The Crisis of Parliament and the Outbreak of the First Civil War, 1640-1642 Flashcards
Describe the Short Parliament
- Earl of Strafford advised the king to recall parliament
- The first session began on 13th April 1640
- The King said parliament needed to grant subsidies and then he would listen to their grievances
- Despite the urgency the parliament was dissolved on 5th May with neither subsidies granted or grievances discussed
Describe the Long Parliament
- Parliament recalled in November 1640
- It was not formally dissolved in 1660
- Charles was trapped and could no longer raise money through prerogative means so needed to listen to parliament’s grievances to gain subsidies
What was the Treaty of Rippon?
1640
Brought and end to the Second Bishop’s War between Charles the first and the Scottish Covenantors.
Charles had to pay £850 a day to the Scots to maintain their armies there
What was Pym’s aims?
He was an active Parliamentarian
- Recognised the need to sort out the King’s finances
- Restore the Anglican Church
Describe the Army Plot
1641
- News emerged that Charles had ordered all his army officers to return to their commands with the English Army in the North
- Pym broke this news to parliament
- Rumours quickly spread that once reunited with its officers, the army would march down to London and enable the king to forcibly dissolve parliament
What was the significance of the Army Plot of 1641?
- Protestation Oath issued
- The Act against the dissolution of parliament without its own consent was passed
- Parliament stepped up its efforts against Stafford
Describe the Root and Branch Debates
1640
- Opened up an intense debate into how the church should be administered now that Parliament was able to once again have a vote in its direction
- Wanted to abolish Archbishops and Bishops which would dismantle the structure of the church of England and politically reduce the King’s power
Describe the Triennial Act
1641
- Mandating the summoning of Parliament every three years
Describe the Grand Remonstrance
1641
- Pym introduced it into the commons
- Contained and overview of Charles’s reign. It blamed his evil advisors, corrupt bishops and papists for the present troubles
- Listed demands for constitutional change
- It began shift its focus from removing sources of mischief but to a proactive program of limiting the king’s power and reforming the church
Describe Strafford’s Trial
- Held before parliament and begun in March 1641
- The prosecution’s case was that Strafford had tried to establish arbitrary government in England in a number of ways that collectively amounted to treason
- However the prosecution case was weak
- Strafford summed up his defence ably with a long list of small and controvertible charges could not be added up to the immense charge of treason
Why did Pym change his tactics?
Strafford’s defence was effective.
How did Pym change his tactics?
- Bill of Attainder
- London Mob involved
What was the Bill of Attainder?
It meant lords could agree that accused its traitor without needing legal proof
- The monarch had to give assent to turn the Bill into an Act
What was the effect of the Bill of Attainder?
- It meant it was much easier to act against Strafford
- It got the King involved in the case making in into a test of his goodwill towards parliament
How was the London Mob used?
Pym used the London Mob to demand that Parliament should pass the Bill of Attainder
