First Civil War

Question 1

Royalist strengths between 1642 and 1643

• Leadership

Answer 1

Charles was a figurehead whom Royalist supporters could rally around. He possessed a legitimacy and an established position in the constitution which could not be matched by parliament

Question 2

Royalists strengths between 1642 and 1643

• Wealthy supporters

Answer 2

Charles had a large number of wealthy supporters from the nobility. The Earls of Newcastle and Worcester provided £900,000 and £700,000 each for the Royalist cause

Question 3

Royalists strengths between 1642 and 1643

• Experienced officers

Answer 3

Charles had a larger number of experienced officers, many of who had gained experience fighting in the Thirty Years’ War

Question 4

Royalists strengths between 1642 and 1643

• Taxation

Answer 4

The Royalists benefitted from the continued collection of feudal taxes and the sale of Crown lands, a source of income that parliament did not have access to

Question 5

Royalists strengths between 1642 and 1643

• United

Answer 5

The Royalists were united by a common purpose, which was defending the monarchy and established church from the innovations of political radicals and Puritans

Question 6

Royalists weaknesses between 1642 and 1643

• Charles

Answer 6

He failed to capitalise on the advantages he gained in 1642 and 1643, and because the Royalist war effort was centred around the defence of the monarchy, the prospect of removing him as commander-in-chief was unfeasible.

Question 7

Royalist weaknesses between 1642 and 1643

• Holland’s troops

Answer 7

Henrietta Maria landed on the Yorkshire coast in 1643 with arms and troops from Holland, but this made little impact

Question 8

Royalist weaknesses between 1642 and 1643

• Irish confederates treaty

Answer 8

Charles made peace with the Irish confederates and signed the Cessation Treaty with them in the same year.

Question 9

Royalist weaknesses between 1642 and 1643

• Irish troops

Answer 9

The Treaty of Cessation paved the way for Irish soldiers to assist Charles, but they arrived in piecemeal fashion and a weak force of 2,5000 was easily defeated by Fairfax at the Battle of Nantwich in January 1644

Question 10

Royalists weaknesses between 1642 and 1643

• Key ports

Answer 10

Charles was unable to secure outside help because he lost control of most key ports

Question 11

Royalists weaknesses between 1642 and 1643

• Examples of key ports

Answer 11

Newcastle and King’s Lynn were the only major ports available to him in 1642, and a handful in the south-west

Question 12

Royalists weaknesses between 1642 and 1643

• money

Answer 12

Money from traditional levies soon ran out and it was not until 1644 that Charles emulated parliament in institution an excise tax

Question 13

Parliament strengths

• London

Answer 13

Parliament controlled London, the capital and city with the largest population. London contained many of the printing presses that would assist in a widespread propaganda campaign and the blacksmiths and tailors that supplied the army

Question 14

Parliament strengths

• London trained bands

Answer 14

The strongest militia in 1642, numbered 20,000 men by 1643. They had been highly trained and funded since the 1630s, and were drilled by professional soldiers

Question 15

Parliament strengths

• City of London merchants

Answer 15

Controlling London gave the parliamentarians access to loans and funding from the City of London merchants

Question 16

Parliament strengths

• Control of parliament

Answer 16

Political legitimacy was associated with the control of parliament itself. Parliament’s representatives were able to effectively administer the various government departments formerly managed by Charles’s councillors

Question 17

Parliament strengths

• Navy

Answer 17

Parliament controlled the navy and most of the ports, including London. This made it difficult for Charles to obtain help from the continent

Question 18

Parliament strengths

• Controlling the south and east

Answer 18

The south and east of England, controlled by parliament, were the wealthiest and most agriculturally rich regions in the country,

Question 19

Parliament strengths

• Tax regieme

Answer 19

When parliament’s effective tax regime was implemented much more revenue was raised than Charles, and grain from the south-east fed the army

Question 20

Parliament’s weaknesses

• Poor commanders

Answer 20

Parliament’s Captain-General, the Earl of Essex, was chosen because he was one of the few senior parliamentarians with military experience, having fought in the Thirty Years’ War and First Bishops’ War

Question 21

Parliament’s weaknesses
•Divisions over strategy
The War party

Answer 21

The War party favoured fighting the war in order to impose a settlement on the king

Question 22

Parliament’s weaknesses
•Divisions over strategy
The Peace party

Answer 22

The Peace party favoured a negotiated settlement. Before Pym’s death in December 1643, he was able to manage both sides relatively effectively.

Question 23

Parliament’s weakness

• System of taxation

Answer 23

At the beginning of the war, parliament did not have an effective system of taxation, despite the wealth available from areas under its control