The English Civil Wars

Absolutism

• James 1 and Charles 1 used divine right of kings to defend absolutism
• Factors against absolutism   * Parliament big part of English culture   * local government

James 1 (ruled 1603-1625)

• 1st Stuart Dynasty
• believed in Devine Right of Kings
• Ruled mildly- concerned Parliament

Charles 1 (ruled 1625-1649)

• Parliament thought he was Catholic
• Didn’t enter 30 year war
• Catholic wife   * that’s why they thought he was Catholic
• Conflicts with Parliament   * Parliament refused to fund his military   * tried to make his own money

Petition of Rights- 1628

• Key Parts   * no taxation without Parliament   * no unjust imprisonment   * no quarter of troops can live in commoners home   * no martial law in peace time
• Key document of common law
• Charles 1 dissolved Parliament

Period of Personal Rule

• 1629-1640 parliament not called in session
• Charles 1 tried to raise his own money   * used old laws to collect money

Conflict with Scotland

• Charles tried to bring Scotland into Anglican Church
• becomes full on revolt

The Long Parliament

• 1640-1660
• wouldn’t meet without meeting Charles demands

War Begins

• Royalist   * cavaliers   * law taxes   * free society
• Parliamentarians   * roundheads
• 1645, Parliamentarians   * largely due to New Model Army
• 1646 Charles 1 captured and imprisoned
• 1648 war breaks out again when Parliament found out Charles was working with the Scots
• Second Civil War is short
• January 1647 Charles caught, tried, convicted, and executed

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