Short course
Print and Protest in the British Civil Wars
Course status:
Applications being accepted
Dates and time:
19/05/2027 - 16/06/202714:00 - 16:00
Study format:
In-person weekly
Fees:
£190.00
This course will explore the different ways the British Civil Wars inspired public protest. This conflict was unprecedented in its nature, with a monarch declaring war on his own people. The social upheaval that followed, combined with advancements in printing and relaxation of publishing regulations, led to a boom of printed material during the 1640s. We will explore newsbooks, poems, pamphlets, and petitions to analyse how the conflict was portrayed by people on both sides, and the legacy such texts have in society. However, protest was not confined to the pen, and we will explore some of the key public demonstrations of the 1640s in which people aired their grievances. Finally, we will consider the impact of the Restoration, and the ways in which narratives of the conflict were reshaped as people tried to conform to the returned Stuart regime, and downplay their actions in support of Parliament.
Book this course
Book your place online using the button below.
Course starts Wednesday 19 May 2027
This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings in Oxford on Wednesdays, 2.00-4.00pm.
Week 1: Mercurius in bello – Newsbooks at War
Our first session will explore the development of the newsbook, a forerunner to modern newspapers. The 1640s saw a plethora of weekly publications appearing and disappearing with little warning, and the publishers frequently found themselves in conflict with the authorities. Newsbooks were created by supporters of both sides of the war, and we will explore how key events were reported by opposing journalists. Were the articles accurate reflections of what was happening in Britain, or were events being sensationalised?
Week 2: Poetry and Pamphleteering
This session will explore the use of print by people outside the ‘official’ realm of journalism. The relaxation of printing regulations made it much easier for aspiring authors to have their work published, often with a very clear purpose in mind. We will explore how poems and pamphlets were distributed to sway public opinion, stoke outrage, and complain about leaders.
Week 3: Parliamentary petitioning
Publication was one way to express an opinion, but sometimes it was better to go directly to the source of change. This session will explore petitions submitted to Parliament during the 1640s, on a variety of topics. Some petitions called for peace, others for change, and some for personal gain. What motivated people to petition Parliament, what was the response, and did any of these documents actually lead to change?
Week 4: Public Protest and Violence
Sometimes, when peaceful methods fail, violent methods take over. Our fourth session will explore key public demonstrations of the 1640s, including the London riots, the Stour Valley riots, the Canterbury ‘Plum Pudding’ riots, and the ‘Great Blow’ of Norwich. How were these events organised, what were they protesting, and what were the consequences?
Week 5: Restoration Rhetoric
Our final session will explore how print and protest were utilised at the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660. Did pens previously willing to criticise the royalist campaign remain true to their convictions, or did they bow to public pressure? How did the narratives of the 1640s and 1650s change after the Restoration, and how did that change influence the way historians viewed the Civil Wars?
Course aims
Course aim: Students will understand how printed media and public protest were utilised during the British Civil Wars.
Course objectives: Students will:
- Understand the different methods of printed protest and news dissemination.
- Analyse how different texts could report the same event in different ways.
- Assess the legacy of public protest, and whether it achieved contemporary change.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this course students will be familiar with different types of early modern printed material, and understand how these could be utilised to influence public opinion.
Level and demands
The Department’s Weekly Classes are taught at first year undergraduate level.
Teaching methods
The teaching methods for this course will be a combination of lecture and seminar, with students expected to engage with both primary and secondary material provided to them either in class or in advance.
Assessment methods
This course is not accredited, so there are no assessments or coursework.
Dr Charlotte Parsonson-Young
Dr Charlotte Young has a PhD in English Civil War sequestration from Royal Holloway, University of London. She has worked as a genealogist and social historian at Sticks Research Agency for over a decade, where she has worked on programmes such as ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ and ‘Tracing Your Roots’. She is an Honorary Visiting Fellow in English Local History at the University of Leicester, an Adjunct Professor for the University of California’s London Study Abroad programme, and was a research assistant attached to the AHRC-funded Civil War Petitions project.
Digital badge
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be issued with an official digital badge from the Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford. In order to be issued with your badge, you will need to have attended at least 80% of the course.
After the course, you will receive an email with a link and instructions on how to download your digital badge. You will be able to add this badge to your email signature and share it on social media if you choose to do so.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course fee | £190.00 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, or are a care-leaver in the UK, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Concessionary fees for short courses
Recommended reading
Recommended reading is optional and you are not required to purchase these books to study this course.
Library facilities
All weekly class students may become borrowing members of the Rewley House Library, part of the Bodleian Libraries, for the duration of their course. Prospective students whose courses have not yet started are also welcome to use the Library for reference.
- More information about the Library can be found on the Bodleian Libraries website.
- This guide for Weekly Class students also provides further information.
Preparatory reading
- Regicide or Revolution: What Petitioners Wanted, September 1648-February 1649 / Carlin, Norah
- Politicians and Pamphleteers: Propaganda During the English Civil Wars and Interregnum / Peacey, Jason
- Making the News: An Anthology of the Newsbooks of Revolutionary England 1641-1660 / Raymond, Joad (Ed)
Module code: O26P413HIW
How to enrol
Please use the ‘Book now’ button on this page.
