Causes of the civil war

Question 1

What was Charles the 1 views on power?

Answer 1

• He believed he was appointed by God as king so he should have all power
  -Divine right of kings: nobody can object, is superior to others, is allowed advisors
• He doesn’t have a good relationship with Parl- he believes Parl should do as he says, not control him in any way

Question 2

Who were Charles 1 advisors?

Answer 2

Duke of Buckingham(George villiers)- started war with Spain which England lost- England lost lots of money and resources due to him
Earl of Strafford
Kind of William Laud- Archbishop of Canterbury (religious advisor)

Question 3

Charles 1 religious policies

Answer 3

• William Laud and Charles ‘catholicised’ Protestant churches by making them look more catholic by changing the layout
• Charles issued the prayer book in 1637
  -Prayer book described how church services were to be carried out in England and Scotland
• Wife Henrietta Maria is French and Catholic: parliament doesn’t like her

Question 4

What was Scotland’s reaction to the prayer book

Answer 4

-The Scots were mostly puritan and they did not like the idea of the prayer book at all
- Scots began to revolt and threaten to go to war, Charles fought against them and lost
- England had to pay 850 pound per day for Scots to leave England

Question 5

Charles 1 financial problems

Answer 5

• During person rule of Charles 1 in 1629-1640, Charles issues Ship Money 3 times and extended it inland, not for war but to raise funds
• people were not happy as it didn’t affect them- so only 20% was collected
• he also issued coat and conduct money to help him pay the Scot’s 850 pound per day for losing war against them over prayer book

Question 6

Impact of charles’ problems with power, finance and religion
Which is most significant

Answer 6

Power- dissolved parliament for 11 years, parl did not like his advisors, people not happy parl was dissolved, had personal rule
Finance- issued ship tax 3 times with inland people as well as coat and conduct money- makes his very unpopular as it is not for war and parl did not approve, it is illegal
Religious- Charles makes churches look more catholic, Scot’s revolt and war- leads to England losing money

Most sig- financial as this was the main reason people went against Charles

Question 7

Execution of Charles

Answer 7

• 128 to 83 people in park voted to keep negotiating with Charles
• Cromwell and new model army didn’t trust Charles so they created the rump parl , so that Charles was tried
• Charles was tried and put on trial
• in high court only 68 of 135 turned up
  -first three days: Charles refused to plead and challenged them for putting him on trial- next 2 days, only witnesses spoke
• 26 Jan 1649 Charles guilty and death warrant signed by 59 of 68 judges
• at 2 in the afternoon Charles executed Jan 1649
• executed does not speak to hide his identity
• people try to dab their handkerchiefs in his blood
  -head sewn back on
  -Charles buried in Windsor castle in private chapel