Stuart Britain- James I Flashcards
‘James I’s financial problems were due to his extravagance.’ To what extent do you agree with this statement? [20]
Plan:
Intro) James I put added pressure on a failing income system which meant his inherited debts could not be eradicated. His belief that England was very rich meant his advisers had little effect on the royal treasury’s state
1) -Extravagance
-In 1606, James gave £44,000 from three subsidies to three Scottish friends and in 1611 gave away £90,000
- He was described by Salisbury as a ‘leaky cistern’. Any efforts made by his Lord Treasurer was futile as James would spend it immediately, inflating his debts
2) -Inherited debts
- £420,000 inherited from Elizabeth I
-This meant that, combined with James’ beliefs that England was rich, the treasury could not recover between the two reigns.However, in 4 years of peace, james had doubled the debts left by Elizabeth who had endured 15 years of war with Spain
3) Inability of financial advisers
-Howard (Suffolk) failed Cockayne Project 1614-17 destroyed the wool industry in England
4) -Poor relations with Parliament and foreign policy
-Failure of Great Contract 1610 and military involvement in Europe was draining the treasury with no hopes off recovery
-Though military involvement was limited, the small and short campaigns of 1610 and 1624 did not result in financial gains and instead just loss of funds through the payment of arrears and equipment
Conclusion) James I’s extravagance was indeed the main cause for his financial problems. He acted as a ‘leaky cistern’ which inhibited the repayment of debts, and his huge spending dragged him into further financial turmoil as his involvement in projects such as the Cockayne Project increased tension with Parliament who then refused to grant further subsidies
‘James I’s poor relations with Parliament stemmed from his inability to regulate his finances.’ To what extent do you agree with this statement? [20]
Plan:
Intro) Though James I’s financial problems were a significant cause of tension between the monarch and Parliament, the core of the issue stemmed from his beliefs on Divine Right and the actions he took based on these beliefs
1) Finances
-royal debts reached £600,000 in 1610 and reach nearly £900,000 by the late 1610s.
-this not only led to failed cooperation between James and P. through the Great Contract, but let James slip into corruption and failed ventures such as the Cockayne Project and the sale of monopolies which angered MPs who wanted to restrict royal prerogative which was crippling the treasury and the country’s economy with the collapse of the wool industry in 1614.
2) Religious Policies
-James disliked the Puritan MPs as they opposed the Divine Right of Kings and his Presbyterian upbringing favoured certain MPs.
3) Foreign Policies
-as divine ruler, James thought he should control foreign policy and, although he was largely successful in achieving his foreign policy aims up to 1620, his blunders in the Spanish Match and his reluctance in agreeing to Parliament’s ideas led to a worsening in relations.
-James’ ‘obsession’ with marrying Charles to the Spanish Infanta put him at odds with Parliament who did not want to see England allied with a Catholic power. The king’s lack of restraint for his son then led to MPs advocating for more hostile relations with Spain. James’ well thought out, but poorly conceived plans for foreign policy led to Parliament siding with Charles and Buckingham who undermined the king and increased tension with Parliament
4) Divine Right and Parliamentary proceedings
-Parliament was hostile to James from Day 1, with the king complaining about Parliament’s chaotic proceedings which did not seem to care for what he had to say.
-His suggestions for a union between England and Scotland placed James as an outsider and he was treated as such by Parliament
Conclusion)
-James I’s extravagance did lead to poor relations with Parliament as his incessant demands for grants
‘James I’s foreign policy was his only successful area of governance.’ Assess this view. [20]
Plan:
Intro)
Successful means he achieved the country’s aims
1) Foreign policy
-James was most successful area of governance as he was able to keep England out of a continental war for most of his reign, while attempting to establish himself as a Catholic-Protestant mediator through marriage alliances to Bohemia and Spain.
-However, even this policy failed as in practise, the Spanish had no intention of a marriage alliance unless England became Catholic, so James eventually found himself being pressured by Parliament to take hostile action against his hopeful allies.
2) Finance
-James I was certainly incapable of managing the country’s finances effectively, with his own coffers being indebted for his entire reign up to £900,000.
3)
4)
Conclusion)
‘James I was responsible for disputes over religion in his reign.’
To what extent do you agree with this view? [20]
Plan:
