Charles I: The First Civil War: Its nature Flashcards
What happened in January 1642 that led to the drift to war?
The failed arrest of the ‘Five Members’
What happened in February 1642 that led to the drift to war?
The King escaped from London and set up his court at York
What happened in April 1642 that led to the drift to war?
The King tried - and failed - to seize munitions at Hull
What happened in June 1642 that led to the drift to war?
Parliament issued the Nineteen Propositions which were rejected by the King; the King issued the Commissions of Array (mustering an army), and Parliament sent out Militia Commissioners
What happened in July 1642 that led to the drift to war?
The Royal Navy declared for Parliament; Parliament appointed the Earl of Essex as its military commander
What happened in August 1642 that led to the drift to war?
The King raised his standard at Nottingham Castle, effectively commencing the war
What happened in October 1642 that led to the drift to war?
The Battle of Edgehill, the first major battle of the war
- the result was inconclusive
What happened in November 1642 in the drift to war?
The King’s forces failed to take London at the battle of Turnham Green
- The King’s army withdrew to Oxford, which would remain the Royalist capital for the rest of the war
What happened in January - May 1643 in the drift to war?
Failed peace negotiations at Oxford led to a new phase of the war
- the war escalated - although fighting remained inconclusive
How many English towns suffered extensive damage to property because of the war?
150 -> bombarded in English Civil War battles
How many people were made homeless during the Civil Wars?
85,000
How many people were killed in combat during the war?
85,000
What percentage drop was there in the birthrate and during what range?
The birth rate dropped by 10% in the 1650s compared to the 1630s
What is one advantage Parliament had in terms of support from London?
Support of London was absolutely crucial (home of Parliament, wealthy and most important centre of trade)
- London’s population was around 550,000 out of total pop of 5 million
What is another advantage of Parliament in terms of support from towns and ports?
Held the sympathies of most of the towns and ports
- controlled the most economically advanced areas in the East and South
- succeeded in holding on to both the Royal Navy and most of the coastline
Who were willing to aid Parliament in its struggle with the King?
Scottish Presbyterians
How did Parliament have financial superiority during the Civil War?
Parliament controlled London, which meant it had access to money
What did Pym create to increase Parliament’s financial superiority?
Parliamentary Ordinances to enact massive new taxes in order to secure funding for the Parliamentarian cause
What was the decisive issue in determining financial superiority?
Being able to acquire a large and steady tax revenue was the decisive issue
- Pym recognised this
Was the King able to have financial superiority?
No, he was never able to marshal anything like the same financial resources
Who were the two Cavalier leaders of the Civil War?
Prince Rupert and Lord George Goring
Who was Prince Rupert?
- Charles’ nephew
- An experienced cavalryman and an effective leader
- Responsible for burning Birmingham to the ground
- Went into exile following his defeat but returned to England at the Restoration in 1660
Who was Lord George Goring?
- Royalist commander who combined his ineffective generalship with brutal and dissolute behaviour
- his troops were guilty of excesses in the West Country that seriously damaged the Royalist cause
- Went into exile in 1645
What was the King’s side of the war like compared tot he Parliamentary side?
Not as disciplined as the Parliamentary side which was organised and disciplined, having leverage over the Royalists
Who were the key parliamentarians?
- Robert Deverux, 3rd Earl of Essex
- Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester
- Oliver Cromwel
What was the Self-Denying Ordinance?
A meritocratic system that disallowed being both aristocratic and a general in the army which eradicated conservative minded people
What were Robert Devereux and Edward Montagu like?
ineffectual military leaders who resigned their command in April 1645, just before Parliament passed the Self-Denying Ordinance excluding its members from military command
Who was Oliver Cromwell?
A Puritan MP whose creation of the disciplined and meritocratic New Model Army in 1645 paved the way for Parliament’s victory
- he himself ignored the Self-Denying Ordinance
- dogmatic Puritan with a relatively radical political and religious programme
What was Cromwell striving for?
The ‘liberty of conscience’
- willing to allow a degree of difference
What was the ‘liberty of conscience’?
Each congregation that wanted to worship their way could with no uniformity or conformity
When was the Battle of Edgehill?
October 1642
When were the Oxford Treaty negotiations?
1 Feb - 14 April 1643
Who proposed negotiations be opened with the king?
The Lords on 29 October 1642
Why did the Commons agree to negotiations with the king?
Under pressure from opinion in the City of London and country
What led to the Oxford Treaty negotiations?
Parliament’s lacklustre performance at Edgehill as well as general revulsion at the outbreak of war
What were the peace petitions and neutrality pacts of 1642 and early 1643 significant of?
An accumulation of great effort to end the war
What did the collapse of these negotiations resemble?
The definite end of the first phase in the war
What did Charles declare (quote)?
Whoever had drawn up the negotiations only wanted ‘to make things worse and worse.’
