Caroline Era (1625-1640)

Political Background

Charles I came to the throne in 1625 after the death of James I, his father.
James I had left staggering debts that were leading England to a financial crisis and a legacy of
royal absolutist policy.
England had not been directly involved in the Thirty Years War (1618-1648) of the Continental
Europe between the Protestant and Catholic countries. It was spared the upheavals that
contemporary Europe was going through.
Tensions however were brewing between the Parliament and Charles I that complicated
domestic politics.
Charles I attempted to rule alone when the Parliament refused to approve taxation and curb his
royal prerogative.
He ruled without convening the Parliament for more than a decade from 1629- 1640. This period
is called personal rule and widened the rift between the king and his detractors.
Charles I only appointed his favourites to high positions and kept himself isolated from common
channels of information, so he remained unaware of hostile public opinion.
In the aftermath of abject defeat of Charless forces in the Bishops Wars, he was forced to
convene the Long Parliament in 1640 to pay off bills. This ultimately precipitated the Civil War
and the execution of the king.

Economic Policies

During the 1630's Charles continued to collect tonnage and poundage, impositions, and in
addition revived ancient royal levies. All violated the principle of no taxation without consent.
These taxes levied without the Parliaments approval was seen as proof of Charless absolutist
tendencies.
The income from these levies increased, as trade revived after the slump of the 1620s - England
had made peace with France in 1629 and with Spain in 1630.
The introduction of ship money- a tax that was levied uniformly across the country instead of
only around the coastal region to finance the navy increased Charless unpopularity, especially
since even the poor were not exempt from paying it.
The Long Parliament when convened declared it illegal.

Religious Background

Charles I married the Catholic princess Henrietta Maria. After his marriage he proceeded to grant
concessions to Roman Catholics arousing suspicion.
Unlike James who neglected his wife, Charles took Henriettas advice when giving out royal
appointments leading to resentment.
 Charles was fond of ceremonies and rituals. He published the Book of Sport. It depicted the
ancient festivities of England- harvest rituals, May celebrations etc. The Puritans saw this as
valourisation of paganism and hence against Puritan philosophy.
In addition to this, the appointment of William Laud as the Archbishop of Canterbury also
caused discontent. Lauds Arminian doctrine of Christianity was elaborate and ritualistic in
contrast to the simple and austere Protestant way of worship. The Puritan populace feared a
Roman Catholic revival.
Charles attempted to impose the Anglican liturgy and the Episcopal system on Presbyterian
Scotland leading to the Bishops Wars. The kings forces are defeated and Charles had to convene
the Long Parliament to pay off the victorious Scottish army.

The Parliament

Consists of two sections- House of Lords and House of Commons.

House of Lords is appointed by the monarch- bishops and hereditary peers like duke, marquess,
earl etc. They were therefore chiefly loyal to the king.
House of Commons is elected. It was primarily the House of Commons that was at odds with the
king. It consisted of the gentry- educated, rich and not part of the nobility.