How Did Political and Economic Problems of the English Monarchy Cause the English Civil War?

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England’s monarchy in the early seventeenth century boasted multiple problems. Kings sought to rule independently and did not want to ration their power to the nobles in Parliament. Due to the large amount of debt left behind from Elizabeth I’s rule, some English kings created new taxes or found new means by which to raise revenue without consulting Parliament. England notably started to decline beginning with the rule of James I. Succeeding James I was Charles I, and his policies propelled England to civil war. In the early seventeenth century, political and economic conflicts between the English monarchy and Parliament resulted in the English Civil War. James I’s political and economic struggles with Parliament are what began the slump of the English government. He believed in the “divine right” of kings, meaning that he considered himself to be God’s representative on Earth and no one could challenge his authority. Because he wanted as little interaction with Parliament as possible, he levied new custom duties called impositions to raise funds. Although Parliament’s power of the purse was ignored, it did not wish for serious confrontation and opted for peaceful negotiated. James’ court along with his foreign policy caused substantial political conflict within England. James’ favorite man in court was no doubt the duke of Buckingham. Buckingham controlled royal patronage and openly sold noble titles (also known as peerage) to raise money for the king and was also rumored to be his homosexual lover. In 1604 James made peace with Spain, which upset the largely Puritan House of Commons in Parliament because Spain was primarily Catholic. Two decades later in 1624, England went to war with Spain as a result of pressure from Parliament. In 1625, Parliament became additionally concerned when James married his son, Charles I, to Henry IV of France’s Catholic daughter,
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