Historical background of English Classicism
Historical background of English Classicism
Period of Charles II.
Stuarts dynasty represented by Charles II. was restaurant on the English throne in the 25. 5. 1660. All people in England was tired with civil war which was in England 18 years and they wanted security and order.
Charles was very interesting person – as English king he had to be head of Englican church but he was for his whole life fascinated by Catolic church and the last person he wanted to see was catolic priest. Even so during his life he established law persecuting people who did not také part in Englican church.
This is period when nearly every citizen of England was interested in political situation. Background of this interest was in the civil war when every person in England was member of some political party. After civil war they stay in their conviction and on the basis these mainly thoughts two political groups was found– Tories(former ally with king) and Whigs(former enemies of king).
First election into parliament was in 1679 and the first winners were whigs. First of all whings made king issue new law – Habeas Corpus. Owing to this law every prisoner should been judged not later than in 20 days after his imprisonment.
Period of James II.
After death of Charles James II. began to govern. James was stubborn, devolted, he had a lot of energie and he was not clever a lot. And what is important – he was catolic in belief and he had strong connection with France.
I have found one funny quotation – „Charles could understand everything if he wanted; James would like to understand something if he could.“
Clerks during James‘ govertment could have been only from Catolical church. His enemies were beheaded.
English nation hoped king would die soon and the govertment would take over his daughter Ann who was married to William from Orangeland(omlouvám se, nevím, jak se řekne Oranžský a nemohla jsem toto běžné jméno nikde najít) – both were Protestant. But James‘ wife bore son. English lords asked William for a help and new revolution could begin. James broke up to the France. The revolution occur without civil war and without execution. It is why is this revolution called Great revolution.
Period of William III.
The beggining of William’s meant personal connection England and Holland. William gave bigger attention to Holland politicy and he left the English policy to English parliament. Thanks to this attitue is William considered former of contuticion democration.
William wanted to edit new declaration about religion freedom – but he was stopped by English parliament (mainly by Tories).
The establishment bank was very important during Williams govertment. The first person what did borrow from the bank was the king – William. He needed a lot of money for war against Spain. Thanks to this became London slowly the biggest financial and marketing center all over the world. In this time we can scan strong increase of Scotish economics.
Period of Ann
Queen Ann had three aim – to be lady, to support Englicans and to manage regard for her husband George from Denkmal. Very important in her life were two close friendship to Sarah Jennings and later to Sarah Abigail Hill – Ann made everything for this two woman but they had the laugh of Ann.
Absolute freedom of word brought great increase of literature and mainly newspapers. In newspaper started battles of political groups.
England aimed in the war about Spain inheritance three things:
to hold a balance of power between countries in Europe, to prevent connection Spain and France and to make France leave some territories. The peace contract singed in Utrecht in 1713 was really profitable for England. England held some territories, could import slaves from South America, they could sold English products to South America and much more. This contract brought England leading position in Europe.
Sources:
Dejiny Anglie,Maurois A., Lidové noviny, Praha
1993, str. 283-315
Dejiny Anglické literatury, Craig H., Státní nakladatelství krásné literatury a umeni, Praha 1963, str. 34 – 56
My notebook of history
What I read in English? I have read some books from editions Penguin readers in the level Pre-Intermediate. It was quite easy. I tried to read Good Wives from Louisa May Alcott and Briget Jones’s Diary from Helen Fielding but it was too hard to read it for me. Maybe I will finish it later. Every Friday I try to read English and Germany Page in Lidové noviny.