Long and Short Parliament

• SHORT PARLIAMENT

  1640 APRIL-MAY
• Charles

  Had to call a parliament after years of Personal Rule for money
• Charles thought by using threats they would do what he wanted
• Charles demanded money

  1. Parliament refused

  2. Unless Charles agreed to make concessions on issues
• Despite the sense of unity about the abuses of personal rule, there was limited organisation among representatives
• Parliament was led by Pym and Hampden
• Pym and Hampden

  • Wanted to talk about personal rule and the rights of parliament
  • Charles later had them arrested
• Some demands they had

  • Dismantle Laud's religious reforms
  • Have control over tax
• It became clear quickly that the MPs were not going to vote subsidies for the Bishop's War
• Charles dissolved them after 3 weeks and faced Scots without them. This increase tension and the development of the crisis that was to result in the civil war
• LONG PARLIAMENT 1640-1660


  First sat on the 3rd November 1640, its name was derived from the argument that by an Act of Parliament, only they could agree to its dissolution. Most MPs wanted their grievances to be addressed from the start, but few wanted civil war. 
• SCOTTISH DIMENSION


  In 1640 the Scottish parliament reassembled with royal presence. They began a revolution; Pym would collude with them.
• FEB 1641: ENGLISH TRIENNIAL ACT

  Charles accepted reluctantly in England 8 months after the Scottish had passed the act.

  • Limited royal prerogative by requiring Parliament to meet ever 3 years. Abolished ship money.
• DEATH OF EARL BEDFORD


  He was the leader of parliament and did not want to alter the church’s structure. In 1641 he died, allowing Pym to become leader of opposition to Charles. Pym argued against religious policy, he accused absolutism in Ireland and attacked the plan to use the Irish army to reduce England to order. He wanted parliament to have more power
• STRAFFORD’S EXCUTION 


  Was accused that he had advised the King to use the Irish army could be used against opponents. His trail was in 1641, however, Pym could not prove he had committed treason. Charles had to permit the bill for Strafford to be beheaded in May 1641. This put it at personal fault of Charles.
• JUNE 1641 


  Tonnage and poundage act regulated
• JULY 1641


  abolition of Prerogative courts
• AUG 1641


  Ship money forbidden
• AUG 1641


  Forest act unlawful
• End of religious persecution led to many types of Christianity emerging

  1641
• The royalist party was formed

  1641
• Parliament was very divided, MPs agreed that they did not want personal rule to happen against but how to present it brought differences
• Bill of Attainder caused the breakdown of unity, some saw it as being constitutionally dangerous
• Religious issues, particularly about bishops caused further division
• Moderates became scared that radicals posed more of a threat to politics than Charles. This was labelled as constitutional royalism. People looked to the concept to monarchy, not Charles, as protection for the protestant church and law
• IS CHARLES TRUSTWORTHY?


  Impeached Laud, abolished Ship money, abandoned Stafford and signed Triennial Act. However, in 1641 there was the ARMY PLOT, it was found that Queen Maria had made plots to put parliament down.