Review of Stuart Monarchs and the English Republic

Flashcards reviewing the lecture notes on the Stuart monarchs and the English Republic.

What were the main reasons for tensions between Crown and Parliament during James I's reign (1603-1625)?

Financial issues, exacerbated by divine right and parliamentary privilege disputes, along with foreign policy and religious disagreements.

What financial issues caused tension between James I and Parliament?

Lavish spending, giving money to Scottish courtiers, extravagant ante-suppers, and the issue of impositions despite winning the case in 1606.

What divine right and parliamentary privilege disputes caused tension during James I's reign?

The Buckinghamshire election of 1604, the Shirley case, and James asserting that Parliament derived privilege from him.

What foreign policy and religion issues caused tension during James I's reign?

Pursuit of the Spanish match, Parliament favoring English involvement in the Thirty Years' War, James ripping the Protestation out of the Common Journal, and support for Arminians.

Was the failure of Republican rule (1649–1660) inevitable?

Partially agree, failure was not inevitable especially in the beginning with the successes of the republic but systematic issues with political nation and governance were ignored leading to its failure (division between parliament and army)

What military successes did the Republic achieve?

Cromwell's campaigns in Ireland, victory at Dunbar in 1650, naval power during the Dutch War, and defeat of Charles II at Worcester in 1651.

What were the issues with the Rump Parliament?

Lack of broad popular support, tension with the army, failure to implement broader reforms, and clashes with Cromwell over his powers.

What systematic issues contributed to the failure of the Republic?

Richard Cromwell's lack of leadership, military interference in governance, conflict between republicans and royalists, and divisions within the army.

To what extent did the personalities of early Stuart monarchs cause a breakdown in Crown-Parliament relations (1604-1629)?

Partly valid, as James and Charles’ personalities did cause tensions between crown and parliament but were not at all the main reason for the tensions that were caused, religious issues and financial issues contributed much more to the breakdown in crown-parliament relations.

How did James I's and Charles I's personalities contribute to tensions with Parliament?

James' strong belief in divine right and dissolving parliaments. Charles’ authoritarian personality and similar belief in divine right.

How did financial issues contribute to the breakdown in Crown-Parliament relations?

Failure of the Great Contract, lavish spending, granting monopolies, imposing impositions, and Charles' continued collection of tonnage and poundage and forced loans.

How did religious issues contribute to the breakdown in Crown-Parliament relations?

James' support for Bancroft's canons, allowing Laud prominence, Charles' bias towards Arminians, and the York House Conference.

Assess whether parliamentary opposition was the main reason for deteriorating Crown-Parliament relations (1604-1625)

Answer the behavior of James in financial, religious and the spheres of foreign policy.

How did financial issues and parliamentary opposition intertwine?

Parliament's reluctance to provide subsidies without addressing grievances over financial management and impositions.

How did behavior towards favorites and foreign policy lead to parliamentary opposition?

Opposition to Buckingham, James' treaty of London, not joining the Thirty Years' War, and criticism of the Spanish match.

How did James' behavior towards parliament contribute to deteriorating relations?

Asserting divine right, interfering with parliamentary privilege (Shirley Case, ripping out the Protestation), dissolving the Addled Parliament, and interfering in the Buckinghamshire election.

How significant were religious divisions to political instability (1640-1660)?

Political disputes had a religious basis and vice versa.

How did religious divisions contribute to political instability?

Emergence of radical groups like Levellers and Diggers, disagreements over religious settlement between Presbyterians and Independents, and the Blasphemy Act of 1650.

How did political divisions (issues with absolutism and government) contribute to political instability?

Divisions in the Long Parliament over the Grand Remonstrance, the outbreak of civil war, parliamentary factionalism, and divisions over the rule of major generals.

How did social and economic factors contribute to instability?

Change in power with London merchants, creation of the New Model Army and spread of radical ideas, collapse of local order, and economic issues leading to high taxation and discontent.

‘Disputes over religion were a serious challenge to the authority of James I in the years 1603 to 1625.’

religion did occasionally cause issue and did exacerbate issues between crown-parliament, but on its own it rarely presented a serious challenge but instead exacerbated the other challenges James’ was facing

How did the puritan threat undermine James I authority?

Puritans asking for increased reform of the church which challenged James’ authority as Supreme Governor

How did the catholic threat undermine James I authority?

Gunpowder plot, Catholic fear forced James to take action against them pressured by parliament

How far was the growth of political/religious radicalism (1640-1660) due to the breakdown of authority in State and Church?

I agree partially that the breakdown in authority in State and Church led to the growth of political and religious radicalism , however I believe the greatest reason for the growth of radicalism was the civil war and regicide marking the collapse of traditional hierarchy and causing social upheaval as well as the creation of the new model army allowing for power to be held by those of lower social origin and causing the spread of radical religious ideals.

How did the Collapse in authority of Church and State contribute to religious radicalism?

Led to the rise of iconoclasm, Pym brings a resolution through the commons encouraging iconoclasm against popish images and altar rails.

How did The creation of the blasphemy act in 1650 highlights to religious radicalism?

Highlights how the rump was threatened by religious movements like that of the ranters who gained prominence after the collapse of the church.

How did the New model army contribute to religious radicalism?

Became a source of radicalism through millenarian officers such as colonel Thomas Harrison who became a leading figure in the fifth monarchists movement and had significant influence in the army.

Assess whether Charles I’s views on monarchy caused political division (1629-1649)

Charles views on monarchy underpinned all factors leading to political division during and after personal rule, in the financial and religious spheres his beliefs directly caused issues between crown and parliament.

How did Charles's views on monarchy pertaining to religion cause political division?

He favored arminianism and beauty of holiness because it stressed reverence to the king which he felt he deserved leading to division as parliament did not want this.

How did Charles views on parliament cause political division?

Charles had rigid defensive interpretation of prerogative due to his views on monarchy which led to political division of his opponents

Assess whether the Restoration Settlement was a failure (1660-1685)

Restoration settlement was a success if you look at it through the lens of Charles staying on the throne and dealing with the issues of the interregnum adequately.

How was the Use of Clarendon and Cabal a positive to the restoration settlement?

Clarendon drafted the declaration of Breda which created a good framework for Charles return to the throne that both the political nation could accept and Charles could accept

What were some previous issues of religion and parliamentary control of finances that stayed the same?

Church of England was narrowly restored and excluded the non-conformists who had enjoyed freedom during the interregnum - failure religiously.

To what extent did religious issues weaken royal authority (1660-1681)?

Religious issues played a role in weakening royal authority but the majority of this was not the fault of Charles and he behaved pragmatically within the situation.

What religious issues came from parliament?

passed harsh clarendon code that would make loyal moderate Presbyterians disloyal and alienate the non-conformists further.

What are some religious issues that came from family?

Weakened by catholic influences within the court such as the prominence of his catholic mother Henrietta-Maria and his wife Catherine of Braganza as well as his adoption of baroque style (French catholic)

In the years 1660 to 1678, Charles II dealt with religious issues more successfully than Oliver Cromwell had done as Lord Protector in the years 1653 to 1658.’

Evidence suggests that Cromwell dealt with religious issues better than Charles did particularly because of his actions during restoration of the Church of England and the influence it had on his parliament, despite this Charles dealt as well as he could with religious issues as he was able to at the time; Cromwell’s perceived better handling may just be a result of the increased freedom he had in terms of religion.

‘Charles II’s successes, in the years 1660 to 1681, were due to his own political skills rather than the work of his ministers.’

This view is partially valid, Charles successes occurred because of his ministers in conjunction with his own political skills without one or the other his successes would’ve been limited.

How did Charles 2nd political skills aid in his successes during 1660-1681?

Charles was ruthless in sacrificing his ministers to keep his political position strong as illustrated by scapegoating Clarendon for the Dutch war in 1667 or sacrificing them for his own benefit as illustrated by the test act and fall of the Cabal in 1673.

How did Charles the 2nd in conjunction with his ministers create successes within the time period

Charles pragmatic approach to the immediate issues of the restoration allowed him to deal with issues like the new model army, financial and religious settlement, constitution, and indemnity aided by ministers like Clarendon which helped him navigate his relationship with the political nation and thus contributed to his successes.