The Early Modern Period

• The early modern period

  1500-1730
• The main changes in the early modern period

  • England changed from a Catholic country to a Protestant country
  • Spain conquered South and Central America and became a major trading enemy of England
  • The English economy grew after the English Civil War and capitalism rapidly progressed within England, fueling exploration and domination of the New World
• Europeans came in three waves

  • The Walloons from Belgium, persecuted by Spanish rulers for being Protestant in the 1560s
  • Protestant Hugenots ffrom Catholic France in the 1570s
  • More Hugenots in the 1680s, after Louis XIV overturned the laws that protected them
• French Hugenots


  • When - 1570s
  • Why - Facing persecution for being Protestant
  • Welcomed - Yes, due to their skills and connections
  • Impact - England became a net export due to their influence
• German Palatines


  • When - 1709
  • Why - Lived in harsh conditions and took advantage of the Foreign Protestants Naturalisation Act
  • Welcomed - Initially, but feelings turned when they were not useful to England, and over 3,000 were deported
  • Impact - The Foreign Protestants Naturalisation Act was repealed in 1712, and England had a closed-door policy
• Gypsies


  • A persecuted minority due to their nomadic way of life
  • They could not be taxed because they moved around, which governments disliked
  • 1530 - Henry VIII orders all Gypsies should be expelled from England
• Jews in this period

  • Jews were allowed to return to England in 1656 by Oliver Cromwell
  • They may have been invited back because Cromwell believed that Jews were needed in England to facilitate the second coming of Christ
  • Cromwell may have also had a commercial interest, and may have believed that Jews could help the English economy
• The Evil May Day Riots


  • Anti-foreigner riots in 1517
  • Many young apprentices joined the riots because:
  • Anti-foreign rhetoric about "England for the English"
  • They were worried about foreigners taking their jobs
  • The authorities severely punished the rioters because:
  • They needed to send a message that England welcomed immigrants who could contribute to the economy
• 1530 - Henry VIII orders the expulsion of all Gypsies
• 1510s - Walloons froom Belgium arrive escaping persecution from the Spanish
• 1570s - French Hugenots arrive fleeing the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre
• 1656 - Oliver Cromwell agrees to allow Jews back to England and practice their religion
• 1680 - Second wave of Hugenots arrive fleeing persecution from the French king
• 1704 - Foreign Protestants Naturalisation Act and arrival of the German Palatines
• 1712 - Foreign Protestants Naturalisation Act repealed after the deportation of the Palatines
• Tudor Age - 1485-1603
• Reasons why Africans settled in England

  • Fleeing from Spain after the re-conquest of 1492
  • The Catholic armies of Spain were enemies of Protestant England, and many "Moors" fled as refugees
  • After the start of the Atlantic slave trade, some Africans came to England to work for the aristocracy as companions or servants
• Evidence of support for Africans in Tudor England


  • Court records show that Black people had the right to a voice and equal respect under the law
  • There was no legal slavery in England
• Evidence of negative attitudes towards Africans in Tudor England

  • Thomas More described Catherine of Aragon's servants as "hunchbacked, undersized Ethiopians"
  • Queen Elizabeth I complained that there were too many "blackamores" in England
• From the 1600s onwards, it became fashionable for the upper classes to have Black servant children in their households
• The East India Company


  • Set up in 1600 wiith a charter from Elizabeth I
  • The Company set up trading ports in India to take advantage of the growing trade in England for Indian spices and textiles
• Many Indian people came to live in England as a result of British officers marrying Indian women, and bringing back Indian servants - often children and young women - and nannies (ayahs) for children
• When was the Early Modern Period?

  1500-1730
• When did the first wave of Huguenots come?

  1570s
• Why did Huguenots come in the 1570s?

  Fleeing the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre and persecution for being Protestant
• Were the Huguenots welcomed?


  Yes, due to their skills and connections
• What was the impact of the Huguenots?

  England became a net export economy due to their influence
• When did the German Palatines come?

  1709
• Why did the German Palatines come?

  To escape harsh conditions and to take advantage of the Foreign Protestants Naturalisation Act
• What was the Foreign Protestants Naturalisation Act?

  Began an open-door policy to all foreign Protestants who wanted to come to England
• How were the German Palatines recieved?

  Initially well, but feelings turned when they were not useful to the English economy
• What happened to the German Palatines in 1712?

  Around 5000 were deported to Ireland
• When was the Foreign Protestants Naturalisation Act repealed?

  1712
• Why were Gypsies persecuted?

  Their nomadic lifestyle made it hard to tax them
• Who expelled Gypsies from England?

  Henry VIII
• When were Gypsies expelled?

  1530
• When were Jews allowed to return to England?

  1656
• Who allowed Jews back to England?

  Oliver Cromwell
• Why were the Jews invited back?

  Cromwell may have believed that they could help the economy, but he also thought that they were needed in England for the second coming of Christ
• When were the Evil May Day Riots?

  1517