The English Civil War Flashcards
When did the English Civil War begin?
August 1642
Who fought whom?
The Roundheads (parliament) against the Cavaliers (royalists)
Who supported the king and why?
The wealthy landowners supported the king, as a way to show personal loyalty and to keep in place the social structure they benefitted from.
Who supported parliament and why?
The middle class and peasant workers supported parliament, as there was a less rigid social hierarchy in parliament.
What were the clear geographical allegiences?
The king’s support was mostly from the north, and parliament had support in the south and in London.
What caused the geographical allegiances?
It was partially due to a merchant class (traders and business men for example) who were not happy about the taxes Charles had been imposing.
What 5 factors led to people supporting who they chose?
-Merchant class unhappy about taxes Charles had been imposing
-Religious and political reforms brought in by Charles made many people go against him and support parliament
-Many felt Charles’ personality did not make him a good king
-People divided their families so that no matter who won, they would be on a winning side
-Many poorer people were forced to support whoever their lord supported
What was the first battle of war and when?
The Battle of Edgehill in 1642
Who won the Battle of Edgehill?
There was no clear winner.
What had the king tried to do in the Battle of Edgehill?
He tried to take London but failed, and withdrew to Oxford.
Both sides fought using what in the Battle of Edgehill?
Cavalry and Infantry.
Who was one of the most prominent royalist commanders?
The king’s nephew, Prince Rupert
What tactic did parliamentary forces use against Rupert?
Propaganda
What 2 ways did propaganda help parliamentary forces?
-It made people think Rupert was weak, as well as the king
Who was Oliver Cromwell?
He was the Member of Parliament for Cornwall and had been leading the Roundheads against the Cavaliers.
Who was Thomas Fairfax?
He had led the Roundheads against the Cavaliers with Oliver Cromwell. He was a lord who had once worked with Charles to fight the Scots; he joined the parliamentary forces in 1642.
What was Cromwell committed to?
Removing the king.
What new army did Oliver Cromwell make?
The New Model Army
What did Cromwell recruit people to the New Model Army on?
Ability, rather than privilege.
What 2 things were the men in the New Model Army not allowed to do?
Drink or swear.
When was the New Model Army used for the first time?
1645
What battle were the New Model Army used in first?
The Battle of Naseby
What battle influenced Cromwell to make the new army and why?
The Battle of Marston Moor as it could have been a defeat for his side.
How many men were in the New Model Army compared to the king’s army?
The New Model Army had 14,000 men, the king had 9,000 men.
What battle was the end of the king’s last great army?
The Battle of Naseby
What 2 cities did the New model Army capture by 1646?
Bristol and then Oxford
Why was Charles writing to the Scottish parliament when he was imprisoned?
To convince them to raise arms against the English parliament and the New Model Army.
What did Charles promise the Scottish Parliament?
A Presbyterian Church in England.
What caused the beginning of the Second Civil War?
The Scots raised an army against Cromwell.
Where did the 2 sides meet at the Second Civil War?
The Battle of Preston
When was the Battle of Preston?
1648
Who lost the Battle of Preston and what did this show?
The Scots were defeated and Charles had proved he could not be trusted.
When was ‘Pride’s Purge’?
December 1648
What did ‘Pride’s Purge’ mean for the king?
It meant he would stand in trial with no supporters.
What was ‘Pride’s Purge’?
The regiment of Colonel Thomas Pride surrounded the Houses of Parliament and refused entry to MPs who were known to support negotiations with the king.
What was the remaining name of parliament after ‘Pride’s Purge’?
Rump Parliament
What was the first problem for parliament at the trial of Charles I?
Out of 135 commissioners due to attend, only 68 turned up.
Which important member of parliament did not attend the trial of Charles I?
Thomas Fairfax
Who, close to Fairfax, did arrive at the trial of Charles I but supported who?
Thomas Fairfax’s wife attended, and is reported to have supported the king.
What did Charles refuse to do at his trial?
Give a plea - he would not say if he was guilty or not.
Who was the court president?
John Bradshaw
What did Bradshaw order the king to do at his trial?
Be removed
What did Bradshaw wear at Charles’ trial as he knew things would get heated?
A specially made bulletproof hat
What 3 things did the court hear about Charles from witness statements?
-He was guilty of starting the war by trying to raise an army in Nottingham
-He approved of the ill-treatment of parliamentary forces during the war - calling his own subjects enemies
-He was plotting his son to start another war while negotiating with parliament
When did parliament find King Charles I guilty of treason and sentenced him to death?
27 January 1649
How did Bradshaw justify Charles being found guilty of treason and sentenced to death?
He said that Charles had not done his duty by calling regular parliaments, attacking the basic liberties of the country.
Why did Parliament make Charles wait hours for his execution?
-The executioners not turning up - they were too scared to be the one to kill the king
-Legalisation - parliament had to secure a law that said no new monarch could be installed on the king’s death
When was King Charles I beheaded?
30 January 1649
What did Cromwell describe the king’s execution as?
A cruel necessity.
What was the name for the republic under the leadership of parliament after Charles’ death?
The Commonwealth
Who was the leader of the Commonwealth?
Oliver Cromwell
What are 5 positive views of Cromwell’s rule?
-He won wars against the Dutch and Spanish
-He restored England’s reputation abroad
-He introduced the Navigation Act
-People were free to worship in any way they liked
-Ordinary people felt that Cromwell was on their side
When did Cromwell introduce the Navigation Act?
1651
What did the Navigation Act of 1651 state?
Any ship coming into or leaving England had to be English.
Who did Cromwell appoint to the 11 districts he created?
Major Generals
Why did people resent the presence of these Major Generals so much?
They kept strict controls on many aspects of life: they even tried to stop Christmas celebrations.
Who were the Levellers?
A religious group who believed in equality.
What did Cromwell do to the levellers?
He imprisoned them and killed their leaders.
What did Cromwell do in Ireland?
He laid siege to the town of Drogheda, and even when the townspeople surrendered he killed them - including women and children.
Whose land did Cromwell take to give to who?
Land was taken from Catholics in Ireland and given to Protestants, so England would always have allies in Ireland.
Why did Cromwell ban sinful activities?
To ensure that the Common Wealth was Godly
What emerged from the many challenges in Cromwell’s protectorate?
A political and religious radicalism.
The Civil War developed what kind of groups?
Protestant groups, which would challenge Cromwell’s authority.
What was the biggest challenge to the Commonwealth?
A group called the Levellers.
What did the Levellers want?
A reform to political representation for the men who had fought in the New Model Army.
Who was the leader of the levellers?
John Lilburne.
What happened to Lilburne?
He was imprisoned.
When did Cromwell die?
1658.
Who took over when Cromwell died?
His son, Richard.
When did Richard resign and why?
He resigned in 1659 as he was not interested in politics.
Who took the throne after Richard resigned?
Charles II
When was Charles II crowned the king of England, Scotland and Ireland?
1660
What happened to Cromwells’s body after his death?
It was dug up from his grave and hung in Tyburn. His head was placed on a spike, where it stayed for decades.
How did most people feel about having a king back on the throne?
Happy.
