Chapter 27 Section 2 England

1. Chapter 27 Section 2 England By: CJ, Lauren, Kurt and Mary

2. Summary • From about 1000 AD to 1300 AD England under took many changes and many kings and leaders made changes to the government, daily life, and even influenced trade. In 1024 witenagemot or later known as the Great Council made an Anglo-Saxon prince named Edward the King of England. Although he had good intentions for Religion, he spent too much time on it and neglected his duty as a ruler which enabled nobles to become stronger. Because of this when he died without an heir a noble named Harold Godwinson became King in 1066. In the same year the Duke of Normandy, William, challenged his rule by claiming that just before Edward died, he had promised the Duke the position of the King. So he led his 4000-7000 troops to battle and defeated Harold. When William became the King he made a big change to the Government. He introduced Feudalism to squash revolts from the people. This is still the Style of Government today.

3. Summary continued After William died in 1087 there was no King until 1154 when William’s great-grandson Henry II stepped up and claimed the throne. He changed the Government by setting up a royal court and circuit judges. These people were people that traveled throughout England instead of staying at one court. Henry also made 2 types of juries; the Grand Jury and the Trial Jury. The grand jury presents the names of the suspected criminals to the judges. The trial jury is responsible for determining if the suspects are innocent or guilty. When Henry II died, his son Richard became king but he didn’t really pay attention to England. Instead he chose to focus on his French lands more. But when he died his brother, John, became king. After a while John began to raise taxes and ignore the law. This made the nobles very mad so they refused to obey him unless he gave them certain rights. Eventually, in 1215 AD, the nobles met with him and forced him to sign the Magna Carta or Great Charter. This took some of the king’s power and gave more to the nobles and people. In 1224 King Edward I called together representatives to help him make new laws. This meeting is known as the Parliament. The new laws gave the people more rights in ruling the land. This gathering separated into 2 groups; the house of the lords, and house of the commons. This is what happened during 1000-1300 in the late middle ages.

4. Government • Henry II restored order and forced nobles to give him their loyalty • Used the law to regain power • Set up English courts • Circuit judges, or judges who traveled, brought the kings law to all parts of England • Set up juries to settle quarrels about land • 2 juries • Grand jury group of people who present to the judge the names of people suspected of crimes • Trial jury group of people who decide whether a person accused of a crime is innocent or guilty • Took place of the trial by ordeal • Henry wanted church officials to be tried in the kings court • Close friend Thomas a Becket didn’t agree • Led to murder of Thomas by 3 on henrys knights • Henry soon made peace with the church, only some clergy to be tried in Church courts King Henry II

5. Government • Criminals accused had the right to trial by peers • Magna Carta was a step forward towards the development of democracy • It brought to the governments attention that not even the king was above law • John died in 1216, his son king Henry III became king • Weak ruler • Allowed the Great Council to rule England • 1264 Simon de Montfort, Henry’s brother in law took the power • Let people have a voice in government by letting them have reps in the great council • 8 years later the new king Edward I, took it even further • Called a meeting of all representatives, known as Parliament • Later broke into two separate groups • House of Lords, nobles and Clergy • House of Commons, knights and townspeople Magna Carta

6. Religion • In 1042, witenagemont made Edward the confessor, an Anglo Saxon prince the king of England • Gave money to the poor and sponsored the building in London Westminster abbey • The church were later English kings and queens are crowed • He spent lots of time doing religious work • So much so that he failed to carry out his royal duties • Nobles increased their hold on the country • Most powerful was Harold Godwinson • Edward died in 1066, Harold soon became the new king

7. Technology/ Warfare • 1066 William led army cross English Channel with army of 4,000 to 7,000 Norman Knights. • English foot soldiers armed with axes formed a wall of shields on the edge of a low hill • William pretended that his soldiers were retreating because he knew that the wall was to big to break through • When English broke formation to follow Normans, they turned on the English • King Harold was dead by nightfall • William was crowned King William I of England

8. Current Event Comparison Current Past • Finance minister George Osborne announced he would cut the main rate of corporation tax by 1 percentage point to 20 per cent by April 2015, down from 28 per cent when the government came to power. • The changes clarify that policy makers can priorities growth, provided inflation remains under control, and raise the likelihood the BoE will in future provide guidance over how long it will keep monetary policy exceptionally loose, based on growth and employment as well as inflation. • Henry II’s death in 1189 led to his oldest son Richard to take the throne • Later in 1199 Richard died and his brother Jon became the king • He began to increase taxes and ignore the law • Nobles became angry • Refused to obey him unless he agrees to give them certain rights • Met the nobles in the meadow of Runnymede • Forced him to sign the Magna Carta or Great Charter • Took away some of the kings power, increased the nobles • The king could not taxes unless the Great Council agreed