Charles I: Political divisions -> the Long Parliament, Pym and the outbreak of civil war Flashcards
What were the 3 crisis’ that Charles faced by 1640?
- invasion by Scotland
- recall of Parliament (twice)
- rising and vocal opposition
At what point did crisis emerge in Charles’ rule?
- up till 1637, the Personal Rule was successful
- explosion of opposition in 1640 due to growing resentment throughout the Personal Rule
What were the long term causes of opposition to Charles?
- Finance: Parliaments of 1625-29
- The Forced Loan: trial and death of Sir John Eliot in 1632
- Charles’ use of ‘fiscal feudalism’ : outside bounds of legality and alienated the regions
- Foreign policy: appeasing Catholic powers, marriage, leniency towards Catholics
What were the short term causes of opposition to Charles?
- Religion: Laud, Book of Sports 1633, alter crisis
- Overuse of Star Chamber and Court of High Commission: brutal treatment of Prynne in 1637
- Ship money: Hampden Case 1637
- Nature of Charles’ reign
How can the overuse of prerogative courts be regarded as?
A vehicle of oppression, clamping down on resistance
What was the nature of Charles’ reign?
- royal proclamations
- the imposition of centrally-made decisions
- the alienation of members of the Political Nation in regions
- the role of Privy Council and the implementation of policy of ‘Thorough’
- evil counsellors
Why was 1637 a turning point?
- Hampden Case
- severe treatment of Burton, Bastwick and Prynne
- Charles and Laud tried to impose bishops and a Prayer book on the Scottish kirk to ensure religious uniformity
- July 1637: this led to the prayer book rebellion
What happened in February 1638 as a turning point?
The Scottish Covenant
When was the Long Parliament summoned?
3 November 1640
What three broad policy aims emerged amongst the parliamentary opposition in the Short Parliament?
- To assert the rights of Parliament and obtain redress for past grievances
- Dismantle all of Laud’s religious reforms
- They wanted Parliament to obtain control over taxation
What did the majority of MPs want in the beginning of the Long Parliament?
Their grievances to be addressed but despite different ideas about religion and politics, did not want a civil war
What had Parliament done between 3 November 1640 and August 1641 in the Long Parliament?
- Parliament had significant leverage over the King and expected political and religious reform
- parliament curbed the King’s powers and there was general agreement
How can the November 1640 - August 1641 session be regarded as?
The best, most organised effective opposition
What happened to opposition from November 1641 onwards?
It became more radical with increasing fragmentation and division, producing tensions that would result in civil war
What had happened between October 1641 and August 1642 in the Long Parliament?
- The opposition programme became more radical
- In response, a Royalist party began to emerge
- England drifted towards a bloody war - something which nobody had envisaged
When did the Scottish parliament reassemble without royal assent?
2 June 1640
What had the constitutional revolution included in Scotland?
- A Triennial Act
- Abolition of the clerical state (bishops)
- Provision for the continuation of the Committee of Estates while Parliament was not sitting
What did the constitutional revolution of Scotland include?
- A Triennial Act (parliament could meet automatically every three years)
- Abolition of the clerical state (bishops)
- Provision for the continuation of the Committee of Estates while Parliament was not sitting
Who colluded with the Covenanters?
Pym and his followers and exploit the menace of the Scottish army in the North in order to undertake their own English, constitutional revolution
