The elements of English constitutional history : from the earliest times to the present day (1901) / Francis Charles Montague.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Montague, F. C. (Francis Charles), 1858-1935, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Constitutional history--Great Britain.

Constitutional history.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xiv, 242 pages)

Edition:

New edition.

Other Title:

Elements of English constitutional history from the earliest times to the present day

Elements of English Constitutional History

Place of Publication:

New York ; Bombay : Longmans, Green, and Co., 1903.

Summary:

History texts study and interpret the past as it may be understood from written documents. The period before written records is called prehistory. Historians use a narrative to examine and analyse past events, and attempt to objectively determine the patterns of cause and effect. Historical studies are not an end in themselves, but also a way of providing perspective on events taking place in the present. History derives from Greek historia, meaning "inquiry, knowledge acquired by investigation". It is the study of the past as described in written documents, with events occurring before written records being considered prehistory. World history is generally considered a teaching topic rather than a research topic. There are many history text books of varying quality, with some addressing the teaching of history or historiography, the process of undertaking research in history.

Contents:

The Beginnings of the Constitutional History of England, A.D. 450-829.

1 (6)

Introduction

Early German Institutions

Classes of Society among the Germans

Political Constitution of the German Tribes

Effects of the Conquest of Britain

Distribution of the Land

Relations of Classes

Introduction of Monarchy

The Conversion of the English

Connection with the Civilised World

Promotion of National Unity

Influence of the Clergy

Consolidation of the Kingdoms of the Angles and Saxons

Originally there were many small Kingdoms

The Bretwaldas

Supremacy of Wessex

Constitution of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom

7 (8)

Local Institutions

The Township

As an Agricultural Community

As a Unit of Administration

As an Ecclesiastical Division

Towns

The Hundred, Ward, or Wapentake

The Shire

National Government

The King: how appointed

Powers of the King

Limitations to the Power of an Anglo

Saxon King

The Witenagemote

Origin of the Witenagemote

Composition of the Witenagemote

Powers of the Witenagemote

Conclusion

From the Beginning of the Supremacy of Wessex to the Norman Conquest, A.D. 829-1066.

15 (7)

What is meant by Feudalism

When and where Feudalism grew up

The giving of Benefices

Commendation

Tendency to Feudalism in the Anglo

Saxon Kingdom

The King

The Nobles

Nobility of Birth

Nobility of Service

Nobility of Wealth

The Anglo

Saxon Nobility not completely Feudal

The Freemen

Political Rights

Military Service

Personal Independence

The Church

General Conclusions

The Norman Kings, A.D. 1066-1154.

22 (18)

How the Norman Conquest helped Feudalism

How the Conquest hindered Feudalism

The Central Government

Necessity of a Strong Central Government

How the Norman Kings succeeded in establishing a Strong Central Government

The Great Council

The Royal Administration

The Great Offices of State

The Justiciar

The Chancellor

The Treasurer

The Work of the Royal Administration

Norman Finance

Domesday Book

The Lands of the Crown

Feudal Revenue

The Danegelt

The Ferm of the Shire

The proceeds of the Pleas of the Crown

Norman Administration of Justice

The Cusia Regis

The Circuits of the Royal Commissioners

Norman Military System

The Hundred

The Duties of the Sheriff

Finance

Justice

War

The Towns

Relations between the State and the Church

The Classes of Society

Henry II, and his Sons, A.D. 1154-1216.

40 (18)

Accession of Henry II.

Policy of Henry II. with reference to the Nobles

Development of Scutage

Policy of Henry II. with reference to the Church

Contest for Jurisdiction over Criminous Clerks

The Constitutions of Clarendon, 1164

The Policy of Henry II. with reference to the Commons

Policy of Henry II. with reference to Finance

Policy of Henry II. with reference to the Administration of Justice

The Development of the Curia Regis

The Improvement of the System of Circuits

The Development of the Jury System

Policy of Henry II. with reference to the Military System

Result of the Reign of Henry II.

Reign of Richard I.

Reign of John

Effects of the Loss of the French Provinces

Effects of the Conflict with the Church

The Conflict of John with the Barons

The Great Charter, 1215

The Tenants-in-chief

The Rights of Cities and Towns

Administration of Justice

The Forests

Miscellaneous

Observations upon the Great Charter

Death of John

Henry III. and Edward I., A.D. 1216-1307.

58 (14)

The Early Years of Henry III.

Misgovernment of Henry III.

Henry forced to make Concessions

The Provisions of Oxford, 1258

The Provisions of Westminster, 1259

Continued Discontent

Arbitration of the King of France

The Barons' War and De Monttort's Parliament

Accession of Edward I.

Policy of Edward I.

Policy of Edward I. With reference to the Nobles

Policy of Edward I. with reference to the Church

Policy of Edward I. with reference to the Commons

Policy of Edward I. with reference to Finance

Policy of Edward I. with reference to the Administration of Justice

Policy of Edward I. with reference to the Military System

Tentative Parliaments

The Model Parliament of 1295

The Confirmation of the Charters

The Later Plantagenets, A.D. 1307-1485.

72 (20)

Characteristics of the Mediæval English Parliament

Estates of the Realm

The Mediæval Parliament a Parliament of Estates

The Mediæval Parliament a Parliament of Local Communities

Definition of a Mediæval Parliament

Constitution of the Three Estates in England

The Estate of the Clergy

The Estate of the Lords Temporal

The Estate of the Commons

Classes not included in the Estate of the Commons

Distribution of Representatives

Who were Qualified to Elect Members of Parliament

Who were Qualified to be Elected as Members of Parliament

Freedom of Election

The Right of Representation little Valued

A Seat in Parliament little Valued

Duration of Parliaments

Growth of the Power of Parliament

Control of Taxation by Parliament

The Share of Parliament in Legislation

The Responsibility of Ministers to Parliament

Position of the Crown in this Period

Position of the Church in this Period

Position of the Nobles in this Period

Position of the Commons in this Period

The Peasant Revolt and the Extinction of Villeinage

Growing Inequality of Conditions

The Tudors, A.D. 1485-1603.

92 (21)

Relations of the Tudors with their Parliaments

Control of Parliament over Taxation in the Tudor Period

Control of Parliament over Legislation in the Tudor Period

Responsibility of Ministers to Parliament in the Tudor Period

The Executive Government in the Tudor Period

The Privy Council as a Court of Justice

Why the Privy Council was so convenient as a Court of Justice

Local Administration

The County

The Parish

Church Government

Measures taken by Henry VIII. to Enforce the Royal Supremacy

Further Reformation by Edward VI.

Reaction under Mary

Measures taken by Elizabeth to Complete the Reformation

Act of Supremacy, 1559

Act of Uniformity, 1559

Rise of the Puritans

The Court of High Commission

Close of the Tudor Period The Nobles

The Clergy

The Commons

James I., Charles I., and the Commonwealth, A. D. 1603-1660.

113 (22)

Character and Reign of James

Constitutional Progress during the Reign of James

Taxation

Legislation

Responsibility of Ministers

The Administration of Justice The Church

Character and Early Years of Charles I.

The Absolute Government of Charles I., 1629-40

Ship-money

Other Financial Expedients

Distraint of Knighthood

Enlargement of the Forests

Sale of Monopolies

Exorbitant Fines

Religion

The Scotch Rebellion and the Short Parliament

The Lone Parliament

Period of Unanimity in Reform

Period of Division ending in the Civil War

Political Differences

Religious Differences

The Long Parliament at War with the King

The Army and the Rump

The Rule of Oliver Cromwell

The Little Parliament

The Instrument of Government

The Parliaments of the Protectorate The Restoration

Charles II.-James II.-The Revolution and William III., A.D. 1660-1702.

135 (22)

The Convention Parliament

Abolition of Military Tenures

The High Church Reaction

The Act of Uniformity, 1661

The Corporation Act, 1661

The Conventicle Act, 1664

The Five

Mile Act, 1665

The Royalist Reaction

Decline of Royalist Feeling

The Cabal and the Declaration of Indulgence

The Test Act of 1673

Impeachment of Danby

The Popish Plot

The Parliamentary Test, 1678

Whig and Tory

The Exclusion Bill

The Habeas Corpus Act, 1679

The Exclusion Bill brought in again

Reaction in the Country

Forfeiture of the Charters

Accession of James II.

The king Attacks the Church of England

The Declaration of Indulgence

The Revolution of 1688

The Declaration of Fights and the Bill of Rights

Importance of the Bill of Rights

Appropriation of Supplies

The Mutiny Act

The Toleration

Act, 1689

Liberty of the Press

The Triennial Act

Reform of the Procedure in Trials for High Treason

The Act of Settlement, 1701

The Sovereign to be a Member of the Church of England

Attempt to Revive the Privy Council

Exclusion of Placemen and Pensioners from the House of Commons

Independence of the Judges

Personal Influence of William III.

Anne, George I., and George II., A.D. 1702-1760.

157 (17)

Reign of Anne

The Parliamentary Union of England with Scotland

Unsuccessful Attempts towards Union

The Act of Union, 1707

Accession of the House of Hanover

The Whig Ascendency

Whig Legislation

The Septennial Act

The Peerage Bill

Development of the Cabinet

Party Government

The Two Forms of the Cabinet

The Early Form of the Cabinet

Unpopularity of the Cabinet in its Original Form

Growing Frequency of Cabinet Councils

The Later Form of the Cabinet

The Prime Minister

The Prime Minister as Controlling the Executive

The Prime Minister as the Organ of Communication between the Cabinet and the Sovereign

The Prime Minister as the Organ of Communication between the Cabinet and the Parliament

Relation of the Prime Minister to the Individual Members of his Cabinet

Deliberations of the Cabinet

The Working of the Cabinet System

Ministerial Responsibility under the Cabinet System

Final Prevalence of the Cabinet System

Reaction against the Cabinet System

Changes in the Great Offices of State

George III., A.D. 1760-1820.

174 (20)

Accession of George III.

Fall of the Whigs

The King's Friends

The Cabinet System Attacked

The House of Commons and the Influence of the Crown

The Cabinet System still New

Indifference of the Mass of the People

Parliamentary Corruption

State of Parliamentary Representation

Case of John Wilkes

Publication of Parliamentary Debates

Fox's Libel Act, 1792

The American War

Renewed Conflicts of the King with his Ministers

The King in Conflict with the House of Commons

The King's Influence in the Latter Part of his Reign

Growing Demands for Parliamentary Reform

Progress of Religious Liberty

The Parliamentary Union of Great Britain and Ireland

Development of Democratic Ideas

The Influence of the Great French Writers of the Eighteenth Century

The Foundation of the United States

The Outbreak of the French Revolution

The Industrial Revolution

George IV., William IV., and Victoria, A.D. 1820-1901.

194

Progress of Religious Equality

Removal of the Sacramental Test, 1828

Act for the Removal of Catholic Disabilities, 1829

Admission of Quakers, Moravians, and Separatists to Parliament, &c.

Admission of Jews to Parliament, &c.

Admission of Nonconformists to the Universities, 1871

Abolition of Compulsory Church Rates, 1868

Disestablishment and Disendowment of the Church of Ireland, 1869

Marriages and Burials of Catholics and Nonconformists

Admission of Evidence in Courts of Justice

Parliamentary Reform

Defects and Irregularities in

The Distribution of Scats

The Qualifications for the Franchise

The County Franchise

The Borough Franchise

Results of Anomalies in Representation

Causes which led to the Reform of Parliament

The Reform Act of 1832

Its Provisions

Its Results

Diminution in the Influence of the Crown and the Landed Interest

Differences of Opinion between the House of Commons and the House of Lords

Moderate Temper of the Reformed Parliament

Causes which led to the Reform Act of 1867

The Representation of the People Act of 1867 The Representation of the People Act, 1884

The Redistribution of Seats Act, 1885

Abatement of Bribery at Elections

Undue Influence at Elections

The Ballot Act, 1871

Corruption of Members of Parliament

The House of Commons and Public Opinion

The Organization of Parties

Organization for Particular Political Objects

Further Development of Cabinet Government and Changes in the Executive Departments

The Cabinet and Legislation

Internal Cohesion of the Cabinet

The Executive Departments

The Secretaries of State The First Lord of the Admiralty

The President of the Board of Trade

The President of the Local Government Board

The President of the Board of Education

Other Departments of the Executive

Effect of the increase in the Number of the Departments on the Cabinet

Reform of Local Administration

Its Condition at the beginning of this Period

The Corporate Towns

The Counties

The Poor Law Amendment Act, 1834

The Municipal Corporations Act, 1835

The Public Health Acts, 1848-75

The Local Government Acts, 1888 and 1894

Conclusion.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.