Stuarts, English Civil War and Glorious Revolution Test Terms

James I of England

Founded the Stuart Dynasty in England, believer of absolutism, failed to reach his dream of creating Britian, struggled with Parliament over finances, and sponsored the King James Bible

Hampton Court Conference

Conference where James I rebuffed the Puritans and firmly declared his intention to maintain the Anglican episcopacy.

"No bishop, no king"

James I's famous response to the request of English Puritans that he abolish the episcopal system. He believed that no hierarchy in the church would lead to calls for no hierarchy in government and society and thus chaos

Gunpowder Plot

A conspiracy in 1605 to overthrow the govt by blowing up James I and the Houses of Parliament and usher in a Catholic takeover

Guy Fawkes

The Catholic radical who plotted to blow up the king and parliament in the failed "Gunpowder Plot" of 1605 and whose named is associated with Bonfire Day each year

Duke of Buckingham

Key advisors to James I and Charles I and who bungled several expeditions against Spain and France before being assassinated

Petition of Right (1628)

A document passed by the English Parliament during Charles I's reign that limited the king's authority in return for the king receiving a lump sum of money

1. No taxation without Parliament's consent - king could not raise taxes on his own

2. No arbitrary imprisonment - reinforced the right to habeas corpus.

3. No quartering of soldiers - troops could not be housed in private homes without consent.

High Anglicanism

A form of Anglican practice emphasizing ritual, hierarchy, and ceremony, close to Catholic traditions, promoted by leaders like William Laud. It was opposed by Puritans, who sought simpler worship and stricter Protestant reforms, fueling religious conflict in England.

William Laud

Archbishop of Canterbury under Charles I who promoted High Anglican practices and enforced strict religious conformity. His policies angered Puritans and Parliament, contributing to religious and political tensions that led to the English Civil War.

Personal Rule

The period when Charles I of England ruled without calling Parliament, relying on royal prerogative and alternative revenue sources. His actions, including taxation without consent and religious reforms, fueled tension that eventually led to the English Civil War.

prerogative

a special right or privilege

Ship Money

A tax originally levied on coastal towns to fund naval defense, later expanded by Charles I to inland areas without Parliament's consent. It provided Charles I with enough money to fund the govt. during peacetime. It was highly unpopular and seen as an abuse of royal authority, contributing to tensions that sparked the English Civil War.

Knights' Tax

An example of a medieval tax revived by Charles I requiring landowners who were technically knights to be penalized for not attending Charles I coronation - a law that very few even knew about. It was widely resented as an unlawful revenue grab without Parliament's approval, fueling opposition to his Personal Rule.

Bishops War (Scottish Rebellion)

Uprising in Scotland against Charles I's attempts to impose the Anglican prayer book. Forced Charles to call Parliament for funds, highlighting his weak authority and sparking tensions leading to civil war.

Irish Rebellion of 1641

Catholic uprising in Ireland against English Protestant rule, marked by massacres of Protestants. Heightened fear in England and contributed to mistrust of Charles I, increasing Parliamentary support against him.

Militia Bill (1642)

Parliamentary bill giving Parliament control over the army rather than the king. Charles I's refusal to accept it escalated tensions and was a direct cause of the outbreak of the English Civil War.

New Model Army

Professional, disciplined army formed by Parliament during the English Civil War. Led by Oliver Cromwell, its effectiveness and loyalty helped defeat Royalist forces and ensured Parliament's military dominance.

Cavaliers

Supporters of King Charles I during the English Civil War. Often aristocratic and well-trained, but less organized than Parliamentary forces.

Roundheads

Supporters of Parliament during the English Civil War. Included Puritans and commoners; disciplined and motivated, especially within the New Model Army.

Reasons for Roundhead victory

1. alienating Scots and Irish

2. outnumbered

3. lack of resources

4. lack of navy

5. rise of New Model Army

Pride's Purge (1648)

Colonel Thomas Pride forcibly removed MPs from Parliament who opposed bringing King Charles I to trial (moderates) leaving "Rump Parliament", which supported the trial and execution of the king.

Rump Parliament (1648-53)

The remnant of the Long Parliament after Pride's Purge, composed only of radical MPs loyal to the army and supportive of trying Charles I. It abolished the monarchy and Church of England, declared England a Commonwealth, and oversaw the trial and execution of the king, marking the beginning of republican rule.

Levellers

political reformers who called for equality before the law, broader male suffrage, and government accountability. Though suppressed by Cromwell, their democratic ideas about rights and representation influenced later revolutions and constitutional thought.

Diggers

sought communal ownership of land and economic equality, believing the earth was a "common treasury." Their short-lived experiments were crushed, but they foreshadowed later socialist and communal movements.

Fifth Monarchists

millenarian group who believed Christ's rule on earth — the "Fifth Monarchy" — was imminent, they pushed for a godly government. Their extremism, culminating in Venner's Rising (1661), helped discredit radical religion after the Restoration.

Ranters

emphasized personal revelation and spiritual freedom, rejecting moral laws and church authority. Though often accused of immorality, they represented the era's radical push toward individual conscience and religious expression.

Quakers

Founded by George Fox, Quakers preached that all people possess an "Inner Light" of God, rejecting clergy, violence, and social hierarchy. Despite persecution, they endured and later became influential advocates for peace, equality, and human rights.

Baptists

Emerging from separatist traditions, Baptists promoted adult baptism, religious liberty, and separation of church and state. They grew under the Commonwealth and became a lasting force in advocating for freedom of conscience in both England and America.

First Angle-Dutch War

Cause: Triggered by commercial rivalry and England’s Navigation Acts

Description: A naval conflict fought mainly in the English Channel and North Sea

Effect: England achieved naval superiority, Dutch accepted Navigation Acts and recognized England’s dominance at sea, though they kept their trade empire.

Navigation Acts (1651)

English laws requiring that goods imported to England or its colonies be carried on English ships, aimed at boosting England's trade, and undermining Dutch commercial dominance and set the stage for the First Anglo-Dutch War.

Oliver Cromwell's Policies (Post-Civil War)

Religious: Tolerated Protestant sects while promoting Puritan moral reforms but persecuted Catholics

Foreign: Strengthened the navy, enforced Navigation Acts, challenged Dutch trade, and expanded England’s commercial influence.

Domestic: Maintained stability but became more authoritarian via the Protectorate and army resulting in increased taxation and unpopular social policies

Barebones Parliament (1653)

A handpicked "Godly" assembly selected by Cromwell in search of stability but lasted only several months, dissolving itself due to radical proposals and internal disagreements, highlighting the challenges of combining religious reform with effective governance.

The Restoration (1660)

The return of Charles II to the English throne, ending the Protectorate. Restored the monarchy, the Church of England, and traditional political institutions while balancing previous revolutionary reforms.

CABAL

A group of five ministers who advised Charles II and effectively ran government policies in secret. Their influence showed the king's reliance on flexible, centralized governance without depending solely on Parliament.

Clarendon Code

Named after Charles II's cheif minister and were a series of laws (1661-1665) enforcing Anglican conformity, punishing Catholics and Protestant dissenters, and strengthening royal control over religion.

Test Act (1763)

Law requiring all government officials to take Anglican communion, effectively barring Catholics and most dissenters from office (aimed particularly at Admiral James). Reflected ongoing religious tension and attempts to maintain Protestant dominance.

Declaration of Indulgence (1672)

Charles II's attempt to grant religious freedom to Catholics and dissenters by suspending restrictive laws. Parliament forced him to withdraw it, showing limits on royal power and tension over religion.

Popish Plot (1678)

A fabricated conspiracy alleging Catholics planned to assassinate Charles II. Led to anti-Catholic hysteria, executions, and political polarization between Tories and Whigs.

Second Angle-Dutch War (1665-67)

Naval conflict fought over trade supremacy and colonial rivalry. England initially suffered setbacks, including the Dutch Raid on the Medway, but the war reflected ongoing competition for maritime and commercial dominance.

Third Anglo-Dutch War (1672-74)

Part of Charles II's secret alliance with France against the Dutch. Highly unpopular in England; opposition from Parliament and public sentiment forced Charles to withdraw, showing limits on his foreign policy autonomy.

Treaty of Dover (1670)

Secret agreement with France where Charles II promised to support French policies and Catholic interests in exchange for subsidies. Strengthened his finances but fueled distrust among Protestants and Parliament.

Plague (1665) and Great Fire of London (1666)

Devastating disasters that killed thousands and destroyed much of London. Led to public health responses, urban rebuilding, and the modernization of the city's infrastructure.

Exclusion Crisis (1679-81)

Conflict over whether Charles II's Catholic brother James should be barred from the throne; Whigs supported exclusion, Tories opposed it, Charles II dissolved Parliament, and it ultimately solidified political parties and anti-Catholic tensions.

Declaration of Induglence

Used by both Charles II and James II to bypass Parliament and grant religious toleration to Catholics and Puritans

Bishops' Trial

A trial in England in which seven bishops of the Church of England were accused of libel for opposing James II's Declaration of Indulgence. They were acquitted, marking a major victory for parliamentary authority and Protestant resistance to the king's attempts to expand royal power.

CAUSES of the Glorious Revolution

1. James II’s Catholicism: His open Catholic faith alarmed Protestant elites and the general population, who feared a return to Catholic dominance.

2. Religious Policies: The Declaration of Indulgence granted freedom to Catholics and dissenters, bypassing Parliament and angering many.

3. Absolute Monarchy: James attempted to centralize power by maintaining a standing army led by Catholic generals and weaken Parliament, provoking political resistance.

4. Birth of a Catholic Heir: The 1688 birth of his son threatened a Catholic dynasty, intensifying opposition.

5. Elite and Parliamentary Opposition: Key leaders invited William of Orange to intervene, aiming to secure Protestant rule and parliamentary rights.

Major parts of the English Bill of Rights

1. Limited the monarch's power (no taxation or laws without Parliament).

2. Guaranteed certain rights (free elections, petitioning, and trial by jury).

3. Established Parliamentary supremacy and Protestant succession. Catholics not allowed to become monarchs in England.

Act of Toleration of 1689

An English law passed after the Glorious Revolution that granted limited religious freedom to all Protestants but did not include Catholics or non-Christians. It reinforced the Protestant character of the English state while promoting some degree of religious pluralism.

Mary II

Daughter of James II and co-monarch with William III after the Glorious Revolution (1688). She helped establish a constitutional monarchy, accepted the English Bill of Rights (1689), and reinforced Protestant rule in England.

William III

Dutch prince who became co-monarch of England, Scotland, and Ireland with Mary II after the Glorious Revolution (1688). He accepted the English Bill of Rights, strengthened Parliamentary power, defended Protestantism, and fought wars against France to check Louis XIV's expansion. His main reason for accepting the English crown was to bring the English into an alliance with the Dutch against France.

Act of Settlement of 1701

An English law that ensured Protestant succession to the English throne for the Hanover family thus skipping over James II and his son's family. It strengthened Parliamentary control over succession.

Queen Anne

Last monarch of the House of Stuart. She oversaw the Act of Union (1707), supported the Protestant succession, and presided over early 18th-century wars with France. Her death ended the Stuart line, leading to the Hanoverian succession.

Act of Union of 1707 and THREE reasons why

The agreement that united England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Reasons:

1. Economic: Scotland sought access to English trade and markets.

2. Political: England wanted to secure a Protestant succession and prevent Scotland from choosing a different monarch.

3. Security: Union created a stronger, unified state better able to defend against external threats, particularly from France.