LEADUP TO CIVIL WAR
The 5 members: there were increasingly open attacks on Henrietta Maria as the source of Catholic influence
at court. C1 accused 5 MP’s (Pym, Hampden, Haselrig, Holles and Strode) of treason and demanded their
arrest. Lords refused to co-operate. C1 went to Commons w/armed soldiers to arrest the 5 MP’s himself. They
had already been warned and were safely in the City, which was now led by Puritans, who refused to hand
them over. This was a FAILURE for C1.
Commons declared the arrest attempt as a violation of P privilege (take note how C1 always intended to try
restore his power by force). Demonstrations against C1/Henrietta made C1 leave London. Petitions came
from across the whole country wanting mainly reform of Church – fears of a popish plot but not directed
personally against C1. P politics had broken down and nobody could agree on the way forward as they kept on
blaming each other.
Many of the moderates (along w/C1) departed (to prepare for war), leaving the radicals in charge of P. They
passed many measures which took C1’s power into their hands. Huge pressure (demonstrations) were put on
the Lords to comply.
Remaining bishops were excluded from House of Lords. C1 accepted.
December 1641, Militia ordinance was passed, giving P C1’s military authority. The bill proposed
that P should have the right to nominate the commanders of the armed forces rather than C1. It
also proclaimed that P could act independently of C1 in the interests of the nation's defence. C1
didn’t accept and the bill was passed as an ordinance (legislation that hasn’t received the royal
assent). MAJOR step towards Civil War.
March, P began raising £ for its own purpose through the so-called Act of £400,000. Based on the ship money
principle of fixed amounts from each country and it was efficiently collected, much more so than C1’s attempts
to raise revenue had been.
There was also a rush to collect arsenals (a place where weapons and military equipment are stored or
made/a collection of weapons and military equipment). C1 failed to capture Hull or Manchester where
they stored ammunition collected to fight the Scots. June, some royalists invited P to state its terms for a
settlement. The Nineteen Propositions were drawn up, effectively making P the sovereign power, P would
control:
C1’s advisers
Army C1 attracted support because the £ measures that P
Reform/gov of the Church passed were at least as demanding as anything that C1
Foreign policy attempted. P’s attacks on the Church and appeals to
Who was allowed to sit in House of Lords popular sentiment by encouraging mob violence
Education/marriage of C1’s children threatened social order.
The Nineteen Propositions = no hope of compromise.
July, P vote to raise an army (to be commanded by Earl of Essex). August, Commons declare that C1 has
started war and declared those who assisted him guilty of treason. 22 August, in Nottingham C1 raised his
standard (called on all his loyal subjects) to help him defeat Essex.
C1’S SUPPORT P’S SUPPORT
Majority of nobility/greater gentry – they felt obliged due ‘middle’ (below gentry) – more likely to support P because
to personal loyalty as he put them at the top of the social they were less rigidly hierachal.
order.
Lesser gentry – similar reasons as above but narrower
margin between C1/P supporters.
For the vast majority of ordinary men and women, it was factors other than those of 'class' or 'rank' which determined
the eventual choice of sides.
MARXIST VIEW – social/£ changes were the root of civil war which created political divisions
WHIG VIEW – P was the defender of law, property/individual rights against the attacks of the autocratic C1.
The 5 members: there were increasingly open attacks on Henrietta Maria as the source of Catholic influence
at court. C1 accused 5 MP’s (Pym, Hampden, Haselrig, Holles and Strode) of treason and demanded their
arrest. Lords refused to co-operate. C1 went to Commons w/armed soldiers to arrest the 5 MP’s himself. They
had already been warned and were safely in the City, which was now led by Puritans, who refused to hand
them over. This was a FAILURE for C1.
Commons declared the arrest attempt as a violation of P privilege (take note how C1 always intended to try
restore his power by force). Demonstrations against C1/Henrietta made C1 leave London. Petitions came
from across the whole country wanting mainly reform of Church – fears of a popish plot but not directed
personally against C1. P politics had broken down and nobody could agree on the way forward as they kept on
blaming each other.
Many of the moderates (along w/C1) departed (to prepare for war), leaving the radicals in charge of P. They
passed many measures which took C1’s power into their hands. Huge pressure (demonstrations) were put on
the Lords to comply.
Remaining bishops were excluded from House of Lords. C1 accepted.
December 1641, Militia ordinance was passed, giving P C1’s military authority. The bill proposed
that P should have the right to nominate the commanders of the armed forces rather than C1. It
also proclaimed that P could act independently of C1 in the interests of the nation's defence. C1
didn’t accept and the bill was passed as an ordinance (legislation that hasn’t received the royal
assent). MAJOR step towards Civil War.
March, P began raising £ for its own purpose through the so-called Act of £400,000. Based on the ship money
principle of fixed amounts from each country and it was efficiently collected, much more so than C1’s attempts
to raise revenue had been.
There was also a rush to collect arsenals (a place where weapons and military equipment are stored or
made/a collection of weapons and military equipment). C1 failed to capture Hull or Manchester where
they stored ammunition collected to fight the Scots. June, some royalists invited P to state its terms for a
settlement. The Nineteen Propositions were drawn up, effectively making P the sovereign power, P would
control:
C1’s advisers
Army C1 attracted support because the £ measures that P
Reform/gov of the Church passed were at least as demanding as anything that C1
Foreign policy attempted. P’s attacks on the Church and appeals to
Who was allowed to sit in House of Lords popular sentiment by encouraging mob violence
Education/marriage of C1’s children threatened social order.
The Nineteen Propositions = no hope of compromise.
July, P vote to raise an army (to be commanded by Earl of Essex). August, Commons declare that C1 has
started war and declared those who assisted him guilty of treason. 22 August, in Nottingham C1 raised his
standard (called on all his loyal subjects) to help him defeat Essex.
C1’S SUPPORT P’S SUPPORT
Majority of nobility/greater gentry – they felt obliged due ‘middle’ (below gentry) – more likely to support P because
to personal loyalty as he put them at the top of the social they were less rigidly hierachal.
order.
Lesser gentry – similar reasons as above but narrower
margin between C1/P supporters.
For the vast majority of ordinary men and women, it was factors other than those of 'class' or 'rank' which determined
the eventual choice of sides.
MARXIST VIEW – social/£ changes were the root of civil war which created political divisions
WHIG VIEW – P was the defender of law, property/individual rights against the attacks of the autocratic C1.
