Civil War Outbreak (1640-42) Flashcards
When was the Grand remonstrance
Passed on 22nd November 1641
Published on the 1st December
What was the Grand Remonstrance
Pushed forward by John Pym whilst Charles was returning from Scotland
Listed all the faults of the king (religious at the top)
Publication - passed in the early hours of the morning to get rid of royalists + swords were drawn
Charles didn’t acknowledge the passing so it was published
When was the execution of Strafford
12th May 1641
What was the execution of Strafford
Watched by 100,000
Charles later described it as his biggest regret
The attempt to remove Strafford via the Lords looked to fail until the army plot
Marked the end of any possible compromise between king and crown
When was the Irish rebellion
October 1641
What was the Irish rebellion
Thomas Wentworth’s recall to England left a power vacuum in Ireland
Catholic noblemen wanted concessions like in Scotland
Inspired by Scotland and fearful of the growing Puritan influence in politics
Number of protestants killed range from 2,000 to 200,000
Claimed to have acted in the kings’ name, was exploited by Pym and radicalised the long parliament
Raised the question on who could be trusted with the army
When were the 19 Propositions
June 1642
What were the 19 Propositions
This would remove the king’s prerogative
He couldn’t raise an army or choose his ministers
This would effectively create a constitutional monarchy but was more just a justification for war
When was the failed arrest of the 5 members
3rd January 1642
What was the failed arrest of the 5 members
Charles entered the House of Commons, much to the amusement of MP’s with armed soldiers at the door
Undermined parliamentary privilege and gave credibility to rumours of a catholic plot
Members had already escaped, the king returned humiliated with a destroyed image (untrustworthy)
‘I see the birds have already flown’
When was the Army plot
3rd May 1641
What was the Army plot
Made rumours that Charles was going to unite with the English army and free Strafford plausible
Loyal soldiers sent to the TOL to free Strafford
The plot was exposed giving Charles scrutiny
Pym was quick to exploit this as evidence that it was a popish plot destined to overthrow the kingdom
When was Bedford’s bridging appointment scheme
February 1641
What was Bedford’s bridging appointment scheme
Many leaders of the Puritan opposition had been promoted into the king’s government, making it harder to argue that the king was surrounded by evil advisors
The appointments were intended to be accompanied by a financial settlement were Bedford would be appointed to Chancellor of the Exchequer
Bedford’s death in May put an end to the likelihood of success to the scheme
Bedford had been a mentor to Pym
When was the Root and Branch Bill
May 1641
What was the Root and Branch Bill
A proposal to replace bishops with church councils in each diocese appointed by Parliament
This would dismantle the structure of the Church of England and alter the composition of the Huse of Lords
Politically it would reduce the king’s power because bishops ensured loyal supporters in the Lords as he appoints them
When were the 10 Propositions
24th June 1641
What were the 10 Propositions
A list of suggestions brought forward by Pym on how a settlement might be made with the king
The key terms would have dramatically reduced the king’s prerogative powers
Give Parliament control over his Charles’ children’s education and appointed his ministers
Reluctantly accepted but until the Grand Remonstrance, many MP’s didn’t realise the significance of Pym’s position
Parliament attempted to establish committees to deal with each point but the 10 propositions never really went anywhere - quitely accepted by Charles and then shelved
Their significance is in their radical nature, not the outcome
When was the Militia Bill
7th December 1641 - by Sir Arthur Haslrig
What was the Militia Bill
Removed the king’s power to summon the militia and gave Parliament the power to appoint army commanders
Debates over the Bill were so heated and extensive that they dragged into February, bu which time events had intensified further.
What majority did the Grand Remonstrance get
11 votes
Pym didn’t bother passing it up to the Lords to vote on because he knew it would get rejected so just published it instead
Why did Charles sign Strafford’s death warrant
News of the Army plot broke - increasing concern about the safety of his family + increasing pressure from the London Mob
What was the consequence of the execution of Strafford for the king
Major blow to the king’s sources of support
Showed the king was not trustworthy having turned on one of his closest advisors
Why did Charles attempt the 5 members arrest
Newfound confidence in support from the increasing numbers of constitutional royalists
Ongoing fears about the safety of his family (there had been a move to impeach Maria)
Anger over the proposed MIlitia Bill
What was the consequence of the 5 members arrest for Charles
The London mob protested and Charles, worried about his family, moved to Hampden court
Showed that Charles was willing to use force to avoid respecting parliament’s legitimate privileges - once again demonstrating his absolutist tendencies
By leaving London he lost physical connection with the capita;
Prompted petitions across the country. Even moderate royalists were shaken by the king’s actions
What 3 paragraphs would be used to explain why the Civil war broke out
PYM’S RADICALISM - impeachment, militia bill, propersistions, grand remonstrance
EVENTS OUTSIDE OF ENGLAND - Bishops war, Pym exploiting Irish rebellion, militia bill, the incident
CHARLES’ ACTIONS - 5 members, Hull incident, army plot, left London
What is an impeachment trial
March 1641, House C votes to put someone on trial, House L decides innocence or guilt
What was Strafford accused of and what was the issue
Suggesting in a privy council meeting that Charkes could bring an army over from Ireland to deal with the Bishops war - overhead by Henry Vane
Unlikely to be found guilty - STraffford very goods’ defence + House L unlikely to take responsibility for finding him guilty
How does a Bill of Attainder work
Passed by House C
Passed by House L
Then needs royal assent
A significant factor in breaking up the anti-court consensus + the development of constitutional royalists
Give the Earl of Bedford’s quote with regards to Strafford’s trial
“This business concerning the Earl of Strafford is the rock upon which we should all split”
What 3 paragraphs would you give on why the Civil War broke out
PYMS’S RADICALISM
EVENTS OUTSIDE ENGLAND
CHARLES’ ACTIONS
What points could you give on Pym’s radicalism
- Impeachment of Earl of Strafford
- Grand Remonstrance
- Root and Branch petition
- 19 propositions
- 10 propositions
Triennial Act - ship money banned
What points could you give on events outside of England
Treaty of Ripon
Pym exploiting Irish rebellion to imply a catholic plot
The incident
What points could you give on Charles’ actions
5 members coup, failed arrest
Left London, reducing his influence
Hull Incident
Vague Army plot
The incident
What was the Triennial Act
Established that parliament be called every 3 years, parliament could be dismissed by its own consent
What was Strafford accused of
Suggesting in the privy council meeting that Charles could bring an army from Ireland to deal with Bishops war
Overhead by Henry Vane
How did the Earl of Bedford describe the impeachment of Strafford
“This business concerning the Earl of Strafford was the rock upon which we should all split”.
What did Strafford achieve in Ireland in 1633
Reduced Ireland to obedience, something never before achieved
The Irish parliament was reduced to a rubber stamp, just voting taxes to support Strafford’s new army
Protestant church was remodelled on Laudian lines, much to the resentment of the Scottish presbyterian settlers of Ulster
Hated in Ireland, and feared in England by the English gentry for doing what he did in Ireland at home
How was the machinery for Persanolrule destroyed
- Star chamber and high court abolished, depriving the king and the church of their most powerful legal weapons
- Ship money declared illegal
- The boundaries of the royal forests were said to be those in the 20th year of James’ reign
- Court of Wards abolished
Why did he agree to the Triennial Act
Agonising over Strafford’s death. failed to see the full significance of what he was agreeing to
London mob were active
Seen them as temporary concessions
Why as Charles’ support growing in 1641
Many MP’s were sympathetic to his views
- Increasing activities of religious radicals with the growth of unauthorised preaching and disturbances in church es
- Unrest in many towns and cities, caused by a trade depression - king represented stability
- London mob and Pym’s further constitutional changes beginning to cause alarm in HofC among he naturally conservative gentry
Anti-court consensus broke up on the Grand Remonstrance
Why did Pym do the Grand Remonstrance
Gradual erosion of the anti-court consensus and fears about Charles’ motives.
Not a sign of a strong position, but a desperate measure
What was the aim of the Grand Remonstrance
- Remind members of the past actions of Charles
- Reassert the existence of a roman-catholic conspiracy
- Justify what were clearly revolutionary demands
What was wrong woth appointing Thomas Lundsworth as the Governer of the TOL
Such a position could be used to intimidate the city
To many in the capital, his appointment seemed to confirm Charles’ secret desire to regain freedom of action through a military coup
Under pressure Charles cancelled the appointment, sending two equally damaging signals:
- he had thought about a coup
- he was weak and could be forced to back down
What was the impact of the 5 members coup
Swung many MP’s back to Pym as this is what he had been predicting, a military coup encouraged by Roman Catholics
Why did the Civil War become inevitable from January 1642
1) Widespread social disorder, poor harvests and a trade depression caused considerable distress among lower orders + growth of radical preaching and pamphleteering seemed to threaten the stability
2) The gentry arms itself, a power vacuum had been created from the King retreating to Hyde, and the collapse of the authority of the church of England only made the future seem bleaker for those who saw the cement of society beginning to crumble.
3) Propaganda war - between the king and parliament, each hoping to persuade the uncommitted moderates to join their side of strength
