Relations with Parliament and the impact of foreign policy

Question 1

What were the key issues in Charles I’s early relationship with Parliament (1625–1629)?

Answer 1

Disputes over funding for war.
Resentment over Buckingham’s influence.
Concerns about Charles’s marriage to a Catholic.
Conflict over tonnage and poundage.
Growing distrust of royal intentions.

Question 2

Why was the marriage to Henrietta Maria controversial?

Answer 2

She was a French Catholic princess.
Raised fears of a pro-Catholic policy.
Caused anxiety among Protestant MPs.
Symbolised potential shift away from Protestant values.

Question 3

How did the failure of the Cádiz expedition affect Parliament’s view of Charles?

Answer 3

Seen as a major military and political failure.
Led to criticism of Buckingham’s leadership.
Parliament blamed Charles for poor judgement.
Damaged trust in the king’s foreign policy.

Question 4

What was the impact of the 1626 Parliament?

Answer 4

Parliament tried to impeach Buckingham.
Charles dissolved Parliament to protect him.
Increased hostility between king and MPs.
Charles started raising forced loans without consent.

Question 5

What was the Forced Loan (1626–1627), and why did it cause tension?

Answer 5

Charles demanded money without parliamentary approval.
Seen as an illegal tax.
Those who refused were imprisoned.
Eroded support for Charles among the political elite.

Question 6

What was the Petition of Right (1628), and why was it significant?

Answer 6

Parliament demanded Charles stop illegal taxation, forced billeting, and imprisonment without trial.
Charles agreed to get subsidies but later ignored it.
Showed deepening mistrust and constitutional conflict.

Question 7

What was the impact of the assassination of Buckingham in 1628?

Answer 7

Public rejoicing revealed Buckingham’s unpopularity.
Charles deeply mourned and blamed Parliament.
Further damaged Charles’s trust in political opposition.

Question 8

Why did Charles dissolve Parliament in 1629?

Answer 8

Parliament criticised his continued collection of tonnage and poundage.
MPs began openly opposing Arminian influence.
Charles arrested key MPs and dissolved Parliament.
Started the Personal Rule (1629–1640).