The origin of the English Civil War Part 1

Question 1

The significance of Charles I’s marriage 1625

Answer 1

It was significant due to the substantial dowry of £120,000 that accompanied it, which would be essential for the war against Spain.

Question 2

Suspicions arising on religion from the Queen

Answer 2

Henrietta Maria could enjoy the freedom of worship as Catholics, but that the recusancy laws were being relaxed in a way that MPs found alarming.

Question 3

Madrid wooing 1623-1624

Answer 3

It contributed to the widespread distrust of the court on religious matters, particularly in the context of Charles’s pro-Arminian stance.

Question 4

Buckingham’s power

Answer 4

He enjoyed a seamless transition of power that confounded his enemies, a tribute to his political skill.

Question 5

The negative effect of Buckingham on Charles and Parliament’s relationship

Answer 5

Many felt that Buckingham was closely directing Charles. He was politically over-dominant, through patronage, and he was also militarily incompetent.

Question 6

Charles’s ideas of royal authority

Answer 6

Charles believed that the King had the power to make decisions that were beyond the competence of Parliament.

Question 7

Opposition to the Divine Right - Parliament

Answer 7

MPs saw monarchical power removed Parliament’s independent authority and subject Parliament to the royal will

Question 8

What did the Puritans seen Arminians as

Answer 8

worse than Catholics because they were the ‘enemy within’

Question 9

Charles view on Arminianism

Answer 9

Charles’s vision of kingship meant that Arminianism was fine due to its emphasis on hierarchy and ceremony being in line with him.

Question 10

James I’s approach in religious policy

Answer 10

James was rather pragmatic on religious policy due to his experience in dealing with the confrontational and uncompromising attitude of Scottish Presbyterians.

Question 11

Significance of the Montague controversy of 1625

Answer 11

showed that Charles indifference to the fears of politically influential Puritan MPs in the House of Commons, and the way in which he would react to an apparent ‘affront’ from Parliament by becoming openly confrontation himself.

Question 12

Charles began his reign at war with Spain meant that (financially)

Answer 12

It gave Parliament considerable political leverage over Charles, as he had to call three Parliaments in four year.

Question 13

Parliament attempted to restrict the king’s power

Answer 13

Parliament was acting in provocative and confrontational fashion by voting only two subsidies, which worth £14,000 in total, and voting Tonnage and Poundage for just one year.

Question 14

Success in the Forced Loan 1625

Answer 14

The Forced Loan raised more money for the King than the four parliamentary subsidies would have done, and was collected in the face of opposition.

Question 15

What was Charles’s thought on the Forced Loan in 1625

Answer 15

It prompted Charles to think that finance could be raised more efficiently without the uncertainty, delay and expense of calling Parliament.

Question 16

What was wrong with Forced Loan of 1625

Answer 16

It challenged Parliament’s role in voting taxation because taxation without consent undermined Parliament’s most important privilege. It was also going against the principle stated in the Magna Carta in 1215

Question 17

Significance of the Five Knights’ case 1627

Answer 17

Charles’s prerogative powers were being legally challenged and the decision was far from being an endorsement of his prerogative to imprison without ‘due process’.

Question 18

Common feeling on the Five Knights’ Case of 1627

Answer 18

Many thought that Charles’s rule was pushing his sovereign rights to their limits

Question 19

The cost of war and relations with Parliament 1625

Answer 19

It gave Parliament considerable political leverage over Charles, as he had to call three Parliaments in four year.

Question 20

Parliament attempted to restrict the king’s power

• Financial

Answer 20

Parliament was acting in provocative and confrontational fashion by voting only two subsidies, which worth £14,000 in total, and voting Tonnage and Poundage for just one year.

Question 21

Charles’s thought on Parliament attempt in restricting his power

Answer 21

Charles felt that Parliament was being too arrogant and innovative, demanding powers, and regarded the limit grant of T&P as a direct attack on his own Divine Right

Question 22

The York House Conference 1626

Answer 22

Buckingham made his Arminian sympathies implicit during the conference, yet it was merely a reflection of Charles’s own sternly-held preferences

Question 23

Why were there support for England to go to war with Spain

Answer 23

Declaring war on Spain could force Spain to evacuate the Palatinate, and to persuade the Emperor to do the same

Question 24

What was the problem of England being in war with both Spain and France?

Answer 24

This had increased dependence on Parliament at a time of mounting political conflict.

Question 25

Parliament’s comment on Buckingham’s military incompetence

Answer 25

Parliament blamed Buckingham for the military failure in Mansfeld and Cadiz expedition, and expected the King to remove him for his bad influence.

Question 26

Consequence of dissolving Parliament in 1626 to protect the impeachment of Buckingham

Answer 26

Charles lost the bill that would have given him 4 subsidies, money that he desperately needed to fight the war with Spain.

Question 27

What was the Petition of Right of 1628

Answer 27

The Petition asked the king to acknowledge four simple points that Parliament claimed were basic precept of English law. It was more concerned with the legality of the Forced Loan and Charles’s illegal actions.

Question 28

What was the trigger of the Five Knights’ Case

Answer 28

Charles could not be trusted to rule with an unwritten constitution. Many hoped that Charles could understand that there were limits to his powers as king

Question 29

The significance of the Petition of Right and why Charles ‘accepted it’

Answer 29

Charles desperate financial straits forced him into political compromises that he could not keep. Charles had no intention of being bound by the Petition of Right

Question 30

The consequences of the Petition of Right

Answer 30

Any hope that it could re-establish mutual trust between Crown and Parliament swiftly evaporated.

Question 31

Consequence of Buckingham’s assassination

Answer 31

Turning point because his death gave the King the opportunity to reallocate all the titles and offices Buckingham had held since the early 1620s.

Question 32

The issue of Tonnage and Poundage had not been addressed because

Answer 32

Charles claimed that he had not surrendered his rights to collect these monies and endorsed the work of customs officers. By removing the possibility of the Commons blaming a third party, Charles opened himself to direct censure by Parliament.

Question 33

The Three Resolutions 1629

• Religion

Answer 33

The issue of religion became a central grievance for a more radicalised opposition in the House of Commons

Question 34

The Three Resolution 1629

• Tonnage and Poundage

Answer 34

It denounced any person willing paid Tonnage and Poundage to the King as a traitor. This signified the political crisis had become an irreconcilable political conflict, which directly resulted in the Personal Rule.

Question 35

The Three Resolution and the Personal Rule

Answer 35

It was the underlying financial weakness of the Crown and its instability to fund its foreign policy that had caused the breakdown in relations between Crown and Parliament.

Question 36

How did Buckingham brought about opposition

Answer 36

The excessive influence of Buckingham over the King was one of the main grievances that ultimately led to the opposition attacking the King in the 1628 parliament

Question 37

What was the consequence of the Mansfeld expedition in 1625 had on Charles

Answer 37

By the time the true extent of the disaster was clear, James was dead and Charles had to face the consequences.

Question 38

What was the impact of Charles’s decision to continue war with Spain on ordinary people?

Answer 38

It led to the conscription of troops and the forced billeting of soldiers in people’s house.

Question 39

Why did Charles recall parliament in 1628

Answer 39

He was in desperate need of funds in order to continue with his foreign policy ventures.

Question 40

What was the impact of the attacks on Cadiz?

Answer 40

The attacks on Cadiz had been followed by a further deterioration in relations with the other major Catholic power, France

Question 41

What did Charles do to the Petition of Right 1628?

Answer 41

He ordered the statue number to be defaced and the printer to print him unconstitutional answer along with his second answer. Thus, throwing doubt into the legality of the document.