Outcome of the First Civil War

Question 1

Give four examples of Royalist strengths at the beginning of the First Civil War:

Answer 1

1. Experienced soldiers
2. Many people who had once opposed Charles now joined him as Parliament was being unconstitutional
3. Charles was the sole Commander-in-Chief so power was centralised and there was no questioning his authority
4. Better cavalry

Question 2

Give four examples of Royalist weaknesses at the beginning of the First Civil War:

Answer 2

1. Royalists had less access to resources as they controlled the North and West, which were poor and less populated
2. Charles often had to rely on looting to pay his army, as he did not want to raise taxes in the areas he controlled
3. Charles failed to recruit foreign support
4. Charles’ commanders often disliked each other and thus backstabbed each other

Question 3

Give three Parliamentary strengths:

Answer 3

1. Soldiers and officers had religious conviction
2. Controlled London, which allowed them good access to taxes and resources
3. Controlled the navy, so could relieve sieges and could stop any foreign support

Question 4

What did the Parliamentary alliance with the Scots entail? (4 details)

Answer 4

1. Solemn League and Covenant (Autumn 1643)
2. Scots would be able to reform the English Church how they liked
3. 21,000 men commanded by Alexander Leslie
4. Helped push the Royalists out of the North

Question 5

Give details of the Battle of Marston Moor: (date, forces, losses, consequences)

Answer 5

1. 2nd July 1644
2. Royalists - 18,000 men
   Parliamentarians - 28,000 men
3. Royalist losses - 4,500 dead
   - 1,500 captured
4. Rupert led the charge but his horse and dog were killed so he hid in a bean field
5. Decreased Royalist morale
6. Earl of Newcastle went into exile so the Royalist leadership was weakened
7. Parliament now had control of York and the North

Question 6

Give 6 details about the New Model Army:

Answer 6

1. Formed in February 1645
2. Got rid of the ‘provincialism’ of the troops so it was a national army, not a regional one
3. Numbers:
   
   • 10 cavalry regiments with 600 men in each
   • 12 infantry regiments with 1,200 men in each
   • 1,000 dragoons
4. Officers chosen more for merit than social standing
5. Had an important religious drive, with chaplains and prayer-meetings
6. Decreased looting and pillaging, so was more popular with the people

Question 7

When and what were the consequences of the Self-Denying Ordinance?

Answer 7

April 1645
All MPs except Cromwell had to resign from the army
Parliament now had a better and more coherent leadership

Question 8

In which three ways did Parliament exploit its resources?

Answer 8

1. Heavy taxes (excise duty) which made the people of Suffolk complain that they paid £90,000 in 1644 whereas only £8,000 in 1639 for Ship Money
2. Forced conscription in London and other areas to increase the size of their army
   3, In March 1643, set up the Committee of Sequestration to take land from 5,000 Royalists and Catholics

Question 9

Give three details describing Charles’ financial situation during the First Civil War:

Answer 9

1. Many of his rich supporters gave generously
2. Charles was reluctant to tax the areas he controlled
3. Charles spent a lot of money on local defenses rather than more strategically due to local pressure

Question 10

Describe the Battle of Naseby and its consequences:

Answer 10

1. 14th June 1645
2. Royalists - 8,000 men
   Parliamentarians - 14,000 men
3. Cromwell used his cavalry more effectively than Rupert
4. Charles abandoned his coach and baggage so Parliament gained access to his correspondences with Catholics, which were used as propaganda
5. Parliament now moved into the West, capturing Bristol
6. Most of Charles’ advisors now thought his cause was lost

Question 11

When and to whom did Charles surrender himself to?

Answer 11

June 1646 to the Scots