levo

England 1603–49

The regicide and the birth of the Commonwealth

  • 2 things to know
  • AS Unit 1

Overview

Pride's Purge, rump Parliament and charles's defence at the trial.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What was the Rump Parliament?

Key term

Why did the House of Lords not agree to the trial?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What was Pride's Purge?

    Model answer

    On 6 December 1648 Colonel Thomas Pride's soldiers barred or arrested the members who favoured continued negotiation with the King, leaving a compliant remnant.

  2. 2

    What was the Rump Parliament?

    Model answer

    The Rump was the fragment of the Commons left sitting after Pride's Purge, and it authorised the King's trial.

  3. 3

    Why did the House of Lords not agree to the trial?

    Model answer

    The Lords rejected the ordinance, so the Commons declared that its own acts had the force of law without King or Lords.

  4. 4

    On what charge was Charles tried?

    Model answer

    Charles was charged with being a tyrant, traitor and murderer who had waged war on his own people for his personal interest.

  5. 5

    What was Charles's defence at the trial?

    Model answer

    Charles refused to plead, denying that any court could try its own sovereign and arguing that he stood for the liberty of his subjects against arbitrary power.

  6. 6

    Why did the Second Civil War make the regicide more likely?

    Model answer

    Renewing the war after his defeat convinced the Army that Charles was a man of blood who would keep fighting while he lived, so no settlement could be safe.

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AImpeachment failed for want of proof.
BThe Commons passed an Act of Attainder.
CCharles signed his execution warrant in May 1641.

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