First Civil War (1642-1646) Flashcards

1
Q

What was the first battle and the date

A

Battle of Edgehill, 23rd October 1642

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2
Q

How did the battle of Edgehill occur

A

In the late summer, both sides wanted a decisive battle to bring the war to a speedy end

The king needed a quick victory before parliament could mobilise its resources

The king ordered his army to deploy on Edgehill, a high ridge

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3
Q

What happened at Edgehill

A

Despite the king being on the upper ground, he ordered his men to move and meet parliament on a flat plain

Both sides - evenly matched 15,000 men each

Royalist Calvery commanded by Prince Rupert chased the Parliamentarian cavalry leaving the royalist infantry exposed in the centre with parliament having the only effective cavalry left on the battlefield

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4
Q

What was the result of Edgehill

A

The following day, neither army was in a fit state to continue the battle with 3,000 men dead

The king resumed his march towards London, establishing his HQ in Oxford

Both sides ended the year consolidating their HQ’s and reflecting on their first experiences of battle

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5
Q

What was the Oxford Treaty

A

Parliament’s lacklustre permanence at Edgehill, together with the general revulsion of the outbreak of war, led to renewed attempts at a negotiated peace

Parliament’s terms were essentially a mild version of the 19 propositions with additional clauses against papists

Charles’ reply to the approach made Pym’s task much easier, Parliament had spent weeks drawing up new proposals, so Lords and MP’s alike were incensed when the king declared that whoever had drawn them up only wanted ‘to make things worse and worse’.

Negotiations dragged on until late spring but had little chance of success

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6
Q

Throughout the civil war, the royalists faced the problem of……………….and…………………….as these were men of widely differing views

A

Internal divisions

Political arguments

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7
Q

Give the two groups within the royalists and the significance of it

A

Cavaliers - wanted a complete military victory

Moderates - wanted to negotiate peace treaties

Charles tried to hold these groups together but tended to side with the cavaliers

These divisions within the royalists were significant as it made them appear weaker and less cohesive

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8
Q

Give some members of the Cavaliers (war party) and what they encouraged

A

Henrietta Maria, Lord Digby and Earl of Newcastle

  • After the Battle of Edgehill, the king decided to march to London instead of offering terms for negotiation
  • The king rejected Parliament’s terms during the Oxford treaty (March 1643)
  • The king decided to negotiate with the Irish Catholics leading to the Cessation treaty
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9
Q

Give some influences that the Moderates had over the king

A

The king’s replies to the grand remonstrance and the 19 propositions were masterpieces of moderation, designed to split Pym and his supporters

1644, Hyde persuaded the king to open the Oxford parliament, to show that the king wanted to work hand in hand with a loyal parliament once the war was over

August 1643, the moderates persuaded the king to lay siege over Gloucester rather than take it by assault

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10
Q

What did Pym achieve in the early years of the war

A

Parliamentary divisions didn’t cripple the efficiency of the armies due to his skilful political ability

Managed to maintain the Earl of Essex in his role despite pressure from the war group to replace hum and pressure from the peace group to negotiate a settlement

By retaining Essex, Pym smoothed relations with the House L and reassured the county gentry that the war would not tip into absolute chaos

Therefore, political turmoil did little to influence the outcome of the Civil War in the early years due to Pym’s ability to unite parliament

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11
Q

When did Pym die

A

1643, coupled with John Hampden and Lord Brooke, both leading members of the Puritan networks, shaking the foundations of parliament and creating deep divisions

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12
Q

Give some reasons for disunity amongst the parliamentarians (4)

A

Military Setbacks - Earl of Essex was finding it difficult to win and began aligning himself with the peace party to make a settlement

Religious - religious debate caused by the Covenant, coupled with an upsurge of radical religious pamphlets triggered by the collapse of censorship caused problems within Westminster and beyond, Major Crowford attempted to remove soldiers he deemed too radical

Fear of Disorder - a new element of social tension was introduced as ordinary soldiers began to be promoted into positions traditionally reserved for the higher social classes

Anxiety About the Future - As the enormity of what Parliament had undertaken in fighting the king had sunk in, some began to fear that there was little prospect of a good ending

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13
Q

What did Cromwell hope to achieve from the Self-denying Ordinance

A

A decisive attempt to regain the political initiative fro the war party

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14
Q

What was the men and money situation for the royalists

A

Typically better equipped than the parliamentarians as a result of the commander’s individual wealth

Earl of Worcester donated over £900,000 to the war effort

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15
Q

Give a financial weakness of the Royalists

A

As the war progressed Royalist financial difficulties grew.

This was largely due to the fact that loyal supporters who had given so generously initially, were no longer at home managing their estates and thus could not provide any more loans.

Taxation provided lass than that which parliament received.

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16
Q

How was command and leadership managed by the royalists

A

King was at the top of the military command structure, becoming commander in chief

No one challenged his authority

Charles started to make appointments based on social and political status rather than competence and ability - Prince Rupert. (Nepotism as opposed to Parliament’s Meritocratic system - Cromwell)

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17
Q

What was finance and funding like for Parliament

A

In the early months, Parliament aimed to create adequate funding

June 1642, an ordinance securing £100,000 to be lent to Parliament

August 1642, an ordinance for raising money in London

November, Ordinance for the better provision of food and other necessities for the army

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18
Q

What was the problem of the county Militia for parliament

A

Unwilling to fight outside their county as they saw their role as primarily defensive

Fixed this by fussing counties together into associations, still did not create meaningful military units though

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19
Q

What was the Battle of Marston Moor

A

One of the largest ever fought on English soil and took place on 2nd July 1644

First real parliamentary victory after only two hours

Parliament + Scotland combined force of 22,000 men

The victory for Parliament resulted in them taking control of York and the North - established Cromwell’s reputation as a great commander

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20
Q

When was the Battle of Naseby

A

14th June, 1645

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21
Q

What was the Battle of Naseby

A

One of the most significant

Proved a decisive victory for Parliament and marked the beginning of the end for the royalists

Royalists outnumbered 2:1 yet Charles initiated the attack anyway

Upon defeat, Charles’ private papers were captured and revealed the king’s association with Irish and European Catholics. parliament published these papers which boosted support for the case that the king was a catholic sympathiser and increased his opposition

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22
Q

What is the name for parliament’s proposed alliance with the Scotts

A

The Solemn League and Covenant

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23
Q

When was the SLC signed

A

23rd September, 1643 - after news reached Parliament that the king had signed a Cessestion treaty woth the Irish rebels

24
Q

Why did Parliament look for help from the Scots

A

Spurred on by the cessation treaty and feared that Irish rebels + soldiers would be brought over, needed to counter the threat

Parliament consumed by heavy defeats

25
Q

What did the SLC entail

A

Scots would end over 22,000 men to help the Paarlimenterian cause, in return for parliament swearing to the SLC.

This committed England to have a Presbyterian settlement in England and Ireland

The Scots were keen to make sure that the king didn’t reverse any of the gains they had made in 1638-40 if he won the war

26
Q

Why was the SLC so controversial for England

A

The notion of the Presbyterian system was very problematic, with some members of the English parliament feeling like they should have the right to negotiate the English Church settlement, not be dictated to by the Scottish

The peace party were worried that the king would never be brought to a settlement if the Covenant was signed

27
Q

How did Pym solve the SLC disputes

A

Split the religious component out from the rest of the Covenant terms and recommended that is should be sent to a ‘Joint Assembly of DIvines’ made up of representatives from both England and Scotland

This would naturally slow the process of decision making down as there would be little prospect of a swift agreement relating to religion

28
Q

When was the Cessation Treaty

A

13th September - a ceasefire with the Irish rebels

29
Q

What was the impact of the Cessation Treaty

A

Looked very much like he was bringing the fighting in Ireland to an end in order to send Irish troops over to fight the parliamentarians

This caused the hasty signing of the SLC a few weeks later

Parliament was right, to some extent to have feared - Irish troops began to appear in England in 1644 although not nearly as many of them as there were Scottish/Parlienterain troops

30
Q

The full military effects of the SLC were seen at the Battle of………………followed by the seizure of York

A

Marston Moor

The combined armies of Fairfax, Manchester and Scotland effectively destroyed the royalist army in the north

31
Q

What two groups began to emerge in 1644 in Parliament’s polarisation and why

A

Presbyterians - Peace party (saw the Scottish involvement as a way to bring the war to a swift end, preventing further upheaval and spread of religious radicalism)

Independents - War party (Confident the war could be won without the SCots and that the Presbyterian settlement was a threat to religious liberty)

The pre-existing divisions were pushed into being by the death of Pym and Hampden (no effective mediators) and the involvement of the Scottish

32
Q

What religious issues were faced by Cromwell

A

Scots accused Cromwell of promoting Independents over Preysbeterians

To begin with, Cromwell and the Earl of Manchester agreed that religion was secondary to talent when it came to promotion.
However, things began to change after Marston Moor.

Newcastle described the success of parliament due to the value of the Scots as part of the army ], whilst Cromwell thought the success was down to the godly men under his command

Many of these godly men, in Cromwell’s view, were those who followed incompatible religious ideas to those of the Scottish Presbyterians

33
Q

Cromwells reputation……………..enormously from Marston Moor

A

benefited

34
Q

Cromwell became more……..of the………army and its intolerance, as well as parliament’s willingness to…………..the religious freedom of its soldiers to please the…….

A

Critical
Scottish
Sacrifice
Scots

35
Q

When did Cromwell and Manchester clash and why

A

2nd Battle of Newbury, parliament failed to defeat a Royalist force half its size

Cromwell accused Manchester of having deliberately avoiding confrontation with the king, whilst Manchester said that the commanders must share collective responsibility for the failure

36
Q

Why and when was the New Model Army created

A

February 1645, Debates had been going on about the need to make the armed forces more efficient

37
Q

What did the New Model Army entail

A

Individual armies were merged into a united fighting force under a single command

NMA would be more disciplined and fewer soldiers would desert with the promise of regular pay

Army not linked to its locality, since the soldiers were no longer tied to a particular area, they were able to search and destroy the king’s armies wherever they were found

38
Q

What was the financial impact of the NMA

A

More secure access to money since it was financed by Parliamentary assets (Parliament had control of London and therefore Westminster)

The fact that finances of the army were managed by a centralised point was crucial in making the NMA into a proper, more professional army

39
Q

What was the military impact of the NMA

A

The battle of Naseby, June 1645, signified the tide turning against the king

His force of 7,500 (his entire strength) was defeated by an enormous army of 14,000 (only 200 parliamentarians killed)

He chose to attack because he was aware of the political divisions within parliament and that a victory for the royalists would deepen these divisions even further

40
Q

What did the Self Denying Ordinance state

A

No one could be both an MP and a professional soldier/commander

Due to the fact that military leadership was carried out by men who were also MP’s, the political disunity was beginning to affect military matters

They even managed to adapt this in order to allow Cromwell to become Lieutenant General of the Horses in June 1645 despite him being an MP.

41
Q

What was Cromwell’s motive for introducing the SDO

A

Help the war party regain the upper hand. By professionalising the army yet further, Cromwell hoped that he would be able to bring a military victory against the king

42
Q

What was one of the SDO’s terms

A

An acknowledgement that parliament had become divided and needed to unite

43
Q

When was the SDO passed

A

3rd April, 1645

44
Q

Why was the SDO so appealing

A

Appealed to the godly because it seemed like self-denial, much like fasting or prayer, denying oneself of something desirable such as an office was seen as humble and righteous

Appealed to the practical-minded because it would create a more professional body of military commanders, getting rid of the more aristocratic ones who had been n charge of the armies since 1642

45
Q

Give a weakness of the NMA

A

Controversial - most of this was as a result of the perceived religious radicalism within the force. It was a largely Puritan force that was beginning to develop its own ideas of radicalism

Baxter - Presbyterian minister - concerned about the development of zealotry in the NMA which had developed into a largely unified Puritan force.

Increased fears that the NMA was an extremely radical and dangerous force.

46
Q

The NMA was now a unified, largely………….force, who was pushing for further………….

A

Puritan

Radicalism

47
Q

What two causes were the NMA soldiers seen to be fighting for

A

To bring about a settlement between King and Parliament

As part of an apocalyptic struggle between the soldiers of truth christ (NMA) and the Antichrist (Papacy)

48
Q

What was the religious issue with Cromwell

A

Oliver Cromwell was also a radical
Because of his military successes, he found himself at the head of this religious fighting force.

His religious zeal and military talent combined to give him military power

49
Q

What exception was there in the SDO

A

Lead up to the battle of Naseby no one was suitable to fulfil the post of leadership of the cavalry

Cromwell would be a perfect choice but was barred so due to the SDO

Fairfax managed to secure Parliamentary approval for Cromwell to be both an MP and military commander.

Cromwell initially brought forward the SDO originally, eas this his plan all along to get rid of more conservative commanders (Essex)

50
Q

Give a limitation of the NMA

A

Army pay soon fell into arrears

51
Q

What was the impact of both the SDO and NMA for the future

A

Now scope for negotiation over pay and conditions for soldiers, with some increasingly radicalised soldiers with a keen awareness for their rights and a strong sense of what’s ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ in religious terms, this resulting in serious disagreement between Westminster and a newly radicalised and politicised army

52
Q

Give a Parliamentary adaption with regards to finance

A

Assessment ordinance of February 1643- after a weekly assessment a specific sum of money would be collected from each county

This was improved with the New model ordinance. These weekly assessments were made monthly and were able to raise £53,000 a month from them.

53
Q

Give a counterpoint that Charles adapted effectively

A

Opened the ‘Oxford parliament’ in order to show that after the war he would be willing to work with a loyal parliament.

Drew the support of 175 MP’s and seemed to achieve some success at a time where many parliamentarians were having second thoughts about the war.

However, only significant concession - tend to side too much with the Cavaliers

54
Q

How did Pym adapt the SLC to make it effective

A

Split the religious component of the alliance from the military aspect.

This meant that the church settlement was to be dealt with by an ‘Assembly of Divines’ and ensured parliament was able to capitalise on the military assisantace without immediately conforming to a religious settlement

55
Q

Give a weakness of the SLC

A

Not all of these troops were actually focused in England as a result of the Montrose rebellion - troops had to be diverted back up to Scotland until September 1645

Perhaps the most significant reason for the split in parliament between Presbyterian and Independents.

56
Q

Give a reason why the royalists failed at treaties (Cessation)

A

Reinforced belief in the Catholic conspiracy - desertification

After the Battle of Naseby letters were discovered showing how if Ireland provided him with troops he would allow them to have a Catholic Lord lieutenant.

Led to parliament completing the Solemn league and covenant.

Very few Irish troops actually made it to England because parliament controlled the navy. In January 1644 those who did make it over were captured or killed at Nantwich in Cheshire.

57
Q

Give Parliaments most significant weakness by 1643

A

Many of the officers were in fact politicians who were not always the most gifted soldiers and were more likely to get tied down in the politics of the war.

Parliament clearly lacked a clear objective; was it to achieve total military victory or to hold on long enough to achieve successful peace negotiations.

However, adapted into a meritocratic system through the SDO