The First Civil War (Chapter 10)

Front 1

What event was the start of the British Civil Wars?

Back 1

The Scottish Rebellion of 1637, as it led to a reaction in England and Ireland that led to civil wars in those two kingdoms in 1641 and 1642.

Front 2

What forced Charles to sign the Treaty of Ripon?

Back 2

After a swift military defeat by the Covenanters during the Bishops' Wars meant Charles had to sign the Treaty in October 1640.

Front 3

What did the Covenanters strength mean for Charles' supporters?

Back 3

They were initially isolated and unable to undertake a significant military campaign.

Front 4

What was the Solemn League and Covenant?

Back 4

A military alliance formed in 1643 between the English Parliament and the Covenanters.

Front 5

Name one Scottish noble who supported Charles

Back 5

Earl of Montrose, who led Royalist forces north of the border against the Covenanters. His army won multiple victories between 1644-45 yet the little material gain saw the highlanders in Montrose's forces leave and return home.

Front 6

What ended Charles' military hopes in Scotland?

Back 6

A Covenanter army of 6000 troops returned from England and crushed Montrose's remaining forces at Philiphaugh in September 1645.

Front 7

What started civil war in Ireland?

Back 7

The outbreak of the Irish Rebellion in October 1641.

Front 8

Who formed a confederation in May 1642?

Back 8

Many of the Gaelic Irish and Old English. Their opponents were Protestans in Ulster and those around Dublin, commanded by the Earl of Ormond.

Front 9

What happened in April 1642?

Back 9

The Ulster Protestants were bolstered by the arrival of 10,000 Scottish troops financed by the English Parliament. By the end of 1643, they had extended Protestant control in the north but the Catholic confederation essentially held the rest of Ireland.

Front 10

What did Ormond sign in September 1643?

Back 10

Under orders from Charles, Ormond signed a cessation (one year truce) with the Catholic confederation. As a result, 22,000 Irish troops, both Catholic and Protestant, were transported to England between October 1643 and June 1644 to aid Charles' Royalist forces in the English Civil War.

Front 11

What was the impact of the Irish troops?

Back 11

They had little impact on Charles' war effort and proved counterproductive in seeming to reinforce parliamentary propaganda of his desire to impose Catholicism.

Front 12

What did these events provoke?

Back 12

Parliament signing the Solemn League and Covenant in September 1643.

Front 13

What did Ormond sign by March 1646?

Back 13

With little he could achieve, Ormond signed a peace treaty with the Confederates.

Front 14

Who was Roe O'Neill?

Back 14

Representative of the Gaelic Irish.

Front 15

What was the impact of Benburb?

Back 15

This further affected Charles' war in England as it made the Gaelic Irish less inclined to identify a common cause with the Royalists, effectively ending Charles' hopes of bringing more troops over from Ireland.

Front 16

List three key battles of the First Civil War in England

Back 16

-Indecisive Battle of Edgehill in October 1642

-Royalist defeat at Marston War in July 1644

-New Model Army defeats Royalists at Naseby in June 1645

Front 17

Describe key Royalist figures/alliances in the First Civil War

Back 17

-Charles & royal army: Few victories 1643, not coordinate, divided councils & Charles indecisive

-Council of War: effective administrator in early years

-Earl of Newcastle: not support London attack in November 1643

-Prince Rupert: joined Newcastle's force at Marston Moor

Front 18

Describe key Parliamentary figures/alliances in the First Civil War

Back 18

-London Trained Bands: defend London in November 1643; turning point

-Solemn League & Covenant: military, religious & political, aided army

-Committee of Both Kingdoms: managed war & finance, create & maintain NMA

-General Fairfax & northern forces: joined with Eastern Association & Scots at Marston Moor

Front 19

What was the impact of 1643 Royalist victories?

Back 19

None of these hampered Parliament's ability to fight the war.

Front 20

What was the largest Civil War battle?

Back 20

Marston Moor in July 1644. Parliament had a significant victory however, they did not take advantage of the win and suffered defeats a few months later.

Front 21

Who formed the New Model Army?

Back 21

Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell, as a result of the need to reorganise forces after military failures.

Front 22

What happened in June 1645?

Back 22

Royalist commanders were dismissive of the newly formed NMA and Charles chose to fight them at Naseby. Defeat destroyed Charles' military capabilities in England at exactly the same time as his position fell apart in Scotland and Ireland.

Front 23

What happened on 5th May?

Back 23

Charles surrendered to Scottish forces in the hope they would give him a better settlement than Parliament would. They handed him back to the English Parliament, which placed him under guarded house arrest.

Front 24

How did the First Civil War end?

Back 24

The surrender of the remaining Royalist forced at Oxford in June 1646.

Front 25

List Royalist strengths

Back 25

-Led by the recognised lawful leader

-More support from aristocracy (financial reserves & military experience)

-Focused strategic objective: to take London

-Military aid from abroad (Charles' nephews, Prince Rupert and Maurice)

Front 26

List Royalist weaknesses

Back 26

-Areas under Royalist control were poor

-Clubmen saw Royalist forces as more exploitative than the New Model Army

-Commissions of Array of dubious legality: some felt Royalist forces lacked legal weight

Front 27

How did administration contribute to Royalist military failures?

Back 27

The Royalist Council of War was initially effective, particularly in contrast to the tensions between parliamentary commanders and the Committee of Both Kingdoms. However, the Oxford Council suffered from its limited authority, with Royalist commanders basically being independent. Charles also set up a separate council at Bristol, which removed capable men.

Front 28

How did indecisiveness contribute to Royalist military failures?

Back 28

Following their initially promising start to the war, Charles and the Royalists proved strategically indecisive and also did not take advantage of the greater experience of Charles' generals nor the greater support from the aristocracy.

Front 29

How did generals contribute to Royalist military failures?

Back 29

Charles used influential local men, in the hope they would gather wider support. Their lack of commitment and limited military experience weakened the Royalist war effort, however, Charles appointed experienced men, notably Princes Rupert and Maurice. While this was a sound move militarily, it further provoked divisions in the Royalist councils.

Front 30

How did divisions contribute to Royalist military failures?

Back 30

Differing views led to incoherent policy because of the lack of Charles' leadership and his inability of select the best advice. For example, Hyde advised continuing attempts to settle with Parliament, whereas Henrietta Maria counselled war until total victory was achieved. Prince Rupert also opposed settlement until defeat at Naseby.

Front 31

How did Charles as military leader contribute to Royalist military failures?

Back 31

Charles was a poor leader. He made himself commander-in-chief. While this may have strengthened his position had be been able to provide strong leadership and bring his forces together, it meant he became more responsible for defeat. Though he did consult his Council of War, Charles did not seem to listen to the best advice.

Front 32

How did Charles' agreement with Catholics contribute to Royalist military failures?

Back 32

In September 1643, Charles signed a cessation with the Catholic rebels to bring troops over to England, but this proved ineffective. Charles' supporters were disturbed by his willingness to use Catholics in arms in England. Charles repeated this mistake by trying to negotiate a peace treaty with the rebels in 1645.

Front 33

How did reliance on foreign aid contribute to Royalist military failures?

Back 33

Charles' use of Rupert and Maurice left him open to attack. More seriously, Charles' captured correspondence showed he was communicating with the French and the Pope. This was great propaganda for Parliament as they published some of the letters in 'The King's Cabinet Opened.'

Front 34

Describe Parliament's military approach

Back 34

Parliament was more flexible and brutal in its response, enabling it to fight the war more effectively.

Front 35

How did war finance contribute to Parliamentary military victory?

Back 35

John Pym played a key role in Parliament's wartime administration. The executive was combined with the representative to develop methods for running the country without the king. This meant creating new structures, such as the Committee of Both Kingdoms and funding war efforts through the assessment in particular, which raised substantial money.

Front 36

What was the assessment?

Back 36

A direct tax on income used to raise money for parliamentary armies.

Front 37

How did John Pym and alliances contribute to Parliamentary military victory?

Back 37

Pym was vital to keeping Parliament together despite the fractions within it. He persuaded MPs to sign the Solemn League and Covenant, whereby the Scots sent 21,000 men to aid Parliament. Though the army proved to be disappointing, it forced Charles' northern army to remain stationary.

Front 38

How did local administration and communities contribute to Parliamentary military victory?

Back 38

Special committees were set up in each county; this led to employment of dedicated locals ad the removal the elite. Parliament managed to control areas that were rich compared to Royalist areas. Clubmen did pose some opposition, but they became more favourable to the NMA as it came closer to winning the war and through Fairfax's willingness to negotiate directly.

Front 39

How did control of the navy contribute to Parliamentary military victory?

Back 39

Parliament could supply its fore and strongholds, such as Hull and Plymouth, as well as hamper the supply of Royalist areas. It also prevented Charles receiving supplies and men from mainland Europe and Ireland.

Front 40

How did the New Model Army contribute to Parliamentary military victory?

Back 40

Regularly paid, professional soldiers who were strongly motivated by their Puritan belief ensured Parliament was never defeated in battle. This meant battle became a 'war of attrition' in which Parliament secured a stronger position.

Front 41

What was the impact of Naseby in 1645?

Back 41

Charles' defeat ended the king's hopes of winning the Civil War in England, but he was still king. The next three years indicate that Naseby did not mean the king was no longer a threat or that he could not overturn his military defeat.

Front 42

Describe the human cost of the First English Civil War

Back 42

Between 1643-45 roughly one in eight of the adult male population was in arms. By the end of the war, there were 190,000 deaths (3.7% of England's population), which is a higher percentage than either of the 20th century world was. 6 per cent of Scotland's population and 41 er cent of Ireland's population also died as a result of the wars.

Front 43

What was Charles I's position after the First Civil War?

Back 43

Although defeated militarily, as king, Charles was still regarded as essential to a lasting settlement. He sought to play upon the divisions among the key groups that had an interest in post-war settlement: the English Parliament, Scots and the New Model Army.

Front 44

Why was there division between the religiously radical New Model Army and the Presbyterian Scots?

Back 44

Despite working together to defeat Charles on the basis of the Solemn League and Covenant, army officers like Cromwell saw the Scots' aims as a threat to the religious freedom they wanted. This tension was a key context of the failure to reach a settlement in the years 1646-49.