Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History
Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015
Conflict and dissent, 1625–88: The growth of religious nonconformity:…
Full specification wording
Religion: conflict and dissent, 1625–88: The growth of religious nonconformity: Puritanism under Charles I; Presbyterians and religious radicalism; the persecution of dissenters under Charles II and James II.
Nonconformity grew because conformity was enforced.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 2 of 3
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Nonconformity grew because conformity was enforced. Under Charles I, Puritans were Calvinists within the Church who wanted further reform: preaching, predestination and a godly Sabbath. Laud's Arminian changes, the 1633 Book of Sports and Star Chamber punishments pushed them towards separatism and emigration. The Civil Wars released Presbyterianism, a national church governed by elders and assemblies, alongside Independents, Baptists, Quakers and Fifth Monarchists. After 1660 the Clarendon Code excluded dissenters: the Corporation Act 1661, Act of Uniformity 1662, Conventicle Act 1664 and Five Mile Act 1665. James II's Declaration of Indulgence 1687 suspended penal laws, but dissenters distrusted his motives.
What earns the marks
- Explains Puritan beliefs and aims under Charles I: predestination, preaching, Sabbath observance and opposition to Laud's Arminian ceremonies.
- Links enforcement to growth: Laud's changes, the Book of Sports and prerogative court punishments drove some Puritans to separatism or emigration.
- Distinguishes Presbyterian church government by elders and assemblies from congregational Independency and from radical sects such as Baptists, Quakers and Fifth Monarchists.
- Explains how the Clarendon Code penalised dissent through the Corporation Act 1661, Act of Uniformity 1662, Conventicle Act 1664 and Five Mile Act 1665.
- Assesses James II's 1687 Declaration of Indulgence as a toleration measure whose motives dissenters doubted.
- Uses the period 1625–88 to show change over time rather than a static list of groups.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Treating Puritan and Presbyterian as identical.
Put it right: Puritans sought further reform of the Church, while Presbyterians advocated rule by elders and assemblies.
Assuming the Restoration ended religious conflict.
Put it right: The Clarendon Code intensified persecution of dissenters.
Describing the 1687 Declaration of Indulgence as welcomed by all dissenters.
Put it right: Many suspected James II aimed to help Catholics.
Exam tips
- Anchor each group to a date and a measure so growth and persecution are evidenced, not asserted.
- Compare Presbyterian and radical positions explicitly to show understanding of nonconformist diversity.
- Conclude on the relative weight of doctrine, enforcement and politics in explaining growth.
Try the lesson
The start of the Religion: conflict and dissent, 1625–88: The growth of religious nonconformity: Puritanism under Charles I; Presbyterians and religious radicalism; the persecution of dissenters under Charles II and James II. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which group of Protestants under Charles I sought to purify the Church of England of remaining Catholic practices such as elaborate vestments and ceremonies?
Listen
Nonconformity grew because conformity was enforced. Under Charles I, Puritans were Calvinists within the Church who wanted further reform: preaching, predestination and a godly Sabbath. Laud's Arminian changes, the 1633 Book of Sports and Star Chamber punishments pushed them towards separatism and emigration. The Civil Wars released Presbyterianism, a national church governed by elders and assemblies, alongside Independents, Baptists, Quakers and Fifth Monarchists. After 1660 the Clarendon Code excluded dissenters: the Corporation Act 1661, Act of Uniformity 1662, Conventicle Act 1664 and Five Mile Act 1665. James II's Declaration of Indulgence 1687 suspended penal laws, but dissenters distrusted his motives. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains Puritan beliefs and aims under Charles I: predestination, preaching, Sabbath observance and opposition to Laud's Arminian ceremonies. Links enforcement to growth: Laud's changes, the Book of Sports and prerogative court punishments drove some Puritans to separatism or emigration. Distinguishes Presbyterian church government by elders and assemblies from congregational Independency and from radical sects such as Baptists, Quakers and Fifth Monarchists. Explains how the Clarendon Code penalised dissent through the Corporation Act 1661, Act of Uniformity 1662, Conventicle Act 1664 and Five Mile Act 1665. A common slip: Treating Puritan and Presbyterian as identical. Instead, Puritans sought further reform of the Church, while Presbyterians advocated rule by elders and assemblies. Exam tip: Anchor each group to a date and a measure so growth and persecution are evidenced, not asserted.
Put the events in order
Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.
- 1. Act of Uniformity excluded dissenters under the Clarendon Code
- 2. Conventicle Act excluded dissenters under the Clarendon Code
- 3. Five Mile Act excluded dissenters under the Clarendon Code
- 4. Corporation Act excluded dissenters under the Clarendon Code
- 5. Book of Sports issued, pushing Puritans towards separatism and emigration
- 6. James II's Declaration of Indulgence suspended penal laws
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Puritanism
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Presbyterianism
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Clarendon Code
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Declaration of Indulgence
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Puritanism
- Calvinists within the Church under Charles I who wanted further reform: preaching, predestination and a godly Sabbath.
- Presbyterianism
- A national church governed by elders and assemblies, released by the Civil Wars alongside Independents and radical sects.
- Clarendon Code
- Measures after 1660 that excluded dissenters: the Corporation Act 1661, Act of Uniformity 1662, Conventicle Act 1664 and Five Mile Act 1665.
- Declaration of Indulgence
- James II's 1687 measure suspending penal laws, whose motives dissenters distrusted.
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