Dismembering the Body Politic - Partisan Politics in England's Towns, 1650–1730

This is a major survey of how towns were governed in late Stuart and early Hanoverian England. A new kind of politics emerged out of England's Civil War: partisan politics. This happened first in the corporations governing the towns, and not at Parliament as is usually argued. Based on an examination of the records of scores of corporations, this book explains how war unleashed a cycle of purge and counter-purge which continued for decades. It also explains how a society that feared a system of politics based on division found the means to absorb it peacefully. As conflict sharpened in communities everywhere, local competitors turned to the court of King's Bench to resolve their differences. In doing so, they prompted the court to develop a new body of law that protected local governments from the divisive impulses within them.

Product details

• Authors: Paul D. Halliday, Halliday Paul D.
• Assisted by: Anthony Fletcher (Editor), John Guy (Editor)
• Publisher: Cambridge Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 23.07.1998
• EAN: 9780521552530
• ISBN: 978-0-521-55253-0
• Dimensions: 152 mm x 229 mm x 27 mm
• Weight: 780 g
• Series: Cambridge Studies in Early Modern British History
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political education; England, European History, HISTORY / Europe / Great Britain / Georgian Era (1714-1837), POLITICAL SCIENCE / Public Affairs & Administration, POLITICAL SCIENCE / World / European, HISTORY / Europe / Great Britain / Stuart Era (1603-1714), 18th century, c 1700 to c 1799, British & Irish history, 17th century, c 1600 to c 1699, Early modern history: c 1450/1500 to c 1700, 16th century, c 1500 to c 1599, C 1600 To C 1700, C 1700 To C 1800, Regional, state and other local government, Regional government