In Our Time

Titus Oates and his 'Popish Plot'

15 snips
May 12, 2016
Clare Jackson, a Senior Tutor and Director of Studies in History at Trinity Hall, University of Cambridge, and Peter Hinds, an Associate Professor of English at Plymouth University, dive into the tumultuous era of Titus Oates and the infamous 'Popish Plot.' They explore how Oates fueled paranoia against Catholics, leading to wrongful accusations and executions. The discussion highlights the personal ambitions behind the plot, political instability it caused, and the broader implications of propaganda in shaping public perception during this chaotic period.
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INSIGHT

Catholics in 17th Century England

  • Catholics were a small minority (1-2%) in 1670s England, mainly in Lancashire and London.
  • They faced penal laws requiring Church of England attendance, but these were enforced unevenly.
INSIGHT

Historical Context of Anti-Catholicism

  • Historical events like the Gunpowder Plot fueled anxieties.
  • The prominence of Catholic powers like France and Spain heightened these fears.
ANECDOTE

Charles II and Catholicism

  • Charles II had Catholic alliances during his exile and tried to moderate laws against Catholics and dissenters.
  • His brother James, Duke of York's, conversion and his Catholic mistress further fueled suspicion.
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