First Civil War

Question 1

Beginning of First Civil War

Answer 1

23rd August 1642: Charles declares war on Parliament

Question 2

FCW: Royalist Army Strengths

Answer 2

July 1643: Victory at Battle of Lansdown

Sir Ralph Hopton
Earl of Montrose in Scotland

Led by lawful recognised rulers

Support from aristocracy and higher gentry who had more financial reserves and military experience

Question 3

FCW: Royalist Army Weaknesses

Answer 3

Uncoordinated, indecisive and divided

Generals: lack of commitment and lacked military experience, used his nephews.

Dubious legality of Commissions of Array: People felt royalists lacked legal weight to make people join their forces

Charles: poor military leader

Catholic troops from Ireland were ineffective

Question 4

FCW: Battle of Newbury and Solemn League of Covenant

Answer 4

September 1643: Battle of Newbury, first Parliamentarian victory which led to good morale and the Solemn League and Covenant.

1643: Solemn League and Covenant. Military alliance between English Parliament and Scottish Covenanters. Brought Scotland into the Civil War on the Parliamentarian side
Alienated some Scottish nobles into supporting Charles e.g. Montrose

Question 5

FCW: New Model Army and Parliament Strengths

Answer 5

1645: New Model Army made as a result of heavy defeats to royalists earlier in the war

NMA: disciplined, well trained, well equipped

Leaders: Thomas Fairfax and Cromwell, good strategists and military leaders.

Question 6

FCW: Self Denying Ordinance

Answer 6

April 1645: Passed by Cromwell, called for the separation of MPs from the Army so that they may be replaced with better military leaders without facing humiliation.
Made the New Model Army more effective as an army, stopped the divisions within Parliament limiting the Parliamentarian forces.

Question 7

FCW: London Trained Bands

Answer 7

London mob who fought against Charles and the royalists.
November 1643: Defended the capital and forced the royalists back
Demonstrated the politicisation of the people and heir involvement in politics

Question 8

FCW: Ireland

Answer 8

Earl of Ormond.
Oct 1643 - June 1644: Signed cessation with Catholic Confederation which granted Charles with 22,000 Irish troops.
Had little impact, troops were ineffective, and was counterproductive as it antagonised parliament

Question 9

End of First Civil War

Answer 9

June 1645: Battle of Naseby. Decisive victory for new model army.
End of First Civil War: 1646
New Model Army captured Charles and won the First Civil War