June 2011 Flashcards
(3 cards)
‘The main reason for the defeat of the Royalist cause in the First Civil War was the leadership of Charles I.’ Assess the validity of this view with reference to the years 1642 to 1646. (45 marks)
Candidates will need to assess/identify and evaluate/explain the failings of Charles I and balance this against other factors. They may also stress the strengths of Parliament’s position.
Candidates may refer to some of the following material in support of the failings of Charles I:
• personality
• military failure
• divided royalist councils
• doubts over his religious policies
Nevertheless, there are a number of other factors to consider:
• military defeat
• limited alliances
Furthermore, candidates may focus on Parliament’s strengths:
• London and resources
• administration
• religious motivation
• New Model Army
In conclusion, candidates may stress the combination of:
• Charles’ failings
• Parliamentary strengths v Royalist weaknesses
‘The main reason for the failure of the Whigs in the Exclusion Crisis was the actions of Charles II.’ Assess the validity of this view with reference to the years 1678 to 1683. (45 marks)
andidates will need to assess/identify and evaluate/explain the role of Charles II and balance this against other factors. They may also link the factors together.
Candidates may refer to some of the following material in support of the importance of the role of Charles II:
• determination to protect the succession
• manipulation of his prerogative
• secure finance from Louis XIV.
Nevertheless, there are a number of other factors to consider:
• weakness of the Exclusionists
• problems of alternative successor
• radicalism of Exclusion
• fear of repeat of 1641
• no need for Exclusion given James’ age and no Catholic heir/son.
Furthermore, candidates may explain:
• growth of Toryism
• Charles’ secure position in Scotland
• persecution of opposition.
In conclusion, candidates may argue that it was a crucial combination of:
Charles’ strengths that enabled him to take advantage of the Whig weaknesses in the context of a growing Tory reaction.
‘The rulers of Britain never succeeded in solving their financial problems in the years 1660 to 1689.’ Assess the validity of this view. (45 marks)
Candidates will need to assess/identify and evaluate/explain how finance was a problem for the rulers of this period and balance this with an assessment of various attempts to deal with the financial problems faced. They may also show how the problems of finance were interrelated with other problems, such as the relationship with Parliament.
Candidates may refer to some of the following material in support of finance being a problem:
• the growth of trade under Charles II
• the limited grant of finance to Charles II by his Parliament
• use of finance by Parliaments, especially under Charles II, to influence policy
• Dutch wars.
Nevertheless, there are a number of other factors to consider:
• the increased income of Charles II may be set in the context of previous problems
• Charles II used an alliance with France to solve his financial problems with Parliament
• candidates can be credited for commenting on other factors proving more difficult.
Furthermore, candidates may:
• link foreign policy to finance as a problem
• point to James II’s relatively prosperous financial position
• stress that Charles II and James II did cope financially.
In conclusion, candidates may:
• stress that finance was the root of power and key source of influence for Parliament
• explain the underlying structural weaknesses of the English state
• see 1689 as the start of a resolution of financial weakness through the financial aspects of the Glorious Revolution and the changing nature of the relationship between Crown and Parliament.
