AQA · A-Level · History
Course version: 7042 · Version from Sept 2017
The state of relations between Crown and Parliament by 1629 and the…
Full specification wording
1D Stuart Britain and the Crisis of Monarchy, 1603–1702 – Monarchs and Parliaments, 1603–1629: The state of relations between Crown and Parliament by 1629 and the reaction of the Political Nation; the extent of breakdown between Crown and Parliament and the Political Nation
By 1629, relations between Charles I and Parliament had collapsed, culminating in the dramatic dissolution of Parliament and the start of Personal Rule.
Checked against the AQA 7042 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 6 of 6
- 3 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
By 1629, relations between Charles I and Parliament had collapsed, culminating in the dramatic dissolution of Parliament and the start of Personal Rule. The extent of this breakdown was vividly demonstrated when MPs held the Speaker down to pass the Three Resolutions against Arminianism and unparliamentary taxation. The reaction of the broader Political Nation was mixed. While many were alarmed by the Crown's authoritarian actions and the imprisonment of MPs like Sir John Eliot, there was also a strong desire for stability. Consequently, the breakdown did not immediately trigger rebellion. The Political Nation reluctantly complied with Charles's rule, revealing a profound but temporarily suppressed constitutional crisis.
What earns the marks
- Evaluate the significance of the 1629 parliamentary session, including the Three Resolutions, as a turning point in Crown-Parliament relations.
- Assess the reaction of the Political Nation to the dissolution of Parliament and the imprisonment of key MPs.
- Analyse the extent of the breakdown, contrasting the radical actions of a few MPs with the broader Political Nation's reluctance to actively oppose the Crown.
- Explain how the failure to resolve underlying financial and religious grievances by 1629 necessitated the transition to Personal Rule.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Assuming the breakdown in 1629 made the Civil War inevitable.
Put it right: Emphasise that the Political Nation largely accepted Personal Rule initially, and war was not foreseen in 1629.
Equating the actions of radical MPs with the views of the entire Political Nation.
Put it right: Distinguish between the militant minority in Parliament and the more conservative, stability-seeking wider gentry.
Ignoring the role of religion in the 1629 breakdown.
Put it right: Explicitly link the passing of the Three Resolutions to the widespread fear of Arminianism and popery.
Exam tips
- Use the events of 2 March 1629 (holding the Speaker down) as concrete evidence of the unprecedented breakdown in parliamentary procedure and trust.
- When discussing the Political Nation, define who they were (the nobility, gentry, and wealthy merchants) to provide a nuanced analysis of their reaction.
- Contrast the constitutional theories of Charles I (Divine Right) with those of Parliament to explain why the breakdown became irreconcilable by 1629.
Try the lesson
The start of the 1D Stuart Britain and the Crisis of Monarchy, 1603–1702 – Monarchs and Parliaments, 1603–1629: The state of relations between Crown and Parliament by 1629 and the reaction of the Political Nation; the extent of breakdown between Crown and Parliament and the Political Nation lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which event directly marked the complete breakdown of relations between Charles I and Parliament in March 1629?
Listen
By 1629, relations between Charles I and Parliament had collapsed, culminating in the dramatic dissolution of Parliament and the start of Personal Rule. The extent of this breakdown was vividly demonstrated when MPs held the Speaker down to pass the Three Resolutions against Arminianism and unparliamentary taxation. The reaction of the broader Political Nation was mixed. While many were alarmed by the Crown's authoritarian actions and the imprisonment of MPs like Sir John Eliot, there was also a strong desire for stability. Consequently, the breakdown did not immediately trigger rebellion. The Political Nation reluctantly complied with Charles's rule, revealing a profound but temporarily suppressed constitutional crisis. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Evaluate the significance of the 1629 parliamentary session, including the Three Resolutions, as a turning point in Crown-Parliament relations. Assess the reaction of the Political Nation to the dissolution of Parliament and the imprisonment of key MPs. Analyse the extent of the breakdown, contrasting the radical actions of a few MPs with the broader Political Nation's reluctance to actively oppose the Crown. Explain how the failure to resolve underlying financial and religious grievances by 1629 necessitated the transition to Personal Rule. A common slip: Assuming the breakdown in 1629 made the Civil War inevitable. Instead, emphasise that the Political Nation largely accepted Personal Rule initially, and war was not foreseen in 1629. Exam tip: Use the events of 2 March 1629 (holding the Speaker down) as concrete evidence of the unprecedented breakdown in parliamentary procedure and trust.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
The Political Nation
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Personal Rule
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Radicalism vs Conservatism
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See every definition
- The Political Nation
- The nobility, gentry and wealthy merchants whose reaction to the dissolution of Parliament and the imprisonment of key MPs was mixed.
- Personal Rule
- The period beginning after relations between Charles I and Parliament collapsed and Parliament was dramatically dissolved.
- Radicalism vs Conservatism
- The contrast between the radical actions of a few MPs and the broader Political Nation's conservative, stability-seeking reluctance to actively oppose the Crown.
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