Civil War Flashcards
True or False: Charles had a standing army.
FALSE
What is the main financial issue during Charles’ rule?
- Charles lacks any real financial power
- He needs to solely rely on Parliament
What is the beaurocratic problem Charles has to deal with?
- Municipal governments are unpaid beaurocrats
- So, the King has to rely on their goodwill towards him
Describe the 1627-29 Anglo-French War:
- English find disaster at La Rochelle
- English try to support the Huguenots
- Largely a naval war
- It all goes horribly for the English from the start
What was the “Policy of Thorough”?
- A thorough examination of the nation’s finances
- Charles gets government to kick out useless offices
- Charles STOPS his extravagant expenditure on art
- He has his government go through all the medieval books to find old revenues and taxes from which to collect
- Example: Ship Money
What was Ship Money?
Levied by Charles in 1536
- An old tax for coastal regions to raise money to defend the coast against invasion
- Charles applied this to EVERY region, not just the coastal ones
- In 1536, 90% of people paid Ship Money
- Later on, this decreased to only 20%
What decade was seen as a glory time for the gentry?
1630s
What did Charles do to incite religious outrage in Scotland?
- Charles enforced Laud’s Common Book of Prayer in 1637, without consulting anybody
- Presbyterians are outraged, and see this as a reinstating of Papal ways
Why did Charles enforce the Common Book of Prayer?
- He wanted religious uniformity
What occurred at the Edinburgh Cathedral when the Book of Common Prayer was first read?
- Women threw stools at the pastor
- People were outraged
What was the National Covenant of 1638?
- A Scottish document listing all the fears of Catholicism returning
- Protests against religious changes done without consultation (i.e Common Book of Prayer)
- Around 300 000 people signed it
- This expels Bishops from the Catholic Church
- Charles sees this as rebellion, and acts (Starts the Bishops Wars)
Why are the Scots so militarily superior to Charles’ invading English army during the Bishop’s Wars?
- Many Scots had been fighting as mercenaries in the Thirty Years War
- Further, the Scots saw this as a religious crusade, and thus were more motivated
- Many of the English were sympathetic to the Covenanters cause
When were the Bishop’s Wars?
1639-40
What treaty ended the Bishop’s Wars?
Treaty of Ripon, 1640
What are the terms of the 1640 Treaty of Ripon?
- King has to give the Scots £850 a day until peace is secured
- Scots control Newcastle
- Scottish army stays encamped in Northern England
Why is the Short Parliament of 1640 called?
Because Charles needs more money to fund the Treaty of Ripon with the Scots
What occurs at the Short Parliament of 1640?
- Charles demands money from Parliament to pay off the Scots, who are encamped in Northern England
- Parliament sees this as Charles’ screw up, NOT theirs
- Charles is furious, and dissolves Parliament again
Why was the Long Parliament called in summer 1640?
- Called in the summer of 1640 because Charles still needed money for the Scots
- Technically it lasts until 1660 (but not in practice)
What is significant about the Long Parliament?
- First time elections to parliament were contested
- Some pro-Royal, some anti-Royal (but none at the extent of anti-king quite yet)
What demands does the Long Parliament make to Charles?
- Ban Non-Parliamentary taxes
- Respect the Triennial Act 1641
- Abolition of Ecclesiastical courts
- William Laud must be tried as a criminal
Why did Charles “agree” to all the demands of the Long Parliament? Did he plan on adhering to them?
- Scottish army was still in England
- Charles had NO intention of actually keeping these promises
- In his view, if he were to actually follow through with these, it would to be against God
What were the widespread feelings of Parliamentarians at the onset of the war? (3)
- Suspicion of the King’s sincerity in his promises
- Fear of eventual revenge for what they had achieved
- Hatred of Catholicism
Typically, the most radical Royalists in Parliament were:
Anglicans
What is the Grand Remonstrance, 1641?
A long, detailed indictment of all that Charles has done wrong during his reign
What are the 2 demands of the Grand Remonstrance?
- Parliament has to approve the King’s cabinet ministers
- The King must call a general meeting (Synod) of the Church for a general reform
True or False: The vote on the Grand Remonstrance in Parliament was very close
TRUE
How does the King react to the Grand Remonstrance?
- He, along with armed soldiers, march to the House of Commons to arrest the 5 MPs responsible for the document
- The MPs manage to escape
- This is the last time a King has entered the House of Commons
Who was the most notable of the 5 MPs who pushed forth the Grand Remonstrance?
John Pym
What was the Irish Rebellion of 1641, and why is it important?
- Catholic rebellion against oppressions from the last 30 years
- Fears that English or Covenants would invade Ireland
- 4000 Protestant settlers are killed
Importance:
- English media overexaggerates the number of Protestant deaths
- This creates further urgency for Charles’ needing of funds from the Long Parliament
What was the Confederation of Kilkenny?
- Irish plan to give Charles I a humiliating settlement
- AKA. Do what the Scots did at Ripon
When and Where does Charles I raise his standard for war?
Nottingham
22 August 1642
Describe geographic allegiances to the Roundheads and Cavaliers:
- Roundheads held London, and most industrial cities, particularly in the South-East
- Cavaliers held the countryside, particularly in the North and West
True or False: All aristocrats sided with Charles.
FALSE
Most, but not all
What is the main difficulty in fighting the King?
- Even if they beat the King in battle 100 times, he is still king
- BUT, if the Roundheads lose even ONCE, they will be hanged as traitors
What title did Oliver Cromwell adopt instead of King?
Lord Protector
What social rank was Cromwell initially?
Provincial gentleman
Which battle best demonstrated Cromwell’s strategic brilliance?
Marston Moor, 1644
Cromwell was a skilled ____________ commander:
Cavalry
What was the Self-Denying Ordinance of 1645?
- When all MPs and Lords had to give up their post in the army
- Why? None of them were skilled military strategists
- One of the exceptions: Cromwell
In what year was the New Model Army created?
1645
How was promotion based in the New Model Army?
- Based solely on merit
Why did the people generally like the New Model Army?
- They reimbursed (mostly) the villagers for any food or supplies they requisitioned
In which major engagement was the King defeated in battle?
Naesby 1645
What did the Peace Party in Parliament want?
- To settle a peace with the King and negotiate any settlement
What did the War Party in Parliament want?
- They want RADICAL change
- They see war as the opportunity to do so
- They want to kick out all bishops, prodigy, etc.
- They want major church reforms
What did the New Model Army want?
- They want to be the ones who decide what happens with the King, since they were the ones who fought for it
Where is Charles I imprisoned when captured?
Isle of Wight
What do the Scots do when Charles surrenders himself to them in 1647?
- They ransom him to the English Parliament
What are the members of the Peace Party alternatively nicknamed?
Parliamentary Presbyterians
What are members of the War Party nicknamed?
Independents
What church and political reforms did the War Party want?
- Congregationalism (Each individual church should decide what sect they wanted to practice, NOT uniformity)
- The lowest and the highest person in the realm should both have a stake in the country
In which treaty did Parliament and Charles continue negotiations after his capture?
Treaty of Newport, 1648
Who is kicked out of parliament during Pride’s Purge in 1648?
- The Peace Party, and all those who want to negotiate with Charles
- Colonel Thomas Pride moves in with his men and gets rid of conservative parliamentarians
- AKA, it radicalizes parliament
What does Pride’s Purge create?
The Rump Parliament
Which parliament decided that the King should be tried?
The Rump Parliament
What body refused to participate in Charles I Trial?
House of Lords
What is the King’s chief argument during his trial?
- To NOT recognize the legality of the authority of the court
Why did Charles refuse to abdicate?
- Because this would be against God’s divine right
How many commissioners (judges) were appointed to Charles’ case?
159
Why were so many commissioners appointed to Charles’ case?
The more commissioners there are, the harder it is to question the court’s legal authority.
Who is the head judge of Charles’ trial?
John Bradshaw
What were Charles Ists 2 charges?
- Tyranny (Governed by will and not by law)
- Treason (Made war on his own people)
When was Charles I executed?
30th January 1649
Why did Charles put on so many layers before his execution?
- To not tremble from the cold, and thus, appear to be afraid
What was the crowd’s reaction at Charles Ists beheading?
No cheers, just silence, and a few groans and gasps
True or False: Freedom of Speech was allowed in the New Model Army
TRUE
What was the role of Agitators in the New Model Army?
- To act as union representatives for the soldiers
What are some of the main beliefs of the Levellers? (8)
- All men and women are equal before God
- Subject to no authority except by agreement
- Sovereignty rests with the people
- Wanted elections every 2 years
- More equitable distribution of Parliamentary seats
- Sought a one chamber assembly (get rid of the House of Lords)
- Laws should be written in simple, clear English, so everyone can understand them
- No severe punishments for minor crimes
Where do the Levellers flourish?
The New Model Army
What document did the Levellers distribute to the soldiers?
An Agreement of the People
–> Soldiers put the paper on their hats, Cromwell got so annoyed that he demanded they take them off
What were the Putney debates?
- 1647
- Political debate WITHIN the Army itself about what should be done with the king
- Inconclusive results, but showed a great surge of liberalism
Who was the most prominent Leveller? What did he write?
- John Lilburne
- The Free Man’s Freedom Vindicated (1646)
Who wrote The Free Man’s Freedom Vindicated (1646)? What did it say?
- John Lilburne
- States that all man and woman are born equal by nature
- NO HIERARCHY
Who were the Diggers?
- Small “communist” group
- They state that private property is a modern folly of an invention (invented by the Norman Yoke)
- God made earth a common treasury
Where was the Diggers’ first commune? How did they end up?
St. George’s Hill, Surrey – April 1649: planted crops
- Only 30 Diggers showed up, local villagers beat them up and routed them away
Who were the Ranters?
- Believed that God is within all living creatures, therefore, we are incapable of sin
- Horrified puritans with their rampant drinking, smoking, dancing, swearing and sharing sexual partners
Who were the Muggletonians?
- Followers of Ludowicke Muggleton
- DENIED the Holy Trinity
- DIDN’T find new members, new members went to them
Who were the Fifth Monarchists?
- Those who believed that the kingdom of Christ was the 5th monarchy by prophecy after Charles’ execution
- General idea that England should be ruled by godly men
- Wanted a theocracy
- Terrible punishing of moral crimes (ex. stoning adulterers)
What were the Quakers also known as?
The Society of Friends
Who founded the Quakers?
John Fox
What did the Quakers believe?
- Everyone had access to God’s inner light
- This inner light was more important than following the Churches’ rules
Why did Quakers have so many problems with the law?
- Because they refused to swear oaths in court
What are some things the Quakers refused to do?
- Refused to bow or take their hat off to social superiors
- Refused to swear oaths in court
- Refused to pay tithes to the Church
What movement outlasted all other radical dissenting religious movements?
Quakers
What is the main belief of Millennialism?
- That the second coming of Christ would incite an 1000-year period of blessedness
Who was James Nayler?
- A Quaker who rode to Bristol on a donkey to symbolize Jesus coming to Jerusalem
- He was branded with a b for Blasphemy, and had his tongue pierced and was flogged
