The Civil War History of the Constitution of the United Kingdom

1 civil war

1.1 charles , civil war
1.2 oliver cromwell , commonwealth
1.3 richard cromwell , charles ii

the civil war
charles , civil war

james succeeded son became charles in 1625. charles believed in divine right of kings, father, , continued fight parliament.

parliament s main power @ time control of taxes. parliament demanded more power on taxes. traditionally, parliament had voted @ beginning of king s reign on amount allowed king s tonnage , poundage, customs duties (taxes on imported goods wool , wine) made large portion of king s annual income. parliament wanted re-evaluate these taxes annually, give more control on king. james resisted abrogation of divine right , dealt situation dissolving parliament. charles did same @ first , later ignored annual evaluations.

charles acquired of money forced loans rich. received lot of money through taxes. 1 important tax charles collected ship money tax required counties bordering sea fund navy protect english coastline. coastal counties unhappy since charles collecting ship money tax during time of peace , since wasn t using fund navy. more money, charles placed ship money tax on interior counties - angered english people, because charles creating new taxes without consent of parliament (which against (unwritten) law). london mp named john hampden refused pay new, interior ship money tax, tried crime charles , convicted vote of 7 5. meant 5 of 12 jurors against king, did not or bode charles i.

but charles @ war france , spain, , war costing lot of money; forced call upon parliament (1629) raise new taxes him. parliament not grant charles new taxes (more money) until had signed petition of rights established conditions in charles had submit law of parliament:

the king not establish martial law in england during times of peace.
the king not levy taxes without consent of parliament.
the king not arbitrarily imprison people.
the king not quarter soldiers in private homes.

after charles got taxes parliament (1629), dissolved parliament , broke tenets of petition of rights which, under divine right theory, considered void.

william laud , thomas wentworth appointed fill void duke of buckingham left.

on top of wars england had france , spain (both caused duke of buckingham), charles , william laud (the archbishop of canterbury) began war scotland in attempt convert scotland church of england (the anglican church). called bishops war (1639–1640) , had 2 major parts: first bishops war (1639) ended in truce. second bishops war, following year, began scottish invasion of england in scottish defeated english , remained stationed in england until issues solved. scottish out, charles signed treaty of ripon (1640), required england pay indemnity of £850 each day scottish stationed in england.

during second part of bishops war, charles had run low on money (since fighting france , spain), forced call parliament make new taxes. , parliament not agree on anything, after 3 weeks, charles dissolved parliament. desperately needed new taxes, charles called parliament again , him if agreed terms, made charles constitutional monarch. called long parliament (1640–1660), because not officially dissolved own vote until 1660.

these terms were:

that charles had impeach thomas wentworth , william laud. reluctantly placed them under arrest , put them in tower, executing wentworth in 1641 (for charles never forgave himself since close thomas wentworth) , william laud in 1645.
charles had agree triennial act (1641), required parliament meet every 3 years or without king s consent.
charles had abolish court of star chamber, royal court controlled charles in prosecutor judge (which pretty guaranteed guilty verdict defendant) , intended used implement of king legally judicial façade. considered extralegal court. dealt odd cases , punishments.
charles had abolish high court, same court of star chamber, though dealt religious heresy. considered extralegal court.
charles had accept grand remonstrance , allow circulation of copies, , document outlined (hyperbolically) crimes officials had accused charles of committing since beginning of reign. charles never of crimes again.
charles i, importantly, had agree never dissolve parliament without consent of parliament.

most of england believed parliament had done enough curb power of king charles i, radicals in parliament (the extremist puritans) , radicals around country (again, extremist puritans) wanted reform church of england getting rid of bishops (and other things semblance of catholicism) , establishing puritans method of worship standard. caused political division in parliament, charles took advantage of it. sent 500 soldiers house of commons arrest 5 of puritans ringleaders (john hampden included). 5 ringleaders had been tipped off, had left parliament , charles left shame storming parliament.

king charles left london , went oxford, , english civil war began (1642). north , west of england on charles s side (along of nobles , country gentry). known cavaliers. charles created army illegally (since needed parliament s consent).

the south , east of england on parliament s side , known roundheads, haircuts. in response charles raising army, did well. yet, didn t have military might king charles (and nobles) had, solicited of scottish solemn league , covenant promised impose presbyterian religion on church of england. called army new model army , made commander oliver cromwell, member of parliament. new model army composed of presbyterians.

oliver cromwell , commonwealth

though parliament won, clear scots not going uphold solemn league , covenant imposing presbyterianism on england (puritanism wasn t quite presbyterian), new model army, parliament , scots began falling apart. scots paid , sent scotland.

the presbyterian roundheads interested in freedom practice religion , not in making presbyterian religion state religion.

cromwell proposed parliament reinstate bishops of church of england , king charles constitutional monarch, allow toleration of other religions. though @ end of war, people of england accept charles in office not religious toleration. wanted new model army dissolved since provocative factor. parliament disallowed religious toleration , voted disband new model army, new model army refused order.

charles made same deal roundheads had made scottish , parliamentary presbyterians. solicited of scotland (and presbyterians) , in return promised impose presbyterianism on england. new model army not allow deal made (because give charles military power once more). new civil war broke out in 1648.

this time, scotland, parliamentary presbyterians , royalists on side of charles i. new model army , rest of parliament against him.

in battle of preston (1648) cromwell , new model army defeated charles i.

then 1 of cromwell s officers, colonel pride, destroyed presbyterian majority in parliament driving out of parliament 143 presbyterians of 203 (leaving behind 60). new parliament constituted rump parliament, parliament in minority (presbyterians) carried on in name of majority kicked out. rump parliament:

abolished monarchy , house of lords in parliament (it executed charles after publicly trying him crimes).
created republic called commonwealth dictatorship run cromwell.

scotland against cromwell s commonwealth (republic) , declared charles s son king @ edinburgh king charles ii, cromwell , new model army defeated him (1650) , fled france stayed until 1660.

cromwell went ireland govern it, disgusted catholics, massacred many of them (in battle) , irish rebelled against him well.

cromwell dissolved rump parliament , declared himself lord protector (dictator).

richard cromwell , charles ii

cromwell died (1658) , succeeded son richard cromwell, tried keep power militarily , absolutely, incapable of unifying of diverse groups (religious , ethnic). general george monk came down scotland , overthrew richard. invited remnants of long parliament (the rump parliament) reconvene. long parliament met , officially ended (in 1660, after being open since 1640) when voted dissolve , create new parliament. new parliament began restoration (of monarchy) choosing charles s son charles ii king of england.