Booklet 2 - Civil war and Parliamentary victory 1642 - 1646

Question 1

What were the 3 main phases of the civil war?

Answer 1

1. 1642-1643: The King was at an advantage, he controlled much of the country and he had mass support of the gentry and nobility, he had help from his nephews who were experienced from the 30 years war and in October 1642, the royalist forces gained advantages at Edge Hill
2. 1643- Pym established an excise tax in parliamentry areas to maintain parliament’s forces, he was forced to agree to peace negotiations in Oxford but succeeded in pursuading the commons to sign agreement with Scottish forces, bringing effective and experienced soldiers to the parliament forces - the Scottish army was significant in parliamentry victory in 1644 in Marsdon Moor
3. Poor performances led by the parliamentry leader created crisis in parliament and among it’s military commanders, a motion was presented in parliament that all military leaders would resign to create a New Model Army - which secured parliamentry victory through it’s training, discipline and leadership, it’s first success being the battle of Naseby in 1645

Question 2

Explain Parliamentry victories in the Civil War

Answer 2

• Failures of the Royalists: Poor leadership of the king, internal divisions and the failure to take advantage of their strong positions
• Parliamentry assets: Financial and military assets (London and major ports), good Pym leadership
• Parliamentry victory: Marston Moor which gained control of the North, military reorganisation, Battle of Naseby and the Self Denying Ordenance (Introduction of the New Model Army)

Question 3

What did Parliament think about the religious situation during the civil war?

Answer 3

• Religious divisions worsened and there was increased tensions and opinions in Parliament
• The signing of the covenant with Scotland in 1643 meant that the English parliament was committed to attempt to establish a national Presbyterian church - it caused major religious divisions between Presbyterians and Independents

Question 4

What did Presbyterians want?

Answer 4

• A national church organised by Presbyterians
• No toleration, they want a national Presbyterian church which everyone must go to
• Each local church is to be governed by a body of elected elders who form a nationwide general assembly - NO BISHOPS
• They want their influence mainly in parliament
  They also saw Independents as a threat to social order and unity

Question 5

What did Independents want?

Answer 5

• Accept a national church as long as people weren’t forced to attend
• Toleration would be allowed for a range of protestant groups but not for radicals or Catholics
• Congregations determine their own affairs without having to submit decisions to any high authority, each individual church would be independent
• Influence mainly in NMA, minority in parliament

Question 6

What were the attempts to create a Presbyterian Church?

Answer 6

• MPs passed an ordinance in 1645 to create a Presbyterian Church
• Church to be governed at a parish (local level)
• 1646 - Parliament abolished Bishops
• 39 Articles replaced by Westminster Confession
• Elizabethan book of common prayer replaced by Directory book of worship
• D.B.o.W abolished traditional feast days including Christmas in attempts to be more Godly and less ritualistic

Question 7

What were the limitations of attempting to create a Presbyterian Church?

Answer 7

• These legislations only affected areas of the country that were controlled by Parliament, Royalist areas continued to follow the Church of England
• Many people resisted the reforms to the church even in parliamentry areas
• Traditional feasts still took place
• Directory of Worship was ignored
• Offenders to reforms were unpunished
• Few congregational assemblies were formed to govern Churches at local level