Stuart Britain: Conflict and Revolution for A-Level History (Edexcel)

Which monarch united the English and Scottish crowns in 1603?

James I

James VI of Scotland became James I of England.

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What term describes the group of landowners and elites involved in national politics?

Political Nation

Included nobles, gentry and influential landowners.

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What form of wealth traditionally gave political influence in early Stuart England?

Land ownership

Landed elites dominated political power.

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True or False:

Merchants and commercial wealth had no political influence in early Stuart England.

False

Growing trade gave merchants increasing influence.

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Which belief in monarchy held that kings were appointed by God and not accountable to subjects?

Divine Right

James I strongly supported this principle.

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Which Stuart king wrote extensively defending the Divine Right of Kings?

James I

His political writings emphasised royal authority.

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Fill in the blank:

The belief that kings ruled with authority granted by God is known as the ______ Right of Kings.

Divine

This idea often clashed with parliamentary views.

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What term describes powerful courtiers who gained influence over the king?

Favourites

Figures such as Buckingham gained great power.

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Which favourite dominated the courts of both James I and Charles I?

Duke of Buckingham

George Villiers held enormous influence until his assassination.

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True or False:

Charles I trusted Parliament more than his father did.

False

Charles often clashed with Parliament.

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Which major problem weakened the Stuart monarchy’s authority in the early 17th century?

Financial weakness

The Crown lacked sufficient revenue.

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Which financial policy attempted to raise money without parliamentary approval under Charles I?

Forced loans

Subjects were compelled to lend money to the Crown.

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Fill in the blank:

Charles I attempted to raise revenue without Parliament through ______ loans.

Forced

This policy caused widespread resentment.

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Which document in 1628 demanded limits on royal taxation without parliamentary consent?

Petition of Right

Parliament attempted to restrain royal authority.

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True or False:

Charles I fully accepted the principles of the Petition of Right.

False

He later ignored many of its provisions.

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Which branch of Christianity was the official church in England during the early Stuart period?

Church of England

It remained the established church.

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Which religious group wanted further reform of the Church of England?

Puritans

They sought to remove remaining Catholic elements.

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Which religious group remained loyal to the Pope and was viewed with suspicion in England?

Catholics

They faced restrictions and persecution.

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What theological movement emphasised ceremony and hierarchy within the Church of England?

Arminianism

It was supported by Charles I and Archbishop Laud.

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True or False:

Arminianism was widely supported by Puritans in England.

False

Puritans strongly opposed it.

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Which archbishop strongly supported Arminian religious reforms?

William Laud

He became Archbishop of Canterbury in 1633.

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What period between 1629 and 1640 did Charles I rule without Parliament?

Personal Rule

Also called the Eleven Years’ Tyranny by critics.

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Which controversial tax was collected during the Personal Rule without parliamentary approval?

Ship money

Traditionally raised only in coastal areas during wartime.

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True or False:

Ship money was widely accepted without opposition.

False

Many landowners resisted paying it.

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Which **neighbouring kingdom** resisted **Charles I’s religious reforms in the late 1630s**?

Scotland ## Footnote Opposition triggered armed conflict.

Which **conflict began in 1639** between Charles I and the **Scottish Covenanters**?

Bishops' Wars ## Footnote These wars weakened royal authority.

Which **parliament** met briefly in **1640** but was quickly dissolved by Charles I?

Short Parliament ## Footnote It refused to grant funds without addressing grievances.

What **form of government** replaced the **monarchy in England after 1649**?

Republic ## Footnote England was declared a Commonwealth after the execution of Charles I.

Which **English army leader** defeated the **Scots at the Battle of Dunbar in 1650**?

Oliver Cromwell ## Footnote This victory helped secure the Commonwealth’s control.

Which **battle in 1651** marked the **final defeat of Charles II’s attempt to regain the throne**?

Battle of Worcester ## Footnote Charles II fled abroad after the defeat.

# True or False: **Charles II** successfully reclaimed the English throne in 1651.

False ## Footnote He escaped to exile after the defeat at Worcester.

Which **parliamentary body** governed England after the Civil War until 1653?

Rump Parliament ## Footnote It consisted of MPs remaining after Pride’s Purge.

What **political ideology** supported **rule without a monarch**?

Republicanism ## Footnote Advocated government based on parliamentary authority.

Which religious belief predicted the **imminent return of Christ and a thousand-year kingdom**?

Millenarianism ## Footnote It influenced radical groups in the 1650s.

Which **assembly of radical Protestants** replaced the **Rump Parliament in 1653**?

Parliament of Saints ## Footnote Also called Barebone’s Parliament.

# True or False: The **Parliament of Saints** governed England successfully for many years.

False ## Footnote It lasted only a few months before dissolving itself.

What **title** did **Oliver Cromwell** hold after becoming head of state in 1653?

Lord Protector ## Footnote He ruled under the Instrument of Government.

What **political system** under Cromwell replaced the monarchy between **1653 and 1658**?

Protectorate ## Footnote Cromwell ruled as Lord Protector with parliamentary support.

# Fill in the blank: Cromwell ruled England as **_\_\_\_\_\_ Protector** from 1653.

Lord ## Footnote This position made him the head of government.

Which **administrative officials** governed regions of England during **Cromwell’s rule in the 1650s**?

Major-Generals ## Footnote They enforced moral reform and security.

# True or False: The **rule of the Major-Generals** was widely popular with the Political Nation.

False ## Footnote Many landowners resented military rule.

Which **group of landowners and elites** influenced **national politics during this period**?

Political Nation ## Footnote Their support was essential for stable government.

Which **Stuart monarch** returned to the throne in **1660**?

Charles II ## Footnote His restoration ended the republican experiment.

# Fill in the blank: The monarchy was restored in 1660 with the return of **_\_\_\_\_\_ II**.

Charles ## Footnote The event is known as the Restoration.

What **political system** returned in 1660 alongside the monarchy?

Parliamentary monarchy ## Footnote The king ruled with Parliament.

Which **chief minister** dominated early government under **Charles II**?

Earl of Clarendon ## Footnote Edward Hyde shaped early Restoration policy.

# True or False: **Charles II** ruled entirely without Parliament after 1660.

False ## Footnote Parliament remained an important institution.

What name was given to the **group of ministers who advised Charles II in the late 1660s**?

Cabal ## Footnote The acronym came from the initials of key ministers.

Which **minister** became influential in the later years of **Charles II’s reign**?

Earl of Danby ## Footnote He promoted Anglican interests and royal authority.

What **political divisions** emerged in the late 17th century between **supporters and critics of the court**?

Court and Country parties ## Footnote Early political groupings in Parliament.

Which **religious institution** was restored as the **official church after 1660**?

Church of England ## Footnote Anglicanism was re-established after the Commonwealth.

# True or False: **Religious divisions** disappeared after the Restoration.

False ## Footnote Conflicts continued between Anglicans, Catholics and dissenters.

Which **religious minority** caused political anxiety because of **fears of Catholic influence at court**?

Catholics ## Footnote Suspicion increased during the reigns of Charles II and James II.

# Fill in the blank: Protestants who refused to follow the Church of England were known as **_\_\_\_\_\_**.

Dissenters ## Footnote They faced restrictions under the Restoration settlement.

What **political crisis in the late 1670s** attempted to prevent **James II from becoming king**?

Exclusion Crisis ## Footnote Parliament attempted to exclude the Catholic heir.

# True or False: The **Exclusion Crisis** successfully prevented James II from inheriting the throne.

False ## Footnote James II became king in 1685.

Which **king** succeeded **Charles II in 1685**?

James II ## Footnote His Catholicism caused political conflict.

What **political aim** did **James II** pursue that alarmed many members of the Political Nation?

Absolutism ## Footnote He attempted to strengthen royal authority and promote Catholicism.

# Fill in the blank: The **Catholic monarch** who ruled England from 1685 to 1688 was **_\_\_\_\_\_ II**.

James ## Footnote His policies triggered widespread opposition.

What **event in 1688** replaced **James II with William and Mary**?

Glorious Revolution ## Footnote It established parliamentary supremacy.

# True or False: The **Glorious Revolution** involved a long and destructive civil war in England.

False ## Footnote James II fled and power changed with relatively little bloodshed in England.

Which **Dutch prince** became **king of England after the Glorious Revolution**?

William III ## Footnote He ruled jointly with Mary II.

Which **English queen** ruled jointly with **William III after 1689**?

Mary II ## Footnote Daughter of James II.

Which **two political parties** emerged during the **late 17th century**?

Whigs and Tories ## Footnote They became lasting political groupings.

What **document in 1689** limited royal power and confirmed **parliamentary rights**?

Bill of Rights ## Footnote A key step in establishing constitutional monarchy.

# True or False: The **Bill of Rights** strengthened the absolute authority of the monarch.

False ## Footnote It limited royal power and enhanced Parliament’s authority.

What **religious change** allowed **limited freedom for Protestant dissenters after 1689**?

Religious toleration ## Footnote The Toleration Act allowed some freedom of worship.

# Fill in the blank: The law granting limited freedom of worship to Protestant dissenters was the **_\_\_\_\_\_ Act**.

Toleration ## Footnote Passed in 1689 under William and Mary.

Which **act in 1701** determined the future **Protestant succession to the throne**?

Act of Settlement ## Footnote It excluded Catholic claimants from the monarchy.

What **system of government** had developed in Britain by the early 18th century?

Constitutional monarchy ## Footnote Power was shared between Crown and Parliament.

# True or False: By 1702 the monarch still ruled Britain without parliamentary influence.

False ## Footnote Parliament had gained significant political authority.

What was the **general religious position of the Church of England by 1702**?

Established church ## Footnote Anglicanism remained the official national church.

Which **religious groups** still faced restrictions in Britain by 1702?

Catholics ## Footnote Anti-Catholic laws limited their rights and influence.

# Fill in the blank: By 1702 Britain had developed a **_\_\_\_\_\_ monarchy** in which Parliament shared power.

Constitutional ## Footnote The Glorious Revolution had reshaped royal authority.

Stuart Britain: Conflict and Revolution Flashcards

Evaluate political conflict and constitutional change in seventeenth-century Britain. (74 cards)