. With the dawning of the Enlightenment period of Britain, many people were questioning the Church and its teachings due to the new fad of facts and reason. The religious leaders of the Church were desperately trying to convince people that there was no basis for the Enlightened train of throught. Their method of persuasion was overshadowed by their constant battle with the Protestant church and the beginnings and continuation of complete censorship, excommunication, and imprisoning those who spoke out against the Church and its teachings.

In 1738, John Wesley became a great preacher and founded the Methodist. Though he did not want his sect to disband from the Catholic Church, it became impossible to remain.

The end of the 18th century marked a new rise in religious beliefs and Evangelical campaigning furthered the faith and Church.

- Tyler R.

**Questions**
1. [|What brought about the beginning of the Parlimentary ssystem of the United Kingdom of Great Britain? and with which 2 countries?]

2. [|What are the 3 types of patrons in the House of Lords?]

3. [|How was 18th century British social hierarchy determined?]

4. [|What 2 religious groups conflicted in 17th century Britain?]

5. [|What was the cause of decline in religious zeal of the 17th and 18th century?]