financial policies and the reactions 1629-40 Flashcards
3.8
what were three problems Charles had with finance in 1629?
- cost of Government was higher than the ordinary Government
- Charles had doubled inherited money from £1 million to £2 million
- without Parliament, Charles could not raise extra-parliamentary taxes legally (magna carta)
what were the two financial policies Charles implemented during personal rule?
- Financial prudence (austerity)
- Fiscal Feudalism
explain what Financial prudence involved, and how Charles achieved it
- Charles sought to save money by cutting costs.
- He made peace with France in April of 1629, then peace with Spain in November of 1630. this cut the costs of war.
- He also cut household spending, he cut around £80,000/anum on costs.
explain what fiscal feudalism is
Fiscal feudalism is a medieval method of collecting extra-parliamentary taxes. Charles revived old laws and taxes to gain money.
Give examples of fiscal feudalism
- Customs duty, tonnage & poundage
- Recusancy fines
- Distraint of Knighthood
- Monopolies
- Wardship
- Forest fines
- Fines for breaching Building regulations
- Enclosure fines
explain the problems and effectiveness of collecting tonnage and poundage
tonnage and poundage was the taxes on imports and exports.
Problems: T&P was only granted to Charles for 1 year at the beginning of his reign, yet he continued to collect it throughout. He even published a new book of rates in 1635.
Effectiveness: 1631-35: £270,000 PA
1635: £425,000
explain the problems and effectiveness of collecting Recusancy fines
recusancy fines were fines against those who didn’t attend Church services.
Problems: Laud’s religious reforms angered Puritans meaning non-attendance increased.
Effectiveness: 1620’s: £5300 PA
1634: £26,866 PA
explain the problems and effectiveness of collecting Distraint of Knighthood
Distraint of Knighthood was a tax imposed on those who owned land worth more than £40 PA that had not been previously knighted at the coronation. Those who qualified had to come forward so they could be crowned at the next coronation.
Problems: Not been applied for years
Effectiveness: by 1635 £175,000 had been made
explain the problems and effectiveness of collecting Monopolies
monopolies gave a corporation the sole right to produce, import or sell a product.
Problems: Individuals could not buy monopolies due to the 1624 monopolies act.
Effectiveness: a monopoly under the name ‘popish soap’ sold for £33,000
explain the problems and effectiveness of collecting wardships
Wardships exploited the inheritance of heirs under 21.
Problems: Charles exploited many people, to earn the maximum amount of money
Effectiveness: 1630-35: £45,000 PA
1635-40: £84,000 PA
explain the problems and effectiveness of collecting forest fines
Forest fines taxed people who had extended their boundaries into Royal land/forests
Problems: Charles used ancient maps to prove his point, and the land owners likely couldn’t dispute due to lack of evidence on their end.
Effectiveness: £38,667 raised, which angered rich land owners
explain the problems and effectiveness of collecting breaching of building regulation fines
Breaching of building regulations was a tax which charged if your home or buildings didn’t follow the safety regulations set out.
Problems: it used ancient charters to assess buildings, charters that a majority of people would be unaware of
Effectiveness: 60,000 new homes around the edge of London were targeted
explain the problems and effectiveness of collecting enclosure fines
enclosure fines taxed those who put fences up around the boundaries of their land
Problems: was very rigorously enforced, meant that land owners would struggle to keep livestock in, prevent theft and protect their land.
Effectiveness: not very popular
what is ship money?
a tax on costal counties to provide money for ships in times of national crisis
what did Charles claim in 1634 so he could earn ship money?
he claimed there was a national emergency of pirates, which ‘justified’ the collection
what did Charles do in 1635 regarding ship money?
Charles extended the collection of ship money nationwide, this meant every county had to pay. this had never been done before.
why was there such a high rate of compliance for ship money between 1635-37?
- Patriotism and loyalty to Charles
- Fear of arrest (forced loan, five knights trial)
- No Parliament to submit a formal complaint, or stop Charles
why did the Hampden case begin?
John Hampden, a Puritan ex-MP refused to pay his ship money and was taken to court.
when was the Hampden case?
November 1637 - June 1638
summarise Hampdens defence case in the Hampden case
- Parliament is the only institution that can pass taxes
- Parliament can assess the degree of crisis then match the taxes accordingly
- there was really no crisis or war occurring
- without Parliaments consent, the tax is unjust
summarise Charles defence case in the Hampden case
- In Law the King cannot do wrong
- its Charles royal prerogative to deal with War
- only the King can declare a crisis
- subjects have a duty to obey
what was the outcome of the Hampden case?
out of 12 judges (appointed by Charles)
7 side with Charles
5 side with Hampden
so ship money is deemed legal, and continues to be collected.
what does the outcome of the case lead to?
compliance for paying ship money dropped from 80% in 1638 to 25% in 1639, this was a tax revolt. the tax revolt was justified by the outcome of Hampdens case, even though he didn’t win he still had 5 of CHARLES OWN JUDGES side with him.
what were the potential implications of the outcome of the Hampden case?
- Parliament is no longer needed, since Charles has achieved legal extra-parliamentary taxes.
- The King is now absolute
- The outcome is uncertain
