Exam - Causes of ECW Flashcards
What we’re the three main themes of the causes of the English Civil War?
- power
- religion
- money
What were the main reasons why Charles’ relations with Parliament were so difficult originally?
- Charles’ personality
- foreign policy
- financial pressures
- Buckingham
- Religion
What was the petition of right?
Stopped Charles from interpreting his prerogative as he pleased and it dealt with taxation, imprisonment without trial, martial law and billeting
Why was Charles reluctant to accept the petition of right?
Restricted his freedom and he wanted absolute trust and loyalty. He believed that the forced loan was the fault of the MPs themselves who refused him money
What was the personal rule?
The period of which Charles ruled without parliament
What were the three main reasons why the personal rule ended?
- lack of funds
- lack of popularity
- religious issues
Why was Parliament to blame for relations breaking down with the king?
- wouldn’t grant Charles a regular income or large grants (tonnage and poundage)
- wouldn’t grant Charles the sufficient funds for foreign policy (naval war with Spain)
Why was Charles to blame for relations breaking down with Parliament?
- refused to compromise with Parliament on matters concerning religion
- collected customs duties and introduced forced loans without Parliaments permission
- Promoted Arminians who were disliked by parliament
In what way was Parliament willing to compromise with Charles?
- they would grant Charles money if he only agreed to speak to them about the matter of religion
- petition of right
In what way was Charles willing to compromise with Parliament?
- accepted small amounts of tonnage and poundage even though previous monarchs received much more which went against tradition (unconstitutional)
Why did religious policy contribute to the unpopularity of the personal rule?
- Arminians were growing in power
- Laud, the archbishop of Canterbury, favoured arminianism and was seen to be using absolutist methods to impose his will
What were lauds aims?
- impose uniformity of practice
- make churches more fit for worship
- eradicate puritanism
- increase Church influence on government
- restore wealth of the clergy
How did financial policy contribute to the unpopularity of the personal rule?
- distraint of knighthood
- changes to forest law
- wardships
- recusancy fines
- monopolies and grants
- ship money
Why was an increase in trade unpopular with Puritans?
Saw it as abandoning the Protestant cause in Europe
What was the book of orders?
Monthly expectations to ensure that the idle poor were being put to work, children were in apprenticeships and erring poor were punished
What was the important financial case which discredited Charles’ personal rule?
- John Hampden Case
- He challenged the legality of ship-money, and although he lost the case, it demonstrated how legal experts were divided on the legality of Charles’ actions.
- This caused a 90% decrease in income from ship money.
What was the reform of the militia?
A muster master was appointed to each county
What was the important financial case which discredited Charles’ personal rule?
- John Hampden Case
- He challenged the legality of ship-money, and although he lost the case, it demonstrated how legal experts were divided on the legality of Charles’ actions.
- This caused a 90% decrease in income from ship money.
Why was the reform of the militia unpopular?
- muster masters were outsiders and disliked by the counties
* fear that Charles was preparing an army
What actions by Charles resulted in further discontent in England?
- act of revocation
- articles of perth
- wasn’t crowned in traditional Palace in scotland
- took too long to visit Scotland
- rejected petition that objected religious innovations
What was the act of revocation?
Took land from nobles and was given to the Church
What did Wentworth do in the North to upset the local gentry?
- He gave JP’s a new ‘Book of Orders’, directing them how to instruct the local gentry.
The introduction of what caused the Bishops War?
- The new laudian prayer book in Scottland.
What were the two Parliaments called following the end of the personal rule?
- Short Parliament
* Long Parliament
What two events prompted the Personal Rule to end when it did?
- Finance - Hamden Case.
* War - Scottland.
Who was responsible for unpopularity in Ireland during the personal rule?
- Thomas Wentworth. (Policy of Thorough)
What did Wentworth do in the North to upset the local gentry?
- He gave JP’s a new ‘Book of Orders’, directing them how to instruct the local gentry.
Why did the Act of Revocation only put Charles in a worse position?
Didn’t do much beyond alienating the nobles
What was the impact of reinforcing the articles of perth?
Upset Presbyterians as the introduction of bishops seemed too close to being Episcopalian
What was the impact of Charles being crowned in Holyrood Palace rather than Scone or Stirling?
Went against Scottish tradition and was seen as disrespectful - growth of hatred towards the king
What was the impact of Charles rejecting the petition he was given by the Scottish Lords?
Lord Balmerino tried to revive the petition but was charged with Treason and sentenced to death
What did Charles want to achieve in the Short / Long Parliaments?
- To get financial support from Parliament,
* Without making many concessions on Laudian reform.
Give 3 main events from the crisis of 1640-1642:
- Attempted arrest of 5 MP’s.
- Root and Branch Bill.
- London Mob (Rabble / disorder on the streets)
How did opposition lead to the end of the personal rule?
- secret meetings set up
- sympathy towards the punished
- challenging legality of taxation
- new prayer book in scotland
- Scots didn’t trust charles
Why was Charles forced to call for parliament in 1640?
- trouble in England
- hampden’s case
- bishops wars
Why was their little expectation for war in 1640?
There had been rows like this before but the cumulative effect of the crises were considerable
Why was Stafford the main target of opposition and ultimately executed?
He was seen as the man most likely to take a hard line against them and was associated closely with the attempt to rule without parliament
What secured Stafford’s execution?
Act of Attainder