1.4.1: The Causes of the Civil War (1640-1642) CONCESSIONS MADE BY CHARLES ROOT + BRANCH REFORM
Fiscal Feudal Policies: Ship Money Act 1640: Made R+B petition 1640, signed by over 15,000 Londoners demanding
BACKGROUND collecting ship money illegal. T/P Act June 1641: T/P end to Bishops + to overthrow the episcopal Church system. 2
regulated - 'no subsidy or custom, or any other charge... sides Emerge: Popular Radicals VS Moderates
Parliament ought or may be imposed... without the common consent
of Parl. Limitations of Forests Act August 1641: Limits Evidence of Popular Radicalism: Popular Riots destroying
Position: MPs united in seeking to dismantle worst features of boundaries of forests to 1623 levels - no further fines. Act Laudian Innovations (in 4/5 Churches in London), Increased
Caroline Government: Expected reform. Parl. fairly diverse - Prohibiting Knighthood Fines Aug 1641: makes distraint of popular pamphlets of various ideas, i.e. anti-episcopal/prayer
religious radicals demanded changes in church, moderates knighthood fines illegal. book
sought a moderate church/constitutional settlement + radical
puritans wanted a greater constitutional settlement ‘Guarantees’ to ensure Survival: Triennial Act Feb 1641: Moderates: Radicalism threatened to overthrow entire social
Parl. automatically recalled after 3 years, regardless system - if Bishops removed, what was next? Some believed
Aims: Maintain Unity: John Pym led Junto (Political faction) whether King ordered or not. Act Against Dissolution May order in society was already disintegrating via 'The London Mob'
that avoided divisive issues to begin with. To prevent another 1641: Parl. could only be dissolved if Parl. itself agreed.
repeat of C P.R. To remove the King's 'evil advisors' (Laud + Parl. View
TW) Removing Arbitrary Legal System: Habeas Corpus Act
1640: abolishes the Star Chamber + Council of the North. Presented to Parl. by radical Parliamentarians Henry Vane +
Strengths: (1) Unity of Purpose: HoC/HoL share same goal to Oliver Cromwell as a bill, sated to 'Root out episcopacy, root and
prevent another P.R. (2) Inter-Connections: Parl. led by Junto, Removing C Advisors: Nov: Strafford impeached + branch'. Passed HoC 139 to 108, echoing divisions. FAILED
a close group of MPs with family/business connections. Junto imprisoned. Dec: Laud impeached + imprisoned HoL: Bishops wouldn't vote to remove their own position which
emerged from Puritan Network existing in 1630s, previously a revealed a wider conservative reaction emerging.
trading group. (3) Political Support from Londoners: Biggest Evaluation/Judgement
demographic support, a radical, predominantly Puritan place. Evaluation/Judgement
Demonstrated Charles’ ability to accept his failures and make
(4) Quality of Intellect: Many MPs, especially Junto, were
agreements with Parliament. Parliament’s continuation, however, in Reaffirmed the issue of religion + its overarching consequences. Reiterated
lawyers/well educated.
seeking further and further concessions leads to greater tensions. A deep divisions + were exacerbated, unnecessarily.
Charles Pivotal factor in the emergence of the Civil War.
Position: Weak: needs money to pay Scottish on English soil, TRIAL + EXECUTION OF STRAFFORD CHARLES + SCOTLAND
lost another war + P.R. had alienated key groups in England -
Forced to listen to Parl. Believed he had done no harm: Strafford (TW) Influence The Situation
believed Parl. was being lead astray by Pym/Junto, making
compromise difficult. 2 options: Make concessions that A figurehead for criticism of P.R.: Policy of thorough seen to establish Summer 1641: Stalemate in Parl. - Strafford dead, Laud in Tower
weakens his authority OR resist + build an army to reaffirm his an absolutist state. Had sent the Irish Army to support Charles + + numerous concessions made
authority. Parl. feared the tables turned on them. Arrested for 'constructive
treason' - trying to rule Kingdom by force (Nov 1640) C visited Scotland: aimed to make concessions to the
Strengths: (1) Support from HoL: could veto the commons + covenanters (already agreed the abolition of Bishops in
contained natural C supporters. (2) Supremacy of the Legal The Trial Scotland) + to exploit the divisions of rival clans in order to divide
System: C appointed judges, using them to advantage. + rule.
Arrested Pym in 1641, but released. (3) Commander-in-Chief Went on Trial in HoL: prosecution failed - evidence flimsy +
of the Army: use army against Parl. (4) Control of the Printing Lords reluctant to find guilt - he was one of them Parl. + Pym fearful C could gain the Scottish Army to use against
Press. (5) Effective Minsters: Wentworth + Council of the Parl. - difficult to maintain the argument that C was surrounded
Pym introduced 'Bill of Attainder' - Binary vote on whether by 'evil advisors' + intent on an absolutist rule
North, Laud + Star Chamber. BUT: Had to pay Scottish Under
Strafford was traitor. Prevented the non-guilty verdict +
Treaty of Rippon, making him weak.
forced C to take personal responsibility. BUT: C involved in 'The Incident' (An abortive attempt to kidnap
Influence of ‘The Army Plot’ radical covenanter the Duke of Argll) - destroyed hopes of
gaining support from Scottish + reasserted view of C
The Army Plot: a group of officers planning to free Strafford from Tower + had previously tried but failed in May. Believed to be untrustworthiness
orchestrated by C + demonstrated his ruthlessness. Bill of Attainder passed HoC 204 to 59 + HoL 26 to 19 (many absences in both). C
signed Bill: (1) Pym encouraged angry demonstrations outside Whitehall (The London Mob), fearing safety for Him/family. (2) Bishops Irish Rebellion Breaks out
pressured C to sign. (3) Still needed Parl. - needed money to Pay Scottish up north. Executed on 12th May 1641
THE IRISH REBELLION + PARL. RESPONSE FIVE MEMBERS COUP (JAN 1642) EVIDENCE OF FURTHER PARLIAMENTARY RADICALISM
Evaluation/Judgement
Evaluation/Judgement
Native Irish Catholics attacked Protestant Plantations. Old What: C issued impeachment + arrest of 5 radical Laid the foundationsThe
for greater mistrust
Exclusion between
Bill (Deb Parliament and Charles
1642)
English Catholic
Suitable illustration Landowners
of escalating tensionsorganised
and Charlesattacks onforced
being C Parliamentarians,
to take personal responsibility. Equally inc. John Pym,
illustrates John Hampden,
the Lengths Parliament, and that mirrored wider England as a whole. Fundamentally led to the Irish
controlled castles Denzil
Pym, were willing to go to prevent another P.R. Key factor in the causation of the Civil War in 1642. Holles, Arthur Haselrig, William Strode + Edward Encouraged
Rebellion, through
and arguably theaCivil
petition
War campaign:
in 1642. gained 30,000 signatures.
Montagu (from HoL). FAILED: FOREWARNED + FLED Aimed to remove Bishops from Parliament (HoL). HoL accepted bill
Causes: Catholics evicted to make room for Protestant due to pressure from The London Mob, lessening C influence on
plantations + Strafford's policies, i.e. introduction of Anglican Why?: Charles had given numerous concessions - Parl.
radicals demanding too much both inside Parl. (i.e.
Fiscal Feudal Policies: Ship Money Act 1640: Made R+B petition 1640, signed by over 15,000 Londoners demanding
BACKGROUND collecting ship money illegal. T/P Act June 1641: T/P end to Bishops + to overthrow the episcopal Church system. 2
regulated - 'no subsidy or custom, or any other charge... sides Emerge: Popular Radicals VS Moderates
Parliament ought or may be imposed... without the common consent
of Parl. Limitations of Forests Act August 1641: Limits Evidence of Popular Radicalism: Popular Riots destroying
Position: MPs united in seeking to dismantle worst features of boundaries of forests to 1623 levels - no further fines. Act Laudian Innovations (in 4/5 Churches in London), Increased
Caroline Government: Expected reform. Parl. fairly diverse - Prohibiting Knighthood Fines Aug 1641: makes distraint of popular pamphlets of various ideas, i.e. anti-episcopal/prayer
religious radicals demanded changes in church, moderates knighthood fines illegal. book
sought a moderate church/constitutional settlement + radical
puritans wanted a greater constitutional settlement ‘Guarantees’ to ensure Survival: Triennial Act Feb 1641: Moderates: Radicalism threatened to overthrow entire social
Parl. automatically recalled after 3 years, regardless system - if Bishops removed, what was next? Some believed
Aims: Maintain Unity: John Pym led Junto (Political faction) whether King ordered or not. Act Against Dissolution May order in society was already disintegrating via 'The London Mob'
that avoided divisive issues to begin with. To prevent another 1641: Parl. could only be dissolved if Parl. itself agreed.
repeat of C P.R. To remove the King's 'evil advisors' (Laud + Parl. View
TW) Removing Arbitrary Legal System: Habeas Corpus Act
1640: abolishes the Star Chamber + Council of the North. Presented to Parl. by radical Parliamentarians Henry Vane +
Strengths: (1) Unity of Purpose: HoC/HoL share same goal to Oliver Cromwell as a bill, sated to 'Root out episcopacy, root and
prevent another P.R. (2) Inter-Connections: Parl. led by Junto, Removing C Advisors: Nov: Strafford impeached + branch'. Passed HoC 139 to 108, echoing divisions. FAILED
a close group of MPs with family/business connections. Junto imprisoned. Dec: Laud impeached + imprisoned HoL: Bishops wouldn't vote to remove their own position which
emerged from Puritan Network existing in 1630s, previously a revealed a wider conservative reaction emerging.
trading group. (3) Political Support from Londoners: Biggest Evaluation/Judgement
demographic support, a radical, predominantly Puritan place. Evaluation/Judgement
Demonstrated Charles’ ability to accept his failures and make
(4) Quality of Intellect: Many MPs, especially Junto, were
agreements with Parliament. Parliament’s continuation, however, in Reaffirmed the issue of religion + its overarching consequences. Reiterated
lawyers/well educated.
seeking further and further concessions leads to greater tensions. A deep divisions + were exacerbated, unnecessarily.
Charles Pivotal factor in the emergence of the Civil War.
Position: Weak: needs money to pay Scottish on English soil, TRIAL + EXECUTION OF STRAFFORD CHARLES + SCOTLAND
lost another war + P.R. had alienated key groups in England -
Forced to listen to Parl. Believed he had done no harm: Strafford (TW) Influence The Situation
believed Parl. was being lead astray by Pym/Junto, making
compromise difficult. 2 options: Make concessions that A figurehead for criticism of P.R.: Policy of thorough seen to establish Summer 1641: Stalemate in Parl. - Strafford dead, Laud in Tower
weakens his authority OR resist + build an army to reaffirm his an absolutist state. Had sent the Irish Army to support Charles + + numerous concessions made
authority. Parl. feared the tables turned on them. Arrested for 'constructive
treason' - trying to rule Kingdom by force (Nov 1640) C visited Scotland: aimed to make concessions to the
Strengths: (1) Support from HoL: could veto the commons + covenanters (already agreed the abolition of Bishops in
contained natural C supporters. (2) Supremacy of the Legal The Trial Scotland) + to exploit the divisions of rival clans in order to divide
System: C appointed judges, using them to advantage. + rule.
Arrested Pym in 1641, but released. (3) Commander-in-Chief Went on Trial in HoL: prosecution failed - evidence flimsy +
of the Army: use army against Parl. (4) Control of the Printing Lords reluctant to find guilt - he was one of them Parl. + Pym fearful C could gain the Scottish Army to use against
Press. (5) Effective Minsters: Wentworth + Council of the Parl. - difficult to maintain the argument that C was surrounded
Pym introduced 'Bill of Attainder' - Binary vote on whether by 'evil advisors' + intent on an absolutist rule
North, Laud + Star Chamber. BUT: Had to pay Scottish Under
Strafford was traitor. Prevented the non-guilty verdict +
Treaty of Rippon, making him weak.
forced C to take personal responsibility. BUT: C involved in 'The Incident' (An abortive attempt to kidnap
Influence of ‘The Army Plot’ radical covenanter the Duke of Argll) - destroyed hopes of
gaining support from Scottish + reasserted view of C
The Army Plot: a group of officers planning to free Strafford from Tower + had previously tried but failed in May. Believed to be untrustworthiness
orchestrated by C + demonstrated his ruthlessness. Bill of Attainder passed HoC 204 to 59 + HoL 26 to 19 (many absences in both). C
signed Bill: (1) Pym encouraged angry demonstrations outside Whitehall (The London Mob), fearing safety for Him/family. (2) Bishops Irish Rebellion Breaks out
pressured C to sign. (3) Still needed Parl. - needed money to Pay Scottish up north. Executed on 12th May 1641
THE IRISH REBELLION + PARL. RESPONSE FIVE MEMBERS COUP (JAN 1642) EVIDENCE OF FURTHER PARLIAMENTARY RADICALISM
Evaluation/Judgement
Evaluation/Judgement
Native Irish Catholics attacked Protestant Plantations. Old What: C issued impeachment + arrest of 5 radical Laid the foundationsThe
for greater mistrust
Exclusion between
Bill (Deb Parliament and Charles
1642)
English Catholic
Suitable illustration Landowners
of escalating tensionsorganised
and Charlesattacks onforced
being C Parliamentarians,
to take personal responsibility. Equally inc. John Pym,
illustrates John Hampden,
the Lengths Parliament, and that mirrored wider England as a whole. Fundamentally led to the Irish
controlled castles Denzil
Pym, were willing to go to prevent another P.R. Key factor in the causation of the Civil War in 1642. Holles, Arthur Haselrig, William Strode + Edward Encouraged
Rebellion, through
and arguably theaCivil
petition
War campaign:
in 1642. gained 30,000 signatures.
Montagu (from HoL). FAILED: FOREWARNED + FLED Aimed to remove Bishops from Parliament (HoL). HoL accepted bill
Causes: Catholics evicted to make room for Protestant due to pressure from The London Mob, lessening C influence on
plantations + Strafford's policies, i.e. introduction of Anglican Why?: Charles had given numerous concessions - Parl.
radicals demanding too much both inside Parl. (i.e.
