A Grand Remonstrance was narrowly passed to give Parliament control over the appointment of Royal ministries along with control of the armed forces. Charles I refused to accept this, and in January 1642 his response was to send armed soldiers to arrest Pym and four others in the House of Commons. They had left before the armed soldiers arrived and the episode proved to be a public relations disaster. During 1642 both the King and Parliament recruited armed forces. When Parliament issued a set of 19 Propositions that went far beyond the Grand Remonstrance, the King refused to accept them and declared a state of war. Because the Civil Wars of the 1640’s involved all three Kingdoms they are sometimes referred to as the British Wars. The Royalist …show more content…
For some this was a very difficult choice, as they found themselves torn between loyalties to the King on the one hand and concern for their liberties on the other. It split families, father against son, and brother against brother. Old friends became new enemies. Psychologically, the war was a huge shock to society. The taking-up of arms against the King represented to many “a world turned upside down”, a society where things would never be quite the same again. Accounts tell f soldiers occupying and looting farms and farmhouses and molesting and abusing the occupants. Civilians living in towns and villages under attack faced the prospect of losing their lives as well as their possessions.
The Civil War had an economic impact. Trade was disrupted. Cloth manufactures in several countries were cut off from the London market. Other tradesmen, such as sword makers, benefited from the conflict. Taxation became a regular and heavy burden, especially those areas under Parliament’s
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The Civil War disrupted women’s lives. Some took on roles during the actual conflict. Lady Anne Cunningham was a warrior leading Scottish troops into battle. Lucy Hutchinson organised the defence of her village against Royalist troops when her husband was away, Lady Brilliana Harley died defending Brampton Bryon Castle. With their husbands away for large periods fighting for the King or Parliament, women often took centre stage in running of the estates. Increase responsibilities caused a growing sense of independence among women. Also the substantial loss of life amongst male combatants changed the sex radio to a surplus of