The English Revolution - Causes Flashcards
What century was the English Revolution?
The 17th centrury
What happened when Elizabeth died in 1603?
James VI of Scotland became James I of England and for the first time, England and Scotland shared the same monarch
What was something negative about James VI and James I?
He was an extravagant king who spent money unwisely.
How had James VI and James I created tension with parliament?
They refused to give him any more money or raise it through taxes.
What was one area that James VI and James I did succeed at?
Religion. He managed to keep the majority of Catholics and Protestants content throughout his reign.
When did Charles I become king?
1625
What did Charles I believe in?
The divine right of kings, and felt that the royal court should be removed from everyday life.
Who had become a favourite of Charles I?
Why did this alarm parliament?
The Duke of Buckingham.
This alarmed parliament because of the influence Buckingham had over the king.
When did Charles I dissolve parliament?
1629
How long did Charles I not call parliament again for?
11 years
What do some people refer Charles I dissolving parliament as?
The ‘Eleven Years’ Tyranny’.
Why had James been refused money from parliament?
He spent much of it on gifts for his favourites.
Why had Charles been refused money from parliament?
Parliament felt they couldn’t trust him.
Why were parliament’s concern about Charles’s sincerity of his religious tendencies worsened?
Because of his marriage to a Catholic.
What was a fear from parliament that Charles would use their money for?
That he would use it to become independent from parliament.
When did Charles introduce a new tax?
1637
What was the new tax introduced by Charles called?
‘Ship Money’
What did Charles’s new tax mean?
It was a tax normally paid by those in coastal towns to raise money to build the navy, but Charles made everyone pay the tax.
Why were parliament concerned about Ship Money?
They were worried it could make Charles financially independent and therefore able to make decisions without consulting parliament.
How did people respond to Ship Money?
They refused to pay it.
Name an example of someone refusing to pay Ship Money:
One member of parliament, John Hampden, refused and was taken to court. He was narrowly convicted.
What was a consequence of John Hampden’s court case?
It publicised the opposition towards Charles and his personal rule.
Name 3 reasons why there were still tensions over religion in the 17th century:
-England had gradually become more protestant after Henry VIII’s changes to the Church
-However there were still many Catholics who often worshipped in secret
-Some protestants regarded these Catholics as a threat
Give 2 examples of Catholic plots which made religion a contentious issue in the 17th century:
-There were Catholic plots against Queen Elizabeth
-The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 was a Catholic attempt to kill Charles’ father, James
Who had Charles married?
A Catholic princess from France, Henrietta Maria.
Who became Charles’ closest advisor when Buckingham was killed in 1628?
Charles’ Catholic wife, Henrietta Maria.
What did the people of England think about Charles’ newest closest advisor?
They were scared of her influence as she was a Catholic and what this could mean for their church.
Who went on to have the most influence over religion in England?
William Laud.
When was William Laud made Archbishop of Canterbury?
1633
What did William Laud feel the same as Charles about?
Bringing conformity back to the Church.
What religion was Laud?
Arminian - which meant he thought people should worship in a similar way to Catholics.
Give 3 examples of what Laud wanted in religion:
-He wanted the church clergy to be more separate from the congregation
-He wanted the church clergy to be dressed in robes that showed their importance
-He wanted churches to be more decorated, with candles, crosses, statues and paintings
Why had Laud’s changes met so much opposition?
Because many Puritans, who wanted the king to reverse Laudian reforms, had become prominent in parliament.
Which 3 men were involved in one famous case opposing Laudian reforms?
Prynne, Bastwick and Burton
What did Prynne, Bastwick and Burton do?
They wrote a pamphlet criticising the Church.
Where were Prynne, Bastwick and Burton tried?
In the Star Chamber, which had become a substitute for parliament during Charles’ personal rule.
What was the Star Chamber used for?
Anyone who spoke out against the king and Laud.
What was the Star Chamber known for?
Being corrupt as it always came down on the side of the king
What happened to Prynne, Bastwick and Burton?
They were punished as thieves and would be: pilloried, their faces branded and their ears cut off.
What had Laud and Charles not expected about the 3 men?
The widespread support for the men.
What happened when the 3 men were released from prison?
They were met by a large cheering crowd.
What happened when the 3 mens’ ears were cut off?
People crammed to dip their handkerchiefs in the blood.
What were the 3 men seen as?
Heros.
Where else did Charles’ changes in religion cause unrest?
Scotland
The Scots had always had their own church which by this time was what?
Presbyterian - a type of Protestantism
When did the king insist everyone in Scotland should use the new Laudian prayer book?
What did this rely on?
1637 - it relied on catechism (religious instruction from the priest)
Where were there riots as Scots would not be told how to worship?
In St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh.
What did the Scots do in 1638 as a result of the changing religion?
They signed an agreement called a covenant, saying they would not accept the changes.
What did the Scots who signed the covenant become known as?
The Covenanters.
When did Charles send an army to Scotland? What happened as a result of this?
Charles sent an army to Scotland in 1639, the Covenanters defeated it. They then invaded England.
When did Charles need to ask parliament to meet again?
April 1640.
What did Parliament agree to Charles when they met again, but on what three conditions?
They agreed to provide Charles with the funds to fight the Scots, but he had to promise to not pass laws without parliament’s agreement, not to raise unpopular taxes and to stop Laud’s religious changes.
What was the name given to the parliament agreement after the 11 years?
The Short Parliament as it lasted only one month.
Did Charles agree to parliament’s demands?
No.
Who was one of Charles’ favourites?
Thomas Wentworth, the Earl of Strafford.
Where had the Earl of Strafford been sent to keep control?
Ireland.
Why was there tension in Ireland?
There was tension between Catholics and Protestants in social and political life.
Where were many of the protestants in Ireland from?
Scotland and England.
Why had protestants from Scotland and England originally been sent to Ireland?
To keep order and prevent any rebellions.
What were the postings of Protestants from Scotland and England to Ireland known as?
Plantations
Was parliament happy about Strafford’s control in Ireland?
No.
Why was parliament not happy about Strafford’s control in Ireland?
He had a strong and loyal army and parliament was concerned that Charles would try to bring this army to England and use it against the English.
What did Strafford encourage Charles to do when parliament refused to give Charles the funds to fight the Scots?
Strafford encouraged Charles to rule England on his own, without parliament.
When did Charles call another parliament?
November 1640
Name parliament’s 6 demands in November 1640:
-Wentworth and Laud be removed
-Ministers should be appointed from parliament to advise Charles
-The king must get rid of the Star Chamber
-Parliament must meet regularly
-No taxes without parliament’s approval
-Reversal of Laudian reforms
What did the king agree regarding parliament’s demands of removing Wentworth and Laud?
Strafford was executed and Laud imprisoned.
Charles agreed that parliament could meet how often?
Every 3 years
What did Charles agree about Ship Money?
It was made illegal
When did the English Civil War begin?
August 1642
When did Strafford return to England from Ireland?
1640
What happened in Ireland when Strafford returned to England?
What did many people in England see this as?
Riots broke out, thousands of Protestants were killed by Catholics.
Many people in England thought that Charles supported the rebellion, they saw it as a Catholic plot.
Who took control of the army to suppress the Irish rebellion?
Parliament
What were relations between the king and parliament like in 1642?
Poor, relations had deteriorated.
Name 1 leading opponent of the king:
John Pym
What did John Pym present?
The Grand Remonstrance.
What was the Grand Remonstrance?
A list of grievances towards Charles, which was the final straw for him.
What did Charles do in response to the Grand Remonstrance?
He raised an army and marched to parliament to arrest the 5 men who led the opposition.
What was the name given to the 5 men who led the opposition against Charles?
The Five Members
What did Charles trying to arrest the Five Members prove to everyone?
How far he would go to protect himself, and how he was a tyrant who would not listen to the people.
