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Difficulty: MediumCharles I and the English Civil War

After governing without Parliament for eleven years, King Charles I was forced to recall it in 1640. According to the official handbook, what was the primary reason the King needed to call Parliament back at this time?

  1. A
    To formally establish the 'Divine Right of Kings' as law
  2. B
    To appoint Oliver Cromwell as the Lord Protector
  3. To raise money to fight a Scottish armyAnswer
  4. D
    To resolve the conflict caused by the break from Rome under Henry VIII

Answer

The King needed to raise money to fight a Scottish army.
The correct answer is that the King needed to raise money to fight a Scottish army. In 1640, after eleven years of ruling without a Parliament (known as the Personal Rule), Charles I was forced to recall them because he lacked the funds necessary to repel a Scottish invasion sparked by his religious policies.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the period known as the 'Personal Rule'.
Between 1629 and 1640, Charles I ruled without calling Parliament.
This sets the context for why the recall in 1640 was a significant shift in his governing strategy.
2
Analyze the crisis that occurred in 1640.
A Scottish army had invaded England following religious disputes with the King.
Military defense requires significant funding that only Parliament had the legal authority to grant through taxation.
3
Determine the King's motivation for ending his personal rule.
The need for military funds outweighed his desire to rule alone.
Financial necessity was the primary driver for the political reconciliation required to fight the war.

Key Concept

The end of Personal Rule and the start of the Long Parliament
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Charles I and the English Civil War

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