the Stuarts and the Civil Wars (1603-1714): Flashcards
Q: Who was James I and what is his significance in history?
A: James I, born in 1566, was the son of Mary, Queen of Scots. He became King James VI of Scotland at 13 months old and King James I of England in 1603, marking the start of the Stuart dynasty.
Q: What were the circumstances of James I’s ascension to the throne of Scotland?
A: James I became King of Scotland at just 13 months old after his mother, Mary, Queen of Scots, abdicated due to political turmoil and her Catholic beliefs not aligning with Scotland’s Protestantism.
Q: How did James I unite England and Scotland?
A: In 1603, James I became the first monarch to rule both England and Scotland, known as the Union of the Crowns.
Q: What was the conflict between James I and Parliament?
A: James I believed in the divine right of kings, which clashed with Parliament’s power, creating tensions that eventually contributed to the English Civil War.
Q: What was the Gunpowder Plot?
A: The Gunpowder Plot was a failed Catholic attempt in 1605 to assassinate James I and blow up the English Parliament.
Q: What was James I’s approach to international policy?
A: James I aimed for peace, making the Treaty of London with Spain in 1604 and attempting to secure alliances by marrying his children into European royal families.
Q: What was the significance of the King James Bible?
A: The King James Bible, published in 1611, was an attempt by James I to unify religious practices across England and Scotland.
Q: How did James I’s rule end?
A: James I died in 1625 and was succeeded by his son, Charles I.
Q: Who was Charles I and what were the main issues during his reign?
A: Charles I (reigned 1625-1649) faced conflicts over taxes, religion, and his attempts to enforce Anglican practices in Scotland, which led to widespread opposition and tensions with Parliament.
Q: How did Charles I’s marriage affect his reign?
A: Charles I married Henrietta Maria of France, a Catholic princess, which fueled fears of a Catholic restoration in England and increased tensions with Protestant factions.
Q: What were the Bishops’ Wars, and why did they occur?
A: The Bishops’ Wars were a series of conflicts caused by Charles I’s attempts to enforce Anglican practices in Scotland, where Presbyterianism was dominant. This led to rebellion and war.
Q: What were the English Civil Wars, and what led to Charles I’s downfall?
A: The English Civil Wars (1642-46, 1648-49, 1649-51) were fought between the monarchy (Charles I) and Parliament. Charles I’s conflicts over taxes, religion, and absolute power led to his trial and execution in 1649, a defining moment in British history.
