Stuart England Notes

1. Puritans
• Declared war against any signs of Romanism in the Church
• People who didn't believe the same thing had their ears cut off.
2. The British Wars began in 1637
3. Parliament gathered again by James I of England
• Lasted only 3 weeks
4. Thomas Wentworth
• Earl of Stratford
• He was beheaded
• Charles was forced to abandon Thomas and allow this to happen
5. British Civil War
• Parliament was defeated
6. In 1643 an alliance was created between Parliament and the Scots
7. Charles was incapable of being a constitutional king
8. Oliver Cromwell
• 1644-1645 made a new kind of army
• Used discipline in exchange for food and supplies
• Oliver decided that king would have to die in order for the country to heal
• The trial and execution of Charles I creates modern Britain
9.  James I comes from Scotland and becomes King after Queen Elizabeth I (1603)
• A believer in the divine right of kings
• Power came directly from God
• Fought with Parliament: particularly puritan members
• Preferred the hierarchy of bishops in the Anglican church
• When he dies his son becomes king Charles I (1625)
10. Charles I
• Against Puritans
• In 1628, signs the Petition of Rights in return for money
• No one should be compelled to pay a tax or loan that is not approved by Parliament
• No one can be put into prison without the due process of law
11. Religion in the 17th century was an essential issue
• William Laud wants to turn the Church of England into a Catholic Church that doesn't follow the Pope
• The Puritans want no hierarchy or hints of Catholicism
12. In 1639, Laud tries to impose the English book of prayer onto the Scottish Presbyterians
• Caused the Prayer Book Riot
• The Scots determined that no Englishman was going to tell them what to do so they put together an army and occupied southern England
• Charles needed to raise money for this war
13. 1640-1648 Long Parliament
• Charles recalls Parliament back into session
• Causes a constitutional and religious crisis
• Parliament goes out of its way to try to undermine what they see as tyranny under Charles I
• They execute William Laud and create laws limiting the power of the King
14. The Puritans declared war against signs of Romanism in the church. 
15. Nobody noticed that Charles was married to a Catholic.
16.  William Laud was made archbishop of Canterbury in 1633. 
17. Laud was presenting his program as an order
18. If people tried to defy him, then they had to suffer the consequences. 
19. By the mid 1630's Charles could see no obstacle in his way of making the 3 kingdoms in harmony. 
20. Charles was Scottish. 
21. Charles had become Scotland's very first absentee king and there would be a price to pay. 
22. He believed that if one kingdom had bent to his will then the others would as well. 
23. The British wars began on July 23, 1637 in Edinburgh. 
24. People were angry with the prayer book that Charles had introduced. 
25. Missiles were fired. The targets were the dean and bishop of the cathedral.
26. The Prayer Book riots were just the fuse.   
27. British Wars began in 1637
28. Parliament gathered again by James I of England.
29. Covenant (the Scottish)
• Document which subjects signed
• Determines who was and wasn't Christian
• Charles thought they should all be punished. 
• Signed a truce to try to prevent war with the Scottish 
30. The 1640 parliament picked up exactly where it left off in 1629 when Charles had put it down. 
31. This parliament lasted only 3 weeks before Charles once again suspended it. 
32. Thomas Wentworth 
• Was made Earl of Stratford by Charles
• Wentworth was Catholic and led a Catholic army. 
33. The fighting with the Scots was  a disaster.  
34. Charles needed cash fast to recover. 
35. He had to reopen parliament. 
36. The people wanted parliament to be elected every 3 years, no parliament could be dissolved without it's own consent, and no taxes could be made without approval by parliament. 
37. When Charles agreed it was the end of the absolute monarchy. Or was it?
38. Charles needed to kill Stratford to save himself from upheaval. 
39. Stratford understood this.  He was beheaded in order to save Charles. 
40. With Stratford executed Irish Catholics felt unprotected against Protestant reprisals. 
41. They attacked first to avoid being attacked. 
42. Both sides were moving fast past any point of reconciliation. 
English Civil War
43. During the spring and summer of 1642 people had to decide which side to take in the war and how to justify their decision. 
44. By the time the royalist army arrived at hill their prospects had grown. 
45. The royalists were commanded by Prince Rupert. 
46. Roundheads = English middle class
• Merchants that need to make sure they won't lose what they have. 
47. Cavaliers = nobility and peasantry 
• Peasants sided with nobles because they would always be peasants and they had nothing to lose except their employers (the nobles). 
48. Oliver Cromwell
• 1644-1645 made a new kind of army
• used discipline in exchange for food and supplies. 
• defeated the royal army. 
• Charles still didn't want to share power after the war was over. 
• tried to reverse his defeat and turn other parties (Scots, Parliament, military) against each other. 
• Cromwell knew that Charles needed to die. 
49. A second civil war began. 
• Cromwell's supporters had no desire to go back to lords and gentlemen.
50. The trial and execution of Charles I in a sense creates modern Britain. 
51. 1649: Charles is executed. 
Review
52. 1603: the end of the Tudor line and beginning of the Stuart line. 
53. James believed in the Divine right of Kings. 
• power in the monarchy came directly from God.
54. James fought with parliament, especially the Puritan members. 
55. James preferred the hierarchy of bishops that continued in the Anglican Church. He needed the hierarchy of bishops to maintain control over England. 
56. When James I dies, his son, Charles I, becomes king.
57. Like his father, he believes in the Divine Right of King, needs money, supports Anglican Church, and is against Puritans. 
58. In 1628 Charles signs the Petition of Rights. 
• No one should be compelled to pay any tax or loan without the consent of parliament. 
• No one can be put into prison without the due process of law. 
59. Signs it in return for money.
60. William Laud (Archbishop of Canterbury) wants to turn Church of England into a non-papal Catholic Church. 
61. Laud wants the Bishopry and hierarchy of the Catholic Church, but he doesn't want the pope. 
62. In 1639 Laud tries to impose the English book of prayer onto the Scottish Presbyterians.
63. Called the Prayer Book Riot
64. Scottish didn't appreciate that, and a war starts. 
65. Charles needs funding for this war.
66. 1640-1648 we have the Long Parliament.
• Charles reluctantly calls parliament back into session. 
• This causes a constitutional and religious crisis.  
• Tries to undo  Charles' royal tyranny
• Executes William Laud
• Makes laws to limit royal power.