Disputes with Parliament Flashcards
Prerogative Rights
The monarch’s rights that they can exercise without Parliamentary approval.
Parliamentary Privilege
Legal immunity for MP’s to speak freely without fear of legal action - this means they can raise controversial issues for discussion
What 4 rights did Parliamentary privilege give MP’s?
Free access to monarch + House of Lords to convey opinions
Right to correct mistakes that might prejudice the commons
Freedom from arrest while Parliament is sitting
Freedom of speech (with limits sufficiently vague to leave scope for debate)
What were the dates of James’ First Parliament?
What was the main focus of the first parliament?
1604-1611
> Royal Prerogative vs Parliamentary privilege
The Buckinghamshire Election
When was it?
What was it?
1604
The election of Francis Goodwin as MP for Buckinghamshire was annulled as he had been outlawed for outstanding debt summonses. He was replaced by John Fortescue (privy councilor) but this was seen as a royal interference so Commons reinstated Goodwin.
Shirley’s case
When was it?
What was it?
1604
MP Thomas Shirley arrested for debt. This upset MP’s trying to establish Parliamentary privilege of freedom from arrest while Parliament was sitting. To prove their point Parliament sent the governor of the prison holding Shirley to the Tower of London until Shirley was released.
Union of Scotland and England
When was it proposed?
Who proposed it and what was proposed?
What was the response?
1606
It was proposed by James who wanted to Unify England and Scotland to make the country internally secure. He would be King of the whole unified country, and it would be called ‘Great Britain’.
Immediate intense opposition to everything, even including name!
Advantages to a Union of England and Scotland for James I
2 reasons
Would create security or him within the country
Would create peace with Europe
Disadvantages of a Union to Parliament/the Political Nation
7 reasons
There was great anti-Scottish feeling in England
It would be very expensive to run another Kingdom/control more land
Fears the King would change English laws to favour Scottish ones
Fears the King would replace courtiers with Scots = less power to English
Fears James would prioritise Scottish matters over English ones
Great increase in power for James
Would create competition within Political Nation for King’s affection/favoritism
What was the nickname of James’ second Parliament?
When did it begin?
Why was it given this nickname?
The Addled Parliament!
1614
Named because it was so ineffective and confused it only lasted 8 weeks.
When was the Great Contract + why was it an issue in James’ first parliament?
1610
Primary reason for parliament dissolution = failure to reach a parliamentary solution to Crown financial difficulties. Negotiations over Great Contract alienated James from parliament.
Why couldn’t MPs discuss foreign policy?
It was a royal prerogative
When did James’ Third Parliament begin?
What was it focused on?
Why did it focus on this?
1621
-> MP’s focused on abuse of monopolies (as a way of attacking Buckingham)
-> monopolies had been exploited by courtiers as a way of attacking their opponents. Created tensions through factional infighting
What were the 5 reasons for the failure of the 1614 Parliament?
Financial Need = James was put under pressure for funds after the ‘Great Contract’ failed, Robert Cecil died and James continued selling of crown lands
Factional Conflict = emergence of competing political groups such as ‘Howard faction’ and ‘Protestant faction’. Caused political dysfunction.
Manipulation of MP’s = controversial Crown plans to ensure parliamentary support are leaked making MP’s fearful of absolutism as James seemed to be manipulating them.
James’ Indecisiveness = James couldn’t choose so only appointed Secretary of State to represent him in commons at last minute + then picked someone incompetent!
Impositions = financial issues from 1606 were a key issue
What did James try to use parliament for in 1621?
What was the response?
> James tried to use parliament to scare Spain into agreeing to Spanish Match by backtracking on foreign policy rule.
Parliament went further in anti-Spanish stance than expected (petition criticising Spanish Match)
Led James to backtrack and state MP’s couldn’t discuss foreign policy (claimed it under Royal Prerogative).
MP / Commons protest to his backtrack
James eventually dissolves Parliament.
When was the Madrid Trip?
What was the Madrid Trip?
1623
> Buckingham & Charles travel to Spain to help complete Spanish Match but treated v poorly by Spanish (anti-Protestant sentiments)
> Charles & Buckingham return to Eng favouring war with Spain
What was a result of the failed Spanish Match and Madrid Trip?
Buckingham & Charles try to implement aggressive foreign policy (anti-Spanish legislation)
actions of Buckingham and Charles leads to Anglo-Spanish war
What was the Spanish Match?
Proposed marriage between Charles and Spanish Princess (but it failed)
When did Charles marry Henrietta Maria?
What did this mean politically?
Proposed marriage between Charles and Spanish Princess (but it failed)
What was the Holy Roman Empire?
The Empire around from 800-1806 that was made up of lots of areas/principalities in Central Europe.
The 30 Years War
What were the dates?
What was the War initially about?
What did it later Change to?
What did this cause?
1618-48
> War was about the religious tensions between Protestant and Catholic states in the Holy Roman Empire. (Over time more nations became involved)
> The war later became about limiting the power of the Habsburg family after they elected Catholic Prince Frederick (1617) to be king of Bohemia.
> Caused a rebellion from the Protestants.
What was James’ opinion on the 30 Years War?
He had a personal connection = his daughter married to Prince Frederick
1604 Treaty of London = he had only just made peace!
He wanted to negotiate peace instead of fight = led to him straining his relationship with the Political Nation.
He saw himself as ‘Rex Pacificus’ so didn’t want to get involved.
1625 Parliament
Why was there tension between Charles and Parliament?
3 points
What was the result?
Charles needed big funds for war with Spain - Parliament misunderstood and granted him 2 small subsidies + tonnage and poundage for a year = seemed like an attack on Charles’ prerogative (angered him) so he kept collecting T+P after 1 year (angered parliament)
Buckingham had major influence over Charles as favourite so caused tension (became Gentleman of the Bedchamber).
Charles supported Arminian cleric Montagu + made him Royal Chaplain (1626) = angered Parliament
-Charles eventually dissolves Parliament
Why did Charles want war with Spain in 1625?
What was Parliament’s response?
What was the problem and what caused this?
Why does Parliament end up angered?
