1629-49: FINANCE

Question 1

line of arg

Answer 1

Charles’ financial predicaments forced the meeting of Parliament and Crown, which gave a forum to undermine the King’s authority, allowing for a power struggle to occur creating rising tensions, and so was a main cause of the Civil War.
-also note that his financial predicaments, of his own fault, led to dubois and underhand methods to improve this, which also created tension.

Question 1

+ve example

Answer 1

• Improvements: fpol: ending of ppt in Thirty Years War w/ Treaty of Susa (1629) and Treaty of Madrid (1630) meant reduction in annual spending on fpol from £500,000 to £70,000

Question 2

context

Answer 2

• Charles struggling financially: 1629 crown had a debt of £2mill.

Question 3

-ve examples of Charles being dubious

Answer 3

• Use of Fiscal Feudalism to increase income: Charles intransigence: increased Recusancy fines to bring total yield from £5,300 a year in 1620s to over £26,000 by mid 30s= provoked opposition on grounds that religion was being used as a tool for royal absolutism.
• Ship Money- another form of prerogative income- through dubios and underhand methods, charles introduced this tax (supposedly to be levied on coastal times durng naval emergencies) when not necessary- it was extended to whole country by 1635. Raised £200,000
  –> Provoked political opposition: led to Hampden Case, 1637- who objected to the existence of ship money itself. Charles stated he was the only one who could constitute ‘danger’. This case won in the crowns favour, but 5 to 12 judges voted in Hampden’s favour- and in 1639 only 20% of Ship money was collected, which shows its unpopularity.
  –> the Hampden Case can be seen as one of the key reasons why Charles was forced to finally end Personal Rule and recall Parliament in 1640.- bc Charles needed money for Bishops’ Wars- therefore his financial issues made him need to call Parl which led to even more conflict.