Stuart England - James I, Charles I & the English Civil War
Summary
TLDRThis lecture delves into the Stuart reign in England, beginning with James I's belief in the divine right of kings and his conflict with Parliament over taxation and religious issues, including the rise of Puritanism. James I's son, Charles I, continued these policies, leading to the English Civil War in 1642. Oliver Cromwell emerged as a military and political leader, executing Charles I and establishing a Puritan republic. Cromwell's strict moral codes and controversial policies in Ireland and Scotland eventually led to the restoration of the monarchy with Charles II.
Takeaways
- 😀 The Stuarts came to power in England after Queen Elizabeth I's death in 1603, with James I, son of Mary Queen of Scots, becoming king.
- 👑 James I was a strong believer in the divine right of kings and was not inclined to work with Parliament, particularly on matters of taxation.
- 💼 To raise funds without Parliament's approval, James I levied new customs duties known as 'impositions'.
- 📖 James I published the King James Bible in 1611, a well-studied and translated version that helped appease the masses.
- 👦 Charles I, James' son, was also a believer in the divine right of kings and continued to levy impositions, including 'ship money', to fund wars and court life.
- 🏛 Charles I faced opposition from Parliament, who demanded reforms and the signing of the Petition of Rights, asserting that the king was subject to the law.
- 🤝 Charles I's refusal to work with Parliament and his policies led to tensions and eventually the outbreak of the English Civil War in 1642.
- ⚔️ The Civil War saw the formation of the 'Roundheads', led by Oliver Cromwell, who created a new and effective army that eventually defeated the 'Cavaliers', supporters of Charles I.
- 🏛️ The conflict between moderates and radicals in Parliament after the Civil War led to Charles I's trial and execution in 1649, marking the end of the monarchy for a time.
- 🕊️ The period of the Commonwealth under Cromwell saw strict Puritan rule, including the banning of sports, theater, dancing, and Christmas celebrations.
- 🌐 Cromwell's policies towards Ireland and Scotland were harsh, leading to significant depopulation and unrest in both regions.
Q & A
Who came to the throne after Queen Elizabeth I's death in 1603?
-James I, the son of Mary, Queen of Scots, and the King of Scotland, succeeded to the throne after Queen Elizabeth I's death.
What was James I's view on the divine right of kings?
-James I was a strong believer in the divine right of kings, asserting that the monarch's authority came directly from God and was not to be questioned by parliament or the people.
How did James I attempt to raise funds without parliament's approval?
-James I raised funds by levying new customs duties known as 'impositions', which was a way of circumventing the need for parliamentary approval for taxation.
What religious group was growing in numbers under James I and Elizabeth I?
-The Puritans, a Calvinist group, were growing in numbers during the reigns of both Elizabeth I and James I.
Why did the Puritans want changes to the Anglican Church?
-The Puritans wanted the Anglican Church to adopt more Calvinist doctrines, reflecting their own religious beliefs and practices.
What significant religious controversy did Charles I cause by marrying a Catholic?
-Charles I's marriage to the Catholic Henrietta Maria, the sister of King Louis XIII of France, was highly controversial and fueled fears of a Catholic revival in England.
What was the Petition of Rights and what did it demand from the king?
-The Petition of Rights was a document presented to Charles I by Parliament, demanding that the king be subject to the law, could not levy taxes without parliamentary approval, impose forced loans, declare martial law in peacetime, imprison citizens without trial, or quarter troops in private homes.
Why did the English Civil War break out in 1642?
-The English Civil War broke out in 1642 due to escalating tensions between the king and Parliament over issues such as taxation, religious reforms, and the king's perceived disregard for the law and parliamentary authority.
Who was Oliver Cromwell and what role did he play in the English Civil War?
-Oliver Cromwell was a farmer and a member of Parliament who rose to prominence during the English Civil War. He formed the New Model Army, which played a crucial role in defeating the Royalists at the Battle of Naseby and other engagements.
What was the outcome of Charles I's trial and what did it signify for the monarchy?
-Charles I was found guilty of treason by the Rump Parliament and was beheaded in 1649. This event marked the end of the monarchy and the beginning of a republic in England, albeit a short-lived one.
How did Oliver Cromwell's rule impact the cultural and religious life in England?
-Cromwell's rule, influenced by Puritan beliefs, imposed strict moral codes and regulations on the people of England. He banned sports, theater, dancing, and even the celebration of Christmas, which greatly alienated many English people.
What was the Act of Settlement 1652 and what were its consequences?
-The Act of Settlement was a law passed by Cromwell that redistributed the lands of two-thirds of the Catholic property owners in Ireland to Protestant English colonists. This led to significant suffering and the death of approximately 15-20% of the Irish population.
Why did the English people eventually call for the return of the monarchy?
-After Cromwell's death, his son Richard proved to be an ineffective ruler, and the republican government struggled to address the nation's needs. This led to a desire for stability and the restoration of the monarchy, which occurred with the return of King Charles II.
Outlines
👑 The Stuart Reign and Divine Right of Kings
The video script discusses the beginning of the Stuart dynasty in England, starting with James I's ascension to the throne after Queen Elizabeth I's death in 1603. James I's belief in the divine right of kings and his strained relationship with Parliament are highlighted. His approach to raising funds without parliamentary approval through impositions is critiqued. Additionally, the script touches on the religious conflicts during his reign, especially the growing Puritan movement and its influence on the gentry, and James I's unsuccessful attempts to appease them. The publication of the King James Bible in 1611 is noted as a significant event that helped to mitigate public resentment. The script also introduces Charles I, James' son, who shared his father's beliefs and faced similar challenges, including the Petition of Rights and the growing tension with Parliament that eventually led to the English Civil War.
🛡 The English Civil War and the Rise of Oliver Cromwell
This paragraph delves into the English Civil War that erupted in 1642, triggered by the escalating tensions between King Charles I and Parliament over issues such as taxation and religious reforms. The script outlines the formation of opposing factions: the Royalists (Cavaliers) and the Parliamentarians (Roundheads), with distinct regional and social affiliations. It details the military and political rise of Oliver Cromwell, a previously obscure figure, who created the New Model Army that eventually defeated the Cavaliers. The script also covers the trial and execution of Charles I, the subsequent establishment of a republic, and the internal divisions within Parliament that led to the rise of Cromwell as a de facto dictator, implementing strict Puritan policies that significantly impacted English society.
🏛 Cromwell's Rule and the Restoration of the Monarchy
The final paragraph of the script describes Cromwell's rule in England, characterized by strict Puritan legislation that banned sports, theater, dancing, and even Christmas celebrations. It also touches on Cromwell's policies towards Ireland and Scotland, which led to significant population decline and unrest. The script mentions Cromwell's allowance of Jewish people to settle in England in 1655, which, despite being a step towards religious tolerance, was overshadowed by the negative consequences of his other policies. The paragraph concludes with the eventual unpopularity of Cromwell's rule due to the suppression of cultural activities and the call for the return of the monarchy after Cromwell's death in 1658, leading to the Restoration and the ascension of King Charles II.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Absolutism
💡Stuart Reign
💡Divine Right of Kings
💡Parliament
💡Puritans
💡Petition of Rights
💡Ship Money
💡English Civil War
💡Oliver Cromwell
💡Rump Parliament
💡Commonwealth
Highlights
The Stuarts came to power in England after the death of Queen Elizabeth I in 1603, with James I ascending the throne.
James I's belief in the divine right of kings and his reluctance to work with Parliament on matters like taxation strained relations.
James I introduced new customs duties known as impositions to raise funds without Parliamentary approval.
Religious conflict arose under James I, with the growing Puritan movement and his refusal to reform the Anglican Church.
James I's actions, such as making peace with Catholic Spain and relaxing penal laws against Catholics, angered the Puritans.
The King James Bible, published in 1611, was a strategic move by James I to appease the masses and mitigate resentment.
Charles I, like his father, held a strong belief in the divine right of kings and continued to levy impositions.
Charles I's reign saw a lack of cooperation with Parliament, leading to tensions and the eventual Petition of Rights.
Parliament's demands for the Petition of Rights were rejected by Charles I, who continued to impose taxes unilaterally.
The collection of ship money by Charles I, a tax on coastal towns for naval defense, caused further controversy.
Charles I's marriage to a Catholic and his stance on religion fueled fears of a Catholic revival in England.
The 1640s saw escalating tensions between the monarchy and Parliament, culminating in the outbreak of the English Civil War in 1642.
Oliver Cromwell's rise to prominence and the formation of the New Model Army were pivotal in the defeat of the Royalists.
The execution of Charles I in 1649 marked a significant shift in English governance, with the establishment of a republic.
Oliver Cromwell's rule as Lord Protector introduced strict Puritan laws, impacting social life and religious practices.
Cromwell's policies in Ireland and Scotland led to significant conflict and population decline.
The unpopularity of Cromwell's rule and the ineffectiveness of his son Richard's leadership led to the Restoration of the monarchy.
Transcripts
hello and welcome to the continuation of
our lecture series on the age of
absolutism in europe
today we're going to chart on off to
england and cover the beginning
of the stuart reign here at learning the
social sciences
[Music]
the stewards came to the throne after
the death of queen elizabeth the first
in 1603 she died without an
heir and so james the first the son of
mary queen
of scots also the king of scotland
came to the throne now he was somebody
who quickly
alienated a parliament that was grown
accustomed to working
with the tudor monarchs for him he was a
strong believer in the divine right of
kings
and he was not one who wanted to go
and dabble around with parliament when
it came to taxes
for example a speech that he gave to the
house of commons he stated
i am surprised that my ancestors should
ever be permitted such an institution to
come into existence
i am a stranger and found it here when i
arrived so that i am obliged to put
up with what i cannot get rid of
of course right there he is saying
loudly
that he is not one that wants to work
with parliament
however parliament is in charge of
taxation so what is he going to do when
he wants to
raise taxes well for him he would go and
levy
new customs duties known as impositions
to raise money
in other words he's changing up the
vocabulary and kind of changing the
system a little bit
to raise some money now this is going to
be causing
obviously some issues on top of the
issue of taxation he also has
a rising religious conflict of bruin
so the puritans who started under
elizabeth the first
as a calvinist group is growing in
numbers
in fact a whole bunch of gentry very
wealthy landlords that landowners that
are just
a not below the nobility
are converting to puritanism and they
want to see some changes to the anglican
church
however james the first is not going to
do it
he is also going to cause issues with
the puritans when he made
peace with catholic spain and when he
relaxed penal laws against the catholic
finally they really became angered when
he did not support
any of the protestants on the continent
during the 30 years war
and so with the stewards they're already
kind of gaining
up some enemies or at least some
conspiracy theories
within england however james the first
is able to kind of see
the storm of brewing and he is one to go
and appease the people he has the king
james bible published in 1611
and he gives it to the masses so they
have a well studied
and translated version of the bible
of course it does contain a lot of these
and vows but for the time period the
people are very
happy to have that and he is able to
kind of squash any of that
big resentment movement from gaining
hold
however his son charles the first is not
going to be as politically savvy as
his father he is also going to be seen
as rather
inflexible and he really just had to
learn
at least one point of his life to say
i'm sorry but he never does
charles the first started to reign in
1625 and he is also a believer in the
divine right of kings
he also fathers it follows his father's
footsteps
by funding his wars with spain
and his court life by levying terrorist
duties and those
impositions he is not one that wants to
work with parliament
however he does call them from time to
time just to see
if he can actually get some taxes
through and
what i'm saying from time to time it
comes later in his
reign because for 10 years he never
called parliament once
however whenever he does call parliament
they want him to sign the petition
of rights with this they are saying that
the king was subject to the law and he
could not levy taxes without the
approval of parliament
he could not impose forced loans loans
on his subjects
and he could not declare martial law in
peacetime when he would imprison
citizens they have to have a trial
and they also put in there that he could
not quarter troops
in private homes now of course whenever
parliament came to charles with the
petition of rights
he went and well disbanded them
and sent them home instead he went on
and continued to collect those
impositions and he collected something
called ship money
a tax on coastal towns to pay for their
defense
i guess it kind of sounds a little
mafia-esque but he would kind of say hey
coastal cities
if you want to ensure that there's no
pirate ships outside your harbor
give us some money and we'll make sure
that the royal navy protects
your harbor not really the nicest thing
but it was something that happened he
caused controversy when he went and
married the catholic sister of francis
king
louis xiii and it was so controversial
that he actually sent
over uh somebody to stand in for him
for the actual catholic wedding in
france
uh which is probably not the best thing
if you are the future
queen of england to get married to a
stand-in
however it's what kind of needed to have
happen of course the puritans just like
under james the first are pushing
to have some changes happen to the
anglican doctrine
and to make it more calvinist but
charles is not budging on that
either and so there are some people that
are fearing a catholic revival
just like they did under james the first
now in terms of parliament we are having
a lot of tensions grow
in the 1640s so much so that we are
going to actually have a civil war
breakout in 1642.
in 1640 the king desperately needed
money and so he
called parliament into session in april
and it only lasts three weeks before he
dissolved them because they demanded
reforms
in august he calls them back for what is
known as long parliament
however with this the same thing happens
and
nothing gets really done and the king
just kind of says nope not gonna do it
now in the summer of 1642 charles went
to go have
the leaders of parliament arrested for
not
doing the course of government now
during this though they were able to
escape
and they went off and formed their own
army
the round heads and so war broke out
between the royalists the supporters of
charles the first known as the cavaliers
and the parliamentarians or those round
heads named after the shape of their
metal helmets
so the royalists predominantly were
backed by the house of lords
and the aristocracy or the large land
owners
also the church officials usually backed
up charles the first and when i'm saying
church officials i'm saying anglican
church officials
also predominantly for the population
the rural population were following the
royalists or the cavaliers
and they were predominantly found in the
north and west of england
in terms of those parliamentarians their
backers were
mainly from the south and the east of
england and we're puritans
we also have merchants and town people
and a more urban population
following and supporting them now of
course there's going to be numerous
battles that happen throughout this war
in the beginning it seems like yes it is
going to be charles victory
but the parliamentarians have a good
streak
where they are winning oliver cromwell
a farmer that no one knew prior to the
war uh that had done some time in
parliament
but really had not been a standout
created a new
effective army called the new model army
and with this he was able to defeat the
cavaliers
at the battle of nasbi and other battles
and eventually long story short they
were able to take the king
prisoner after a little kind of mix-up
there by the king with scotland
now as the civil war drew to an end
parliament became divided between
moderates and radicals and what should
happen to charles the first and his role
with the government
cromwell and others wanted to see an end
to the monarchy and with that
we are going to have charles put on
trial
now can a king actually commit treason
against the king huh or is it that a
king could actually commit treason
against
his country well for that
we have something called rump parliament
happen a man by the name of colonel
thomas pride went
in and executed 96 moderates
from the house of commons to be able to
sway the votes
to have a guilty verdict be called now
charles throughout the trial maybe would
have been able to save himself if he
kind of said i'm sorry
and actually worked with parliament but
he is one that stood by
well what he thought was right and so
he was found guilty and was beheaded
in january of 1649
and with that we then have a new system
coming into play in england
for a period of time we have the
government being run
as a republic but they're not really
effective
at pushing through the needed items that
need to be dealt with
and so oliver cromwell eventually comes
to
rule england much like a dictator
now with this he goes and passes
various pieces of legislation that are
very puritan
for example no more sports no more
theater
no more dancing and definitely no
christmas no christmas what why no
christmas
well there is no talk about the
celebration of christmas
in the bible yes we have christmas
happening in the bible with the birth of
jesus but we don't have this like every
year celebration
for this and so christmas is cancelled
don't practice that don't do that now
after the civil war
we have a obvious depopulation of some
skilled
individuals and so oliver cromwell does
actually open england
up to allowing jewish people to come in
in
1655. now that could be seen as
something like a
wow great move tour towards religious
tolerance
however we then have a lot of issues
with oliver cromwell
with scotland and with ireland
in 1649 carmel invaded ireland to put
down an irish uprising that had
favored royalist forces in england he
then passes the act of settlement in
1652 where the land from two-thirds of
the catholic property owners was given
to protestant english colonists
this is going to cause a lot of problems
within
ireland and we are going to have around
15 to 20 percent of the irish population
perish under cromwell's policies it
is going to be brutal in
ireland he also goes in and causes a lot
of problems
in scotland from 1651 to 1652 he moved
on in and conquered scotland
now the scots do have a continued strong
support of presbyterians in
england and with that he can't push and
have as much happen in scotland as he
did
in ireland however things are also just
not necessarily the greatest there
now in terms of puritan society the
puritan controlled the government
and sought to regulate the moral life of
england by commanding
that people follow strict moral codes
that were enforced by the army
this seriously alienated though many of
the english people from crownwall's rule
remember elizabethan theater is huge and
now you can't do it
you can't go and play sports you can't
even celebrate
christmas what and so when chris
when carmel died in 1658 and it seemed
that his son richard did not
want to rule and was also going to be an
ineffective ruler
the people of england called for the
monarchs to return and we are going to
have the restoration
with king charles ii happening however
that will be for our next
lecture if you have any questions or
comments please leave them down below
and thank you very much for listening
bye bye
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