Civil War Flashcards
Examples of locality influencing side taking? (2)
- High Cotswold was a large farming region and so supported the traditional relationship between farmers and landlords and so were Royalists and Cavaliers
- South Cotswold resented Charles’ interference and monopolies within the Cloth trade which they specialised in so where Parliamentarians and roundheads
Examples of attempted neutralism in the Civil War? (2)
-Some regions, such as Cheshire, requested negotiations to keep out of the War but all these attempts failed in the long run
–> This was a war that most people did not want and would rather stay out of but it sucked in the majority of the nation
Examples of families being divided in their side taking in the war? (2)
- The House of Buckingham was torn apart as Edmund Verney (who was killed at Edgehill protecting the Royal Standard) was a Royalist whilst his son supported Parliament- both men fought on opposite sides
- There were 6 fathers and 6 sons on opposing sides at Edgehill
When did the War officially begin?
-Charles raised his Standard at Nottingham Castle on 22 August, 1642
Where was Charles’ headquarters during the War?
Oxford
When and what was the Battle of Edgehill?
- 23 October, 1642
- The first major pitched battle of the Civil War
Some facts/stats on the Battle of Edgehill (3)
- Royalist army had 12,400 men
- Parliamentarian army had 15,000 men
- Both armies suffered approximately 500 casualties and 1500 wounded
What happened at the Battle of Edgehill? (5)
- Prince Rupert of the Rhine’s right flank cavalry led a thunderbolt charge and broke through the Parliamentarian’s left flank, exposing the infantry
- -> Rather than attacking the infantry, however, the cavalry chased the disbanded left flank and looted the Parliamentarian base
- Essex cleverly kept troops in reserve who were able to fill in where the left flank had broken
- -> This put pressure on the centre of Charles’ infantry as they became overrun through the middle
- -> Eventually, the Royalists regained shape and the battle ended inconclusively
What was the state of the artillery at Edgehill? (2)
- The Royalists had over double the amount of artillery than the roundheads (16 to 7)
- -> However, their position at the top of Edgehill meant that this artillery was fairly futile and many of the shots missed
What was the significance of the Battle of Edgehill? (2)
- Destroyed the possibility of a quick conclusion to the War, which is what many had expected
- The failure of Essex’s army meant that Charles could close in on London
When and what was the Battle of Turnham Green? (3)
- November 13, 1642
- The Royalist army approached London but were met by a large contingent of the London militia and Essex’s army
- -> Charles retreated due to his large numerical disadvantage
Why did Charles’ army retreat at Turnham Green? (4)
- The Parliamentarian army greatly outnumbered Charles’ (24,000 to 13,000)
- The Royalist army were low on ammunition and general supplies
- The London militia was made up mostly of armed civilians; attacking these people would not endear the King to London
- The campaigning season was drawing to a close and Charles hoped to secure a headquarters for the Winter months
By the end of 1642, where did Parliament control and where did the King control? (2)
- Charles controlled the majority of the West and the North
- Parliament controlled most of the East and the South
How did the Royalists appear to be winning the War in 1643? (3)
- Royalists captured Bristol (2nd wealthiest city in England)
- Royalist Duke of Newcastle was enjoying considerable success in Yorkshire
- By Autumn 1643, the Royalists controlled approximately 2/3 of England and Wales
How did the Roundheads appear to be gaining the upper hand into 1644? (3)
- Gloucester survived as the Earl of Essex rescued them from the Siege of Gloucester (10 Aug - 5 Sept 1643)
- Charles’ advance on London was blocked by Essex at the Battle of Newbury (20 Sept 1643)
- Signing of the Solemn League and Covenant (25 Sept 1643)
When and what was the Self Denying Ordinance? (2)
- April 3, 1645
- A bill passed by Parliament stating that people could not be a member of both the military and parliament, but only one or the other
What were the political motivations of the Self Denying Ordinance? (3)
- The leadership of the army was given to members of the nobility, such as the Earl of Essex and Manchester, whom were proving to be unskilled and inefficient in battle
- Essex and Manchester also avoided conflict with the Cavaliers as they hoped that reconciliation with the King was still possible and were pessimistic over the war; Manchester claiming “If we beat the King ninety and nine times yet he is king still, and so will his posterity be after him; but if the King beat us once, we shall be all hanged, and our posterity be made slaves”
–> Cromwell saw this pessimistic faction as being predominantly based in the Lords and so wanted to separate them from the war effort
What was the impact of the Self Denying Ordinance? (3)
- Forced members of the “peace” faction to resign their militaristic positions and gave overwhelming power to the “war” party
- Only Oliver Cromwell was allowed to maintain his position as MP and military leader, with his post being renewed in 40 day increments
- Allowed the implementation of the New Model Army
How was Charles I captured?
-Following the Siege of Oxford in April 1646, Charles fled disguised as a servant before being captured by the Scots in Newark and was taken Northwards to Newcastle
–> After 9 months of negotiations, Charles was delivered to Parliament, in exchange for £100,000 and promises of more money; Charles was handed to Parliament in January 1647
What was Henrietta Maria’s role in aiding the Civil War?
- February 1643
- Arrived at Bridlington with arms and £180,000 she had collected during her year’s absence on the continent seeking support
What was the significance of Essex’s relief of Gloucester? (3)
- Stopped Charles from gaining a coherent and unitary control of the West
- Limited transport of supplies and troops as they would have to pass around Gloucester
- Morale victory following a flurry of losses in early 1643
When and what was the Irish Cessation?
- September 15, 1643
- Truce with the Irish rebels freed up his army fighting in Ireland and also gathered an Irish force of 9,000 men to aid in the War
What was the impact of the Irish Cessation? (2 pros + 5 cons)
Pros:
- Freed Charles’ Army in Ireland, which could instead be used in England
- Brought in an extra 9,000 Irish troops to aid the Royalists
Cons:
- Brought about a fear of a popish invasion of England; united all the Protestant classes of England against Charles
- Hostilities towards Irish Catholics whom had just returned from slaughtering Protestants in Ireland (anti Royalist Propaganda and major political blunder)
- Irish troops were ineffective, mutinous and undisciplined
- ->Most Irish troops were stationed in Wales and were uninvolved in the fighting; by Spring 1645 only 1200 remained in active battle
- Led to the parliamentary response of the Solemn League and Covenant only 10 days after the Cessation
When and what was the Solemn League and Covenant? (2)
- 25 September, 1643 (10 days after Cessation)
- The truce and agreement between the Royalists and the Scots, bringing in 21,500 Scottish troops
What was the impact of the Solemn League and Covenant? (4)
- The incursion of 21,500 Scots & 45,000 pounds of gunpowder aided Parliament gaining total control over the North of England, for example with the decisive victory at the Battle of Marston Moor
- In 8 months, Scotland captured 1/3 of Royalist land in the North
- No propaganda loss as the Scots were devoutly Protestant and faced less hostility than the Irish
- Led to the development of faction and division within Parliament- creating the Independents and Presbyterian factions
Example of the impact that fighting the Civil War had on the nation as a whole? (1)
-3.6% of the entire population died in the Civil War- proportionately more than in either World War
Statistics on deaths and prisoners during war? (2)
- 35,000 Parliamentarians killed VS 50,000 Royalists killed
- 35,000 Parliamentarian prisoners VS 83,000 Royalist prisoners
Impact of illness during the war? (3)
- Illness spread rapidly during the chaotic war years
- -> During Summer 1643, half of the 6000 Roundheads besieging Reading were too ill for duty
- -> Between June 1647 and April 1648, 2100 people died of plague in war torn Chester
- Estimates that Combat produced less than 50% of casualties
Evidence of the physical difficulty for soldiers in the Civil War?
-General William Waller’s Parliamentary infantry marched on 36 of the 69 days between May and July 1644, staying no longer than 3 nights in one place
Impact of the Civil War on women? (3)
- Some women, such as the Countess of Derby and Lady Mary Bankes defended their husband’s castles
- Many women took over the administration of their estates and the running of workshops
- Many husbands and fathers were killed, leaving wives behind to bring up children
How successful was the King’s Commission of Array? (3)
- Only 11 counties responded positively to the Commission of Array, along the Western strip of England
- 12 counties abandoned the Commission of Array
- At least 10 were sharply divided
What foreign support did the Royalists receive? (3)
- 9000 Irish troops as part of the Irish Cessation
- Four regiments of French mercenaries deployed between 1643-1645
- Charles had family connections with Christian IV of Denmark, who sporadically sent supplies although exacted payment and concessions in return. For example, the Orkney and Shetland Islands had to be offered as security, which turned into another public relations setback
What foreign support did Parliament receive? (2)
- 21,500 Scottish troops as a result of the Solemn League and Covenant
- A number of Dutch, Walloon and German officers and men imported throughout the 1640s
What was the issue with deserters for both armies? (4)
- Large number of deserters following major victories as they collected booty
- ->After victory at the Battle of Naseby, 4000 of the 17,000 strong NMA deserted with victorious loot
- Large number of deserters following major defeats, with many infantry taking up service with the victorious enemy
- -> After the Battle of Lostwithiel in Sept 1644, over 3000 of Essex’s infantry enlisted with the King after the articles of surrender were signed
What was the problem with military locations? (3)
-There was a widespread reluctance of men to march outside their county or region
eg.
- The King failed to persuade any of the Yorkshire gentry to follow him to Nottingham in Summer 1642
- London trained bands cried “home, home!” as they travelled to Gloucester in Sept 1643
How did Parliament collect money for the Civil War? (5)
Feb 24, 1643- Houses introduced a “Weekly Assessment” of £35,000/week (equivalent of a Parliamentary subsidy every fortnight)
–> London & Westminster were taxed far more heavily than any other part of the Kingdom - £11,000/week (Importance of control of London)
- ‘Monthly Assessment’ which increased from £35,000 to £120,000 throughout the course of the war (17x more than Ship Money in 1630s and the equivalent of 24 pre-war parliamentary subsidies)
- The Saye-Pym junto introduced an excise tax- the first in English history- on 22 July 1643 on tobacco, alcohol, meat and salt
- Parliament frequently borrowed money against the excise- between Sept 1644 and Sept 1646, £400,000 of future revenue was mortgaged in this way
- In March 1643, Parliament passed the Sequestrian Ordinance, allowing the seizure of enemy property and collected 5000 properties in this way
- -> Parliament could sell or rent the land for large financial gains
How did the Royalists gain money during the Civil Wars? (6)
- He enjoyed the support of the richest landowners in the country
- ->Hundreds of thousands of pounds invested from The Marquess of Worcester and Newcastle and the Earl of Derby
- The universities of Cambridge and Oxford provided £25,000
- Henrietta Maria took the Crown Jewels and her own Jewellery to Europe, returning with £180,000
- Charles sold titles and honours- dozens of baronetcies were sold eg. Earl of Worcester paid £100,000 for his marquessate in 1643
- An excise tax was implemented in 1643, collecting £6,700/week (less than Parliament)
- Sequestration of Parliamentarian land (far less lucrative than parliamentarian sequestration as the Royalists controlled less land and parliamentarian MPs owned smaller estates)
–> Much of the Royalist wealth came from wealthy supporters, which could not last in the long term, especially in contrast to the wealthy regions controlled Parliament that brought their wealth
Why were parliament able to ascertain so much more money than Charles? (4)
- Control of London + Westminster, where the highest excise and customs duties were
- Control of the Southern ports, allowing for greater international trade
- Greater powers of sequestration as Royalists held larger estates than Parliamentarians
- Taxes were traditionally passed through parliament so Royalist attempts were sometimes viewed as illegitimate
Evidence of the economic hardship placed on civilians during the War? (1)
-The ‘Free Quarter’ was the billeting of troops in return for vouchers which could later be redeemed (though they were rarely actually redeemed) and placed considerable strain on civilians
Importance of London in Parliamentary victory? (3)
- Was very wealthy region, generating large amounts of money through tax revenues (provided 70% of customs duties)
- Contained more people in it than nearest 50 towns put together
- Production powerhouse: Produced 30,000 pikes, 102,000 swords and 111,000 firearms between 1642 and 1651- more than Bristol, Birmingham and Manchester combined
What was the price of weapons during the War?
-Increase in demand for weapons led to muskets and pistols halving in price between 1642 and 1645, while Pikes and swords declined by 1/3
What were the ammunition difficulties faced by both sides during the war? (4)
- Shortages of gunpowder as it was constantly being used or it decayed and became useless
- Gunpowder was a Royalist monopoly until 1641, and until 1643, Parliament merely used up existing supplies
- -> Required a great re-organisation of production from both sides
- The Scots had no native gunpowder and all 45,000 pounds they brought was imported from UP and Sweden
