English Civil War - Causes

Long-Term Causes of the English Civil War

Keywords

  • Absolutist: A ruler with supreme authority and power.

  • Eleven-Years Tyranny: Charles I's rule from 1629 to 1640 without calling Parliament.

  • Puritans: Radical Protestants aiming for a sin-free life, known for simple clothing.

  • Ship Money: Tax on coastal towns for naval defense during war.

People

  • Charles I

  • Henrietta Maria

  • William Laud

  • James I

  • Robert Cecil

  • Elizabeth (James I’s daughter)

  • Rubens

  • Van Dyck

  • Prynne

  • Burton

  • Bastwick

  • John Hampden

Recap of Previous Lessons

  • James I.

  • Robert Cecil.

  • James I’s daughter Elizabeth.

  • Catholics.

  • Long-term cause.

Charles I: A Problematic King

  • Ascended the throne in 1625.

  • His early reign was marked by a series of missteps.

  • Married Henrietta Maria, a Catholic and the daughter of the King of France.

  • Appointed William Laud as Archbishop of Canterbury in 1633.

    • Laud reintroduced Catholic elements into the Church of England, raising concerns that Charles was secretly Catholic.

  • England was predominantly Protestant (97%), with a growing number of Puritans in Parliament.

  • Parliament sought to limit Charles' power.

Breakdown in Relations Between Crown and Parliament (1625-1640)

  • Charles I's actions fueled the growing rift with Parliament.

  • Religious, economic, and political factors contributed to the divide.

Timeline of Events & Actions

  • 1625: Charles I becomes king.

  • 1625: War with Spain (loss).

  • 1626: Parliament grants Charles customs income for one year only.

  • 1626: Charles collects money anyway without Parliament’s permission.

  • 1628: War with France (loss).

  • 1629: Charles dissolves Parliament and rules alone for 11 years.

  • 1629: MPs drafted the Petition of Right.

    • Stated that the king should not imprison without trial or tax without Parliament’s permission.

    • The king ignored this as he only answered to God.

  • 1630s: Archbishop Laud attempts to eliminate Puritan ideas, reintroducing decorated churches.

  • 1634: Charles uses Ship Money to raise funds, a tax typically reserved for wartime.

  • 1635: Ship Money demanded from inland areas.

    • People refused to pay every year.

  • 1637: Archbishop Laud introduces a new prayer book to Scotland.

    • Scottish rebels attacked England because they hated it so much.

    • Scotland was much more Puritan than England.

  • 1637: Archbishop Laud put three Puritans, Prynne, Burton and Bastwick, who had written pamphlets against him, on trial.

    • They were sentenced to have their ears cut off and their cheeks burnt with irons in public.

  • 1637: John Hampden, an MP, is imprisoned for refusing to pay Ship Money, becoming a symbol of resistance.

  • 1640: War with Scotland; Charles had to pay the Scots off.

Long-Term Causes Categorization

Religious Causes

  • Charles I's marriage to a Catholic (Henrietta Maria) raised concerns.

  • Appointment of William Laud and reintroduction of Catholic practices.

  • Fears of Charles' children being raised as Catholics.

  • Charles' promotion of Arminianism.

  • Archbishop Laud introduces a new prayer book to Scotland, which was more Puritan than England.

    • This led to war with Scotland.

Economic Causes

  • Charles I's lavish spending on art (Rubens, Van Dyck) and court favorites.

  • Financial mismanagement and strain on the English economy.

  • Imposition and expansion of Ship Money.

  • Charles wasted a lot of money on expensive art.

Political Causes

  • Charles I's belief in the divine right of kings and absolutist rule.

  • Dissolution of Parliament and the Eleven Years' Tyranny.

  • Ignoring the Petition of Right.

  • Parliament's attempts to limit Charles' power and demand more say in government.

  • Imprisonment of John Hampden for refusing to pay ship money.

Key Issues & Concerns

  • Religion: Charles' perceived favoritism towards Catholicism clashed with England's Protestant majority.

  • Taxation: Unpopular financial policies like Ship Money without Parliamentary consent.

  • Absolutism: Charles' belief in ruling without limitations challenged the traditional role of Parliament.

  • Trust: Parliament distrusted Charles' advisors.

Review: True or False

  • The Scots were more Puritan than the English - True

  • Charles wasted a lot of money on expensive art - True

  • Puritans and Arminians had many beliefs in common - False

  • In 1626 Parliament granted Charles an income from customs for life - False

  • In 1635, Charles demanded Ship Money be paid by people living inland - True