Parliament Attacks Prerogative (1640-41) Flashcards
(28 cards)
When did the Long Parliament assemble?
1640
Who led the parliamentary opposition in 1640?
John Pym and his allies
What was the key aim of Pym and his group in the Long Parliament?
To limit the king’s power and reform government
What major actions were taken in the early months of the Long Parliament?
Impeachment of Laud and Strafford
What financial action did Parliament take against Charles?
Banned raising money outside Parliament
What was the purpose of the two early Acts passed by Parliament?
To ensure the future security of Parliaments
What name was given to the organized opposition in Parliament?
Pym’s Junto
Why is Pym’s Junto significant in English politics?
It marked the emergence of organized political opposition
What years saw a breakdown in relations between Charles and Parliament?
1640-1642
This period marked significant political tension and conflict in England.
Who were considered the king’s ‘evil counsellors’?
Strafford and Laud
They were key advisers to King Charles I, often criticized for their influence.
What Act was passed in February 1641 to restrict royal power?
The Triennial Act
This act aimed to ensure that Parliament would meet regularly.
What did the Triennial Act require the king to do?
Call Parliament at least once every three years
This was a significant limitation on the king’s power to govern without parliamentary consent.
Why was Strafford’s trial in April 1641 controversial?
The Lords were unlikely to convict him of treason
This raised concerns about the fairness of the trial process.
What legal method did Parliament use to execute Strafford?
An Act of Attainder
This method bypassed the traditional judicial process.
What is an Act of Attainder?
A law declaring a person guilty without a trial
It effectively allowed Parliament to convict and punish individuals without the need for a formal trial.
What was the First Army Plot?
A supposed Catholic plan to free Strafford and dissolve Parliament
This plot heightened tensions between Parliament and the monarchy.
What was the result of the First Army Plot?
______
The outcome of the plot had significant political ramifications.
What was the result of the First Army Plot?
Heightened fear and support for Strafford’s execution
The First Army Plot was a significant event that influenced public sentiment towards the execution of Strafford.
How did the public influence Charles after the Attainder passed?
An angry mob surrounded Parliament
The public’s anger and mobilization demonstrated their power and the impact of public sentiment on political decisions.
What forced Charles to sign Strafford’s death warrant?
Public pressure and fear of unrest
The threat of unrest highlighted the precariousness of Charles’s position and the influence of public opinion.
What Act secured Parliament’s protection from dissolution?
An Act requiring Parliament’s own consent to be dissolved
This Act was crucial in ensuring that Parliament could not be easily disbanded by the monarchy.
What was the Long Parliament and why was it significant?
It was a Parliament that, despite being purged and inactive at times, was not dissolved until March 1660.
The Long Parliament played a crucial role in the events leading to the English Civil War.
Who were Pym’s Junto and what did they do?
A group led by John Pym, John Hampden, and Arthur Haselrig that organised opposition to the king in the Long Parliament.
They were instrumental in mobilizing parliamentary forces against royal authority.
