The 3 Kingdoms

• Stuart family were scottish when they succeeded the English throne. Ruled 3 kingdoms each with their own religions laws economies currency and traditions. They had competing need which caused lots of tension.
• Ireland:Native Irish were catholics. The ruling English/Scots were protestant. There was tension between the groups. Ireland was expensive to control and produced little income. Ireland was the 'backdoor' to England which made it incredibly significant
• Scotland:Lawlands of Scotland were presbyterian. The Kirk (national church) were very strong. Parliament was not very influential and had limited powers. Stuarts were in effect absentee monarchs
• England:Richest of the 3 kingdoms and most stable. Anglicanism was established protestant religion but a puritan minority wanting greater reform. Well established Parliament wanted a system of government based on common law and traditional liberties.