The Causes of the English Civil War

Political Economic Religious

11 years of Tyranny/ Ship Money in 1637 (he Marries Catholic French
Personal Rule (calls didn't ask Parliament). Princess, Henrietta
different things based on if Maria.
you were a critic or friend of
Charles I.
Short Parliament in April Bishop’s War (Charles I Laudian Reform was
1640 wouldn't give Charles needed Parliament to considered Pop-ish
money to fight the Scots. approve so they could get (which caused the
funds for the war.) Bishop's War.)
Puritans wrote critically and Charles I believed in the
were punished by the Star Divine Right of Kings,
Chamber so he shouldn't have
any earthly authority
such as parliament.
Attempting to arrest 5MPs
inside the House of
Commons.
Charles I had favourites,
like the Duke of
Buckingham, which he took
advice from instead of
parliament like he was
supposed to.

➢ Summary:
Parliament didn't trust Charles I because of his religious links and
his attempts to rule the country without consulting parliament on
matters of finance, religion and foreign policy. Charles wanted to
rule the country without having to consult parliament because he
believed in the Divine Right of Kings.
 The Civil War started in Nottingham in August 1642.
Charles I declared war on Parliament, and called on all his supporters for
help.

Parliamentarians vs Royalists

Parliamentarians Royalists
Nicknamed "Roundheads" Nicknamed "Cavaliers"
Those who didn't support Charles I's Those who were worried about the
religious and political reforms. growing influence of parliament.
Lived in South and East Lived in the North and West
Lived in towns Lived in countryside
Puritans Aristocracy
Supported by Protestants/Puritans. Supported by Catholics
Townspeople (middle-class/peasant Church officials
workers.)
Mostly merchants who were not happy Large Landowners who didn't want to lose
about the king's taxes. their wealth.
More urban More rural
Supported Parliament Supported the king
Led by Oliver Cromwell Led by the king's nephew, Prince Rupert
Wore plain and standard battle Wore fancy and colourful
armour. clothing.

Parliamentarians:
Advantages Disadvantages
Ability not nobility Lack of funds
Believed to be fighting for God Wore simple clothing
 Not allowed to drink because of religious If they lost they would have been treated
beliefs very harshly
Trained very strictly Didn't have much experience in battle

Royalists:
Advantages Disadvantages
Lots of funds Nobility not ability (nepotism)
They were brought up to use muskets, Partying instead of training
etc
Felt that God was on their side (Divine Wore fancy clothes
Right of Kings)
They were able to pay mercenaries to
increase their ranks

Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell is a very controversial figure in history it can be argued
that he was a hero or a villain. It is not easy to know what everyone
thought about him because a lot of original sources about Cromwell
were destroyed in the 1660s.

He was the MP for Cornwall, a Puritan, led parliamentary forces with

Thomas Fairfax and created the New Model Army.

Hero Villain
In his army he is very fair and trained his Promoted his son in law above everyone
soldiers by ability not nobility. else.

Brave- fought against the king Only able to defeat them because he had
more soldiers. Couldn't kill the king
because of Divine Right of Kings (at that
time).
 Supported Magna Carta The Trial for the execution of Charles I
was unfair and against Magna Carta
which was used for the reasoning to
execute Charles I.
'Saved' the people from the people from Ruled by using the military (New Model
the king who had an army against his own Army)
people
Cancelled Christmas celebrations and Got rid of theatres, drinking (beer),
whipped boys who played football on Christmas traditions whipped boys who
Sundays because he believed that he was played football on Sundays.
saving their souls.
Refuses the title of king. King in all but name. and named his son
as his heir which the king usually does.
He was more liberal he allowed people to Executed the levelers (who supported
worship as they wished. He invited Jews Cromwell and were fighting for equality.)
back from Europe who had been exiled by
Edward I in 1290.
He introduced the Navigation Act in 1651 Shuts down parliament which was
entering and leaving England had to be hypocritical because he was angry when
English which made people feel more Charles I did the exact same thing.
secure
Won wars against the Spanish and Dutch, Massacre of Drogheda, Famine and
restoring England's reputation abroad. Slavery in Ireland.

O.Cromwell was proved to be quite a hypocrite because he loved to

point out Charles I wrong doings and used it as a way to execute
Charles I however during his 10 years reign O.Cromwell did the exact
same things that Charles I did.

Cromwell described the king's execution as a 'cruel necessity'.

During the trial he was reported to say, 'I tell you now I will cut his head
off with the crown upon it.'

Oliver Cromwell died in 1658.

New Model Army

 Most Parliamentarians didn't want the full removal of the king, they
simply wanted a removal of royal reforms. Cromwell on the other hand
was angry about this, and was committed to removing the king. He
planned to by his New Model Army.

He recruited men based on ability rather than their privilege. The army
was disciplined and lived by a strict religious and moral code. They were
prohibited from drinking or swearing.

The New Model Army was used for the first time during the Battle of
Naseby in 1645, where it was victorious over the king's smaller army.
This victory was considered a turning point in the war.

➢ Statistics:
New Model Army- 14,000 men.
Royalist Army- 9,000 men.
➢ Tactics:
Approached slowly rather than charging.
Manoeuvred behind the royalist infantry and attacked from the
rear.
➢ Outcome:
End of king's last great army.
The New Model Army went on to capture Bristol and Oxford.

The Second Civil War

1647- Charles surrendered to the Scottish army which later handed him
over to the New Model Army to go on trial for treason.

However, while negotiating with Parliament Charles encouraged a

Scottish army to invade England and make the English Church
Presbyterian.
 1648 - At the Battle of Preston the Scots fought against the New Model
Army. The Scots were defeated and Charles confirmed that he couldn't
be trusted.

December 1648 - the regiment of Thomas Pride surrounded. They

refused entry to those who supported the king, this was known as
Pride's Purge. The parliament that formed after this was known as the
Rump Parliament. Charles would be tried with no one to support him.

Many parliamentarians were not happy that Charles continued to

challenge the authority of government and limit the development of
democracy. This would go against him during his trial.

The Trial

Charles I was put on trial in January 1648 and charged with treason.
Charles I did not give a plea as he claimed that he couldn't be tried by
Parliament.

On the second day of trial the king was allowed to speak but when
Bradshaw argued with the king and he had the king removed from court. None
of the witnesses came to support the king is, the witnesses claimed that
Charles I:
➢ was guilty of starting a war by raising the army in Nottingham.
➢ approved the ill-treatment of parliamentary forces during the war -
calling his own during the war calling his own subjects enemies.
➢ plotting with his son to start another war while negotiating we
clutch war while negotiating with Parliament this was this was all
again.

There was a feeling that everything had gone way too far - people wanted to
remove royal reforms, not the king himself as people still believed in Divine
Right. Of the 135 commissioners that were due to turn up, only 68 were
present. The only person who was absolutely certain the king had to go was
O. Cromwell.
 On 27th Jan 1649 - Charles I was found guilty of treason and sentenced to
death. Bradshaw justified this by saying Charles I had attacked the basic
liberties.

On the 30th of January 1649 at 10am -the king was beheaded. The king
beheaded. Charles I had to wait hours until they found an executioner who
was willing to carry out the deed. First, they needed the right legislation in
place to execute the king. The New Law stated that there would no longer be
a monarch.

Justifications for the King's execution

➢ Moral:
The court heard that Charles had approved of the ill-treatment of
parliamentary forces during the war.
➢ Religious:
As far as the soldiers and Cromwell were concerned, the King's
two feet was a sign of God's providence.
➢ Political:
There was a new sense of freedom as ordinary men could now
have influence.
➢ Economic:
People wanted to enter the taxes that they had to endure on the
child's rain such as ship money (which was against the law
because it wasn't approved by Parliament.)

➢ Short Term:
At the time everyone was affected. Many people didn't want to see the
King killed and England would be ruled as a Republic and by a Lord
Protector not a monarch. At the time people thought the world was
ending as the monarch was killed, there was a new law in place that
there would no longer be a monarch and Divine Right was completely
ignored.
➢ Medium Term:
It increased the importance of parliament and the role of the monarch.
The English Society changed to be more equal and ordered because of
puritanism.
➢ Long Term:
This event is remembered by all and children all over the world who
eventually learn about the English Civil War and execution of Charles I.