OCR Civil War revision: Why did civil war break out?

Laud

• Refused role of Cardinal in 1633 saying "not with Rome as it is"
• Introduced prayer book in England 1634
• Introduced prayer book in Scotland 1637 --> Scottish National Covenant and invasion of England (Bishop's wars)

Henrietta Maria

• Had Catholic advisers e.g. Finch and Windibank with access to Charles
• Parliament tried to impeach her --> Fiver Members Coup 1642
• Came from France where they believed in a more autocratic monarchy

Root and Branch Petition

• A failed petition from 1642 which would ban Bishops and create a Presbytarian Church system

Bishops Wars

• Charles' Bishop's War with the Scots over the Prayer book made the Protestants look like victims of Catholic tyranny in 1639

Parliament

• Attacked machinery of Personal Rule in the first session of the Long Parliament 1640 (eg Star Chamber and Chamber of High Commision)
• Destroyed the King's methods of collecting tax (Ship Tax, Forest Fines etc) in 1640
• Triennial Act in Spring 1641 and Act of Perpetual Parliament in May 1641 demanded that Parliament should be held every three years - showed fear of anothing 'reign of tyranny'
• 10 Propositions of 1641 took away some of the King's power
• 19 Propositions of 1642 proposed that King should give up control of the armed forces

King

• Did rule without Parliament for 11 years in Personal Rule (1629 - 1640)
• Tried to put Thomas Lunsford in charge of Tower of London in 1641 which suggested to Parliament that he was about to stage a coup
• Staged Five Members Coup in January 1642 which alienated any support that Charles did have within Parliament

Character

• Belief in the Divine Right of Kings
• Closed down Short Parliament when they challenged his authority in 1640 by demanding that their 'grievances' should be dealt with before they would give Charles money
• Attempted 5 member coup in January 1642 as a response to rumours about Parliament impeaching Henrietta Maria
• Refused to accept 19 propositions of 1642 and instead raised his standard at Nottingham in August 1642, thus starting the civil war

BUT

• He did accept restrictions on machinery of personal rule at the start of Long Parliament in 1640
• He was prepared to sacrifice Strafford to appease Parliament in May 1641
• Accepted Triennial Act in Spring 1641

Personal Debt

• Had a personal debt of £1 million so had to rely on Parliament

Calling of Parliament

• Had to pay Scots £850 per day after Treaty of Ripon so was forced to call Short Parliament in 1640
• Was forced to call Long Parliament in 1641 to pay for First Bishop's War
• King couldn't afford a professional army so was forced to rely on Munster system

Army

• Couldn't afford a professional army so had to rely on Munster system leading to the loss of the Bishop's Wars
• Wasn't allowed to choose his how commander to fight the Irish Rebellion as Parliament was funding it