Gimenez, Mara Alejandra Examination questions on Period Six (1603-1688)

1. To what extent was the great Civil War the result of religious causes? Charles married Henrietta Maria of France who was catholic, but the country was protestant so many people believed he was going to change the country catholic which they didn't want. 2. What were the aims of James I in his foreign policy? How far did he succeed in carrying them out? James I aimed at peace, and thought to attain it through dynastic marriages. First aimed at Protestant alliance, so married his daughter Elizabeth to Frederick of the Palatinate. Outbreak of the Thirty Years' War in Germany. Frederick as a protestant was chosen King of Bohemia by the Protestants there (1619), and the Emperor attacked him, not wishing for a protestant King. James led Frederick to believe he would support him, but he did not. Frederick was defeated and lost all his dominions. James also aimed at Catholic alliance, so he planned to marry his son Charles to the daughter of the King of Spain (1617). England disliked the "Spanish" match, which roused great opposition. (James also executed Ralegh in 1618 to please the Spaniards) When that failed, he planned to marry Charles to the daughter of the king of France. (This gave England a Roman Catholic Queen, whose sons, Charles II and James II, later became Catholic.) 3. Say what you can in favour of the foreign policy of James I. The king's foreign policy was dominated by a fear of Spain which was not shared by the English people. The strife which had continued through the last years of Elizabeth was terminated sensibly enough by a peace almost immediately after James's accession. But James was possessed by an extravagant obsequiousness to Spain, which led to one of the most shameful incidents of the reign. 4. Summarize the chief complaints of James I's Parliaments. How far were they justified? Quarrelled over: a) King's theory of Divine Right. Parliament stood for theory that "sovereignty" lay with King and Parliament; James stood for theory that royal "prerogative" could over-ride Parliament. b) Right of election to Parliament. James declared he could set aside an election (Godwin's case) (1604). c) Taxation. James levied "impositions" which were not sanctioned by Parliament. d) King's Ministers. Parliament "impeached" the king's Ministers (1621). Freedom of speech. Parliament declared its right to freedom of speech (1622). 6. Give an account of the colonization of North America by the British in the reigns of James I and Charles I. Development of America: Virginia was colonized in 1607-10. Successful under Lord De la Warr. Farther North, Pilgrim Fathers left England (1620) under James I and sailed to New England. Under Charles I many more followed. Massachusetts chief colony consisted of Puritans flying from Anglican persecutions. Maryland founded (1634) by the Roman Catholic Lord Baltimore, as refuge for Roman Catholics.
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Under Charles II, first advance again in the South. Where the Carolinas, called after Charles, were founded (1663). Then in the North, settlements acquired from Dutch, by Treaty of Breda (1667), New York, New Jersey and Delaware. Then Pennsylvania founded by William Penn, the Quaker (1680), who fled from the persecutions under Charles II. Thus the colonies stretched in a strip all along the seaboard, and consisted of persons of different religions, but all of English nationality. 7. What were the chief causes of the civil war? The status of the monarchy had started to decline under the reign of James I. He was known as the "wisest fool in Christendom". James was a firm believer in the "divine right of kings". This was a belief that God had made someone a king and as God could not be wrong, neither could anyone appointed by him to rule a nation. James expected Parliament to do as he wanted; he did not expect it to argue with any of his decisions. However, Parliament had one major advantage over James - they had money and he was continually short of it. Parliament and James clashed over custom duties. This was one source of James income but Parliament told him that he could not collect it without their permission. In 1611, James suspended Parliament and it did not meet for another 10 years. James used his friends to run the country and they were rewarded with titles. This caused great offence to those Members of Parliament who believed that they had the right to run the country. In 1621, James re-called Parliament to discuss the future marriage of his son, Charles, to a Spanish princess. Parliament was outraged. If such a marriage occurred, would the children from it be brought up as Catholics? Spain was still not considered a friendly nation to England and many still remembered 1588 and the Spanish Armada. The marriage never took place but the damaged relationship between king and Parliament was never mended by the time James died in 1625. 8- Give an account of the relations between King and the Parliament between the accessions of James I (1603) and the dissolution of Charles Is third Parliament (1629). James I quarrelled over: Kings theory of Divine Right: Parliament stood for theory that sovereignty lay with King and parliament, James stood for theory that royal prerogative could over-side Parliament. Right of election to Parliament: James declared he could set aside an election (Godwins case 1606) Taxation: James levied impositions which were not sanctioned by Parliament (Bates case 1604) Kings ministers: Parliament impeached the Kings ministers, i.e. prosecuted them in the House (1621). Freedom of speech: Parliament declared its right to freedom of speech (1622). Charless effort to rule without parliament: 1- Tried to get on without parliament and therefore had to do without appeals for money. 2- Tried to raise money in other ways, distrait of knighthood, shipmoney, sale of monopolies. 3-Used prerogative powers and prerogative courts to try persons objectionable to the King. Starchamber and High Commission. 9- Account for the defeat of the Royalist in the Civil War. The Parliament and the Royalist appealed to the scots, who decided to support Parliament. Charles brought over Irish, but they were ineffective, compared with the Scots.The Cromwell Army was now fully trained, and left its own district to fight in the north. Great victory at Marston Moor. This led New Model Army, with good cavalry and good officers, to go everywhere. The Battle of Worcester took place on 3 September 1651 at Worcester, England and was the final battle of the English Civil War. Oliver Cromwell and the Parliamentarians defeated the Royalist, predominantly Scottish, forces of King Charles II. The 16,000 Royalist forces were overwhelmed by the 28,000 strong "New Model Army" of Cromwell.
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10- Account for the failure of the Commonwealth to survive: Parliament was not representative of the country for elections not free, and large body of royalist not represented. Parliament consisted of intolerant persons who wished to persecute other forms of religions, and this Cromwell and the army would not allow. The army hence could not agree with either of the other parties of the state. The instrument of government and humble petition are written constitutions and show the difficulties of settling of the two Houses. 11- What were the chief difficulties which faced Cromwell as Protector, and how did he try to overcome them? 1- To prevent restoration of the Stuarts: achieved because France and Spain at war, and both wanted Englands help, so neither would help Stuarts. 2- To maintain Protestant religion: offered terms to Spain, cost of the war to be borne by Spain, Calais to be restored to Britain, trade to be allowed with Spanish colonies, English to be unmolested by Inquisition. Spain refused terms, 1654. Offered terms to France, cost of war to be borne by France, Dunkirk to be British, persecution of Vaudois to cease, France accepted terms in 1655. Hence military alliance with France in 1657 obtained concession for Protestants, and fought Spain, which was bigotedly intolerant. 3- To advance English commerce, hence war with Dutch, our commercial rivals. 12- Show the influence of either Scotland or Ireland on English history between 1629 and 1660. Scotland: After 1st Civil War, Scotland wished to force England to become Presbyterian. Cromwell opposed this and offered to Charles I to maintain Episcopacy in England, but he rejected it. Scots invaded England but were defeated. They entered Scotland and put Argyll in power. Charles I restored order, revived trade, developed flax industry, raised an army, improved Protestant church. Called Irish Parliament. But when Long Parliament met, Irish rebelled fearing worse treatment at hands of Puritans (1641). First took form of attack on Scottish Presbyterians in Ulster. Long Parliament declared for no toleration for Catholic religion in Ireland, and for the confiscation of land of rebels. Charles II had the same idea and was defeated, he was forced to make peace and accept General Monck as governor. Ireland: In 1649 Irish supported Charles I. Cromwell went over and took Drogheta and Wexford. Land confiscated and settlement made by English. Catholic religion suppressed as far as open worship concerned. Called representatives from Ireland to the Barebones Parliament and granted free trade with England. 13- How much of the work of the Long Parliament was permanent? The work of this Parliament for the first nine month was the abolition of the arbitrary power of the Crown. Now at last, after nearly forty years some of the questions at issue between King and parliament were to be definitely settled. Parliament was not to be adjourned or dissolved without its own consent, and that in future, Parliaments must be summoned every three years. 14- Describe the work of Oliver Cromwell after the death of Charles I.

Cromwell had supreme influence and used it for moderate republicanism: quarrelled with scots that objected to Armys support of independents, and wished to enforce Presbyterianism on England, he opposed it and hence 3rd war. Prides Purge set up single chamber of government, council of State and the Rump Parliament. Cromwell can rule neither with Parliament nor without. He and his Army quarrel with Rump and dissolve it. Cromwell tried to settle the country by rule of major-generals in eleven districts. This army-rule so unpopular he called another Parliament and he was asked to become King. He refused but set up Revised Protectorate with a nominated Upper House, larger Lower House. The two Houses quarrelled over their powers, and Cromwell dissolved them. 15. What exactly were Cromwells powers from 1654-58? Why did he fail to establish a permanent republican government? Cromwell was head of the State, and his rule rested on the army. He was a true military dictator. He was to rule England for the next six years, and this experiment is of interest because it shows the typical successes and failures of such system. His repressions made him unpopular, and yet he was bound to refuse liberty to his opponents. He crushed Ireland and forced her into submission. Establishing a Republican Government failed because of: Parliament was not representative of the country for elections not free, and large body of Royalists not represented. Parliament consisted of intolerant persons who wished to persecute other forms of religion, and this Cromwell and the army would not allow. The army hence could not agree with either of the other parties of the State. The Instrument of Government and Humble Petition are written constitutions and show the difficulties of setting powers of the two Houses. 16. State the main facts of Oliver Cromwells dealings with a) the Irish, and b) the Scots. Cromwell and his supporters opposed to Scotland wish to force England to become Presbyterian and offered to Charles I to maintain episcopacy in England; but Charles chose Scots alliance, so in 1648 Scots invaded England on Charless behalf. Cromwell defeated them at Wigan, at Warrington, and at Preston. Entered Scotland and put Argyll in power. When Charles I died Scotland supported Charles II, who promised to set up Presbyterian in England. Cromwell invaded Scotland, and won battle of Dunbar. Scots forced to make peace and accept General as Governor. In 1649 Irish supported Charles I. Cromwell went over and took Drogheda and Wexford. Showed great cruelty and put Drogheda garrison to death. The English confiscated land and settlement. Catholic religion suppressed as far as open worship concerned. Cromwells policy in Ireland is in opposition to his usual toleration. He believed Ireland would supply armed forces for the Stuarts and that severity would check this. He failed and his policy inflicted great suffering and ruin in Ireland. Population fell by over one-third in this period. 18. Describe the main events of the three Anglo- Dutch wars of the seventeenth century The first Dutch war in 1652 was to secure commercial advantages a collision between the Dutch and English fleets near Dover was the beginning of the war and Cromwell was in charge of the battle. During the second and the third Dutch war Charles II made an alliance with France, which gain advantages as France had no fleet equal to the war.
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19. Both Charles I and Cromwell found it impossible to govern with Parliaments. Why? It was impossible for Charles I and Cromwell to govern with Parliaments because these ones pretended to abolish the arbitrary power of the Crown, and the squire brought by the Parliament attacked the misgovernment of the King, and summed up his political creed by declaring that the powers of Parliament are to the body politic as the rational faculties of the soul to a man. 20. Was Charles IIs foreign policy advantageous to England? The second foreign policy wasnt advantageous to England because Charles gave up Tangier in order to please Louis XIV, and the French ambassador was the chief supporter of a disastrous policy. Louis XIVs powers and ambitions were extending, and when the revolution of 1688 came, his ascendancy was threatening all Europe. 21. What were the causes and results of the English naval wars with the Dutch? The cause of the naval war was that the Dutch had shut the English out from trade in the East Indies. An informal sort of war was going on between the English and French sea, and England Claimed to seize French goods on Dutch ships, a claim which the Dutch resisted. Finally there was a question of honour, the English men-of-war in the Channel, and the Dutch were naturally averse to recognizing such a right. The English ships were able to inflict great damage upon Hollands extensive commerce. In the course of the war no less than one hundred and twenty men-of-war and towards its close no Dutch merchantman could show itself in the Channel. The result of this was the important commercial concessions that gave to England. 22. Give a brief history of religious affairs during the reign of Charles II Charles II was at heart a Catholic, but he was too prudent to declare himself. Charles had made four promises in his Declaration signed at Brenda before his return to England, the performance of these promises, however, being conditional upon the consent of Parliament. The promise of liberty of conscience. Charles had tried to effect a compromise through a conference between leading ecclesiastics; but the attempt was a failure, and it was left to a new Parliament to deal with the question. On the religious question the Cavalier Parliament proved itself to be more Anglican than even the ordinary High Churchman, and between 1661 four Acts were passed against the Puritans, and a time of persecution set in. By the first of these Acts, the Corporation Act, no one could be a member of the municipal bodies which governed the towns and controlled the election of Members of Parliament unless he took an oath denying the lawfulness, under any pretext whatever, of taking up arms against the king, and received the Communion according to the rites of the Church of England. This Act sought to deprive the Puritans of their hold upon the towns and the House of Commons. By the Act of Uniformity every clergyman and schoolmaster was obliged to take a similar oath of non-resistance and declare his unfeigned consent and assent to everything contained in the Book of Common Prayer, in which six hundred alterations had just been made, of a trivial character mostly, it is true, but in the anti-Puritan direction. No less than two thousand clergymen refused to conform to this Act, and were deprived of their livings. By the Conventicle Act religious meetings were forbidden, under penalty of imprisonment for the first, and transportation for the third, offence. These Acts helped to complete the severance between the Church of England and the more advanced Puritans. They are sometimes known as the Clarendon Code. Lord Clarendon was impeached by Parliament, and retired into exile because the whole nation held him responsible for the appearance of the Dutch fleet up the Thames.
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23. What were Charles IIs principal aims and how far was he successful in achieving them? Charles tried first to secure French and help to make him independent of Parliament. Tried to get toleration for Roman Catholics-by the Declaration of Indulgence suspending the laws against Catholics and Dissenters. Parliament would not agree, and passed Test Act instead, obliging all holders of office to be communicants of Church of England. He sought to rule himself without the Parliament and looked for Frances money, he made this to happen 24. Describe social life in town and country in the latter part of seventeenth century. During the 17th century England became steadily richer. Trade and commerce grew and grew. By the late 17th century trade was an increasingly important part of the English economy. Meanwhile industries such as glass, brick making, iron and coal mining expanded rapidly. The status of merchants improved. People saw that trade was an increasingly important part of the country's wealth so merchants became more respected. However political power and influence was held by rich landowners. At the top of English society were the nobility. Below them were the gentry. Gentlemen were not quite rich but they were certainly well off. Below them were yeomen, farmers who owned their own land. Yeomen were comfortably off but they often worked alongside their men. Gentlemen did not do manual work! Below them came the mass of the population, craftsmen, tenant farmers and labourers. At the end of the 17th century a writer estimated that half the population could afford to eat meat every day. In other words about 50% of the people were wealthy of at least reasonably well off. Below them about 30% of the population could afford to eat meat between 2 and 6 times a week. They were 'poor'. The bottom 20% could only eat meat once a week. They were very poor. At least part of the time they had to rely on poor relief. By an act of 1601 overseers of the poor were appointed by each parish. They had power to force people to pay a local tax to help the poor. Those who could not work such as the old and the disabled would be provided for. The overseers were meant to provide work for the able-bodied poor. Anyone who refused to work was whipped and, after 1610, they could be placed in a house of correction. Pauper's children were sent to local employers to be apprentices. In many towns wealthy people left money in their wills to provide almshouses where the poor could live. 25. The Revolution of 1688 was as important an event in European as in English history. Discuss The Glorious Revolution of 1688-1689 replaced the reigning king, James II, with the joint monarchy of his protestant daughter Mary and her Dutch husband, William of Orange. It was the keystone of the Whig (those opposed to a Catholic succession) history of Britain. According to the Whig account, the events of the revolution were bloodless and the revolution settlement established the supremacy of parliament over the crown, setting Britain on the path towards constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. This is way was an important event in English history. 26. Explain why Charles II succeeded in retaining his throne, and why James II lost it. James II was forced to flee his kingdom after less than four years on the throne in the face of a foreign invasion and desertions among his own military and civilian population. Yet Charles II, despite the fact that his regime seemed in serious trouble by the late 1670s, managed to end his reign peacefully in his bed, having maneuvered himself out of crisis with a skill and adroitness not typically associated with Stuart rulers, and having significantly reinvigorated the powers of the monarchy in the process. It was a remarkable achievement, though one that came at enormous human cost. 27. Why and how did James II unite the most important sections of the English Nation against himself?
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Scotland and England joined against James II because he tried to remove the laws which stopped Catholics from taking positions in government and Parliament. He also tried to bring back the Catholic Church, and allow it to exist beside the Anglican Church. James almost certainly believed sincerely that this would result in many returning to the Catholic Church. 28. Charles II and James II both wished to rule as absolute monarchs. Explain: a) the means adopted by each for this purpose, and b) why Charles II succeeded and James II failed. Charles II succeeded to rule as an absolute monarch because he got rid of the Parliament, he got more power and he could go to war whenever he wanted. But James II couldnt succeed in it because he wanted to have a strong Parliament and he couldnt take all the decisions. 29. Describe the growth of the party system under Charles II. After the English Civil War had established a protectorate in place of a monarchy under New Model Army leader Oliver Cromwell, a period known as the Restoration began. During this time King Charles II (the son of the previously executed Charles I) was restored to the throne but was under specific limits placed upon by parliament. The Bill of Rights was enacted in 1689, and certain privileges were protected from intrusion by any power including the monarchy. When the heir to the throne, James Duke of York was discovered to be a Catholic a rift among parliamentarians arose on the issue of support for the Catholic king. The people who wished to exclude James from the throne came to be known as Whigs, and the people who gave support were known as Tories, or the Tory party. Both names inherently have negative connotations: 'Whig' means a horse driver in Scottish Gaelic, and 'Tory' means outlaw in the Irish Gaelic language. This schism during the Exclusion Bill Crisis served as the starting point of the formation of political parties in England. Although the bill was ultimately defeated in the House of Lords in 1681, the division of the two political tendencies remained. It should be noted, however, that real party distinctions did not clarify until a later time. The terms of 'Whig' and 'Tory' were used more as tendencies to support an opinion in policy: rigid blocks of political coordination were yet to be constructed. The Tories came to represent and support the Anglican Church, the gentry, and the maintenance of a relatively strong monarchy. On the other hand, the Whigs supported non-Anglicans (notably Presbyterians), wealthy middle class people, and later industrial, mercantile interests. People following the tendencies of Whigs were also generally supportive of the supremacy in parliament's power to govern, while the authority of the monarchy was to be largely decreased. Although the main issue regarding the Exclusion Bill Crisis was the religious affiliation of James II, it is possible that the Whigs desired a notable decrease in the monarchy's authority by discontinuing the hereditary custom of passing the throne. The Tories wished the opposite of the Whigs' plans. During the Glorious Revolution (1688-89) the two Whig and Tory parties cooperated in discontinuing the Stuart dynasty and seating William III of Orange on the throne of England, Scotland, and Ireland. It was during this period that the two parties, although their differences were ameliorated to an extent, moved forward another step in fomenting their respective party identities. The idea of a limited constitutional monarchy was generally accepted by people of both parties, in contrast to the absolutism of a king held by divine right. 'Toryism' became identified with Anglicanism and the regional squires, while 'Whiggism' came to represent the wealthy middle class and aristocracy. Until around 1714, political power was contested by both Whigs and Tories, when monarchs favored one political tendency over another such as the case of Queen Anne's initial preference to the Tory party. A group of Whigs known as the Junto Whigs increasingly dominated politics until Queen Anne dismissed the Whig Ministry and replaced them with Tories in 1710.