11.21 The English Civil War

the current feeling about kingship

divine right

King Charles I, r.1635-49

son of James VI/I, Anglican who embraces the divine right of kings

divine right

the king is above the law, and only God is the proper judge of a king. disobeying the king is a sin

Divine right did not previously exist, and would have been refuted by

Policraticus, Magna Carta

divine right clears the way for this idea of the king having absolute power

royal absolutism

Charles promoting divine right in countries with powerful Parliament - England, Scotland - is

a ticking time bomb

People have problems with Charles because he was

elaborate, spent money on drinking and parties

Venus and Adonis - Duke of Buckingham and his wife, 1620

mythological subject that blows Puritans away. they believed that George was James’s lover, as he had a lot of power in court/foreign policy

George Villiers

involved England in the 30 Years’ War, 1618-48, which goes poorly, so the Puritans and Parliament try to impeach him, causing tension between Charles and Parliament

There was some tension between Charles and Parliament because of

his wife Henrietta Marie, a French Roman Catholic

Petition of Right, 1628

Parliament’s statement on the rights of citizens and limits on kings’ power. no taxation without the consent of Parliament and no forced loans, no quartering of troops in private home, cannot declare martial law, habeas corpus - due process

The Petition of Right inspires the

Declaration of Independence

the rights listed in the Petition of Right are referenced as

natural rights

The petition of right comes in train of the

Magna Carta

The petition of right is presented to Charles I by this man, who is then arrested as being head of the opposition in parliament

Sir John Elliot

After its presentation, Charles

suspends Parliament. sole rule - 1629-40

Because he suspended Parliament, he can’t get taxes, so he uses

ship money - a naval tax redefining everywhere as the coast

William Laud, ABC, r.1633-45

high church Anglican who told the Scots they had to have bishops

Anglicans believe that the Catholic church

is the truth church, just corrupt

Scotland rebels in

1638

Scottish National Covenant, 1638

they don’t want to become Pope-ish. Confession of Scotland part 2. Defense of their liberties. Having bishops would challenge these liberties.

The Scottish rebellion is a military one, so Charles needs money and calls the

short parliament, 1640

long parliament, 1640-53

Ireland rebels in

1641

Ireland rebels because

they are Catholic, and Thomas Wentworth the governor of Ireland wants them all to be Anglican and English.

Grand Remonstrance, 1641

John Pym now runs the opposition as Parliament calls for change. The state is in danger because of Charles, and Royalists, because they want to remove liberties, need to be driven out

the English Civil War rages from

1642-51

Royalist, high church Anglicans are called

cavaliers

Puritan, pro-Parliament

roundheads

It breaks out because

Charles tries to arrest Pym and the others

Battle of Marston Moor, 1644

Boye the dog of the Cavaliers is killed. Roundheads win

This period is a highpoint for fears of

witchcraft

Matthew Hopkins, Witchfinder

witches have familiars who feed on them

William Laud was a major spark for the war by forcing Anglicanism on the Scots. He’s arrested for treason and executed, and the office of ABC

is not replaced

New Model Army, 1645

Puritans win the war because of it. It’s a professional army that can be deployed anywhere, while the king’s army relies on local lords

Architects of the New model army

Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell

Cromwell does well because he

was a solider and lawyer

Battle of Naseby, 1645

Cromwell becomes the leader of the Roundheads and the Puritans win

Pride’s Purge, 1648

Cromwell kicks all moderates calling for a peace treaty out of Parliament, destroys the House of Lords, which makes Charles’s execution possible. Rump Parliament.

Army Remonstrance, 1648

an argument to put Charles' on trial for treason, and the right of Parliament to do so, saying that ‘salvation and safety of people is the supreme law.’

Parliament goes from

revising to consenting to the ability to assume the power of the king if said king is bad

Charles is executed

1649

unnecessary

Charles says that he can trace himself back to William the Conqueror. Parliament can’t execute, it’s not a court of law. No one can be sure of their rights.