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Middle Class Family Life

Introduction to the middle class family structure in England during the 1600s. Focus on the first 2 pages.

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Following the Glorious Revolution of 1688, England transitioned to a governmental system known as a "Constitutional Government". This type of government divides powers between the monarch (ex. king, queen) and parliament (elected representatives).

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Basics of Christianity

God

Christians believe that there is only one God, whom they call Father as Jesus Christ taught them.

Jesus

Christians recognise Jesus as the Son of God who was sent to save mankind from death and sin.

Jesus Christ taught that he was Son of God. His teachings can be summarised, briefly as the love of God and love of one's neighbour.

The Trinity

Christians believe in the Trinity - that is, in God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Some confuse this and think that Christians believe in three separate gods, which they don't.

Christians believe that God took human form as Jesus Christ and that God is present today through the work of the Holy Spirit and evident in the actions of believers.

Life after death

Christians believe that there is a life after earthly death.

While the actual nature of this life is not known, Christians believe that many spiritual experiences in this life help to give them some idea of what eternal life will be like.

Prayer

Prayer is the means by which Christians communicate with their God.

Sometimes the prayers are formal and part of a ritual laid down for hundreds of years.

Others are personal and spontaneous, and come from personal or group need.

The Church

The Christian church is fundamental to believers. Although it has many faults it is recognised as God's body on earth.

The church is the place where the Christian faith is nurtured and where the Holy Spirit is manifest on earth.

Baptism

The Christian church believes in one baptism into the Christian church, whether this be as an infant or as an adult, as an outward sign of an inward commitment to the teachings of Jesus.

The Trinity

Christian beliefs concerning God

There is only one God

God is a Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit

God is perfect

God is omnipotent

God is everywhere

God knows everything

God created the universe

God keeps the universe going

God intervenes in the universe

God loves everyone unconditionally (though people have to comply with various rules in order to achieve salvation)

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During the 17th century the population of England and Wales grew steadily. It was about 4 million in 1600 and it grew to about 5 1/2 million by 1700.

During the 17th century England became steadily richer. Trade and commerce grew and grew. By the late 17th century trade was an increasingly important part of the English economy. Meanwhile industries such as glass, brick making, iron and coal mining expanded rapidly.

During the 1600s the status of merchants improved. People saw that trade was an increasingly important part of the country's wealth so merchants became more respected. However political power and influence was held by rich landowners.

At the top of 17th century society were the nobility. Below them were the gentry. Gentlemen were not quite rich but they were certainly well off. Gentlemen did not do manual work! Below the Gentlemen were yeomen (farmers who owned their own land). Yeomen lived comfortably but they often worked alongside their men.  Below them came the majority of the population: craftsmen, tenant farmers and laborers.

For the upper class and the middle class life grew more comfortable; but for the poor life changed little. At the end of the 17th century a writer estimated that half the population could afford to eat meat every day. In other words about 50% of the people were wealthy or at least reasonably well off. Below them about 30% of the population could afford to eat meat between 2 and 6 times a week. They were 'poor'. The bottom 20% could only eat meat once a week. They were very poor.

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It was easy to tell the status of a person by the clothes they wore. The richer you were; the better fitted, brighter colored and more decorative the clothes you and your family wore. This extended to any servants you had. Clothes were part of servants pay, a well liked servant could also expect to receive presents of second-hand clothes from their master or mistress, to be worn or sold. The second hand market for clothing dressed the poorer in society and helped to fund the fashions of the aspiring rich.

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In the early 17th century people began eating with forks for the first time. During the century new foods were introduced into England (for the rich) such as bananas and pineapples. New drinks were introduced, chocolate, tea and coffee.

However for the poor food remained plain. They lived on food like bread, cheese and onions. Ordinary people also ate pottage each day. Pottage was made by boiling grain in water to make a kind of porridge. You added vegetables and (if you could afford it) pieces of meat or fish.

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A middle class merchant's house from the 1600s

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A middle class merchant's house from the 1600s

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In the Middle Ages ordinary people's homes were usually made of wood. However in the late 16th and early 17th centuries many were built or rebuilt in stone or brick. By the late 17th century even poor people usually lived in houses made of brick or stone. They were a big improvement over wooden houses. They were warmer and drier.