Big Question: What caused the English Civil War?

Once we have studied the English Civil War we will answer our big question.

In 1642, civil war began in England. The fighting was between the supporters
of Parliament and the supporters of the king, Charles I.

Over the next 4 weeks we will look at...

• What caused the Civil War?

• What were the consequences of the Civil War?

In Lesson two, we will look at how arguments about power in England and
who should have it led to the English Civil War.
Title: How did power and arguments about who
should have it lead to civil war in England? Big Question: What caused the English Civil War?
In 1625, James I died and Charles I inherited the crown. The king and Parliament soon became divided over
money, religion and power. In 1629, the king chose to rule without Parliament for 11 years.
Charles I and Parliament
1625-26 - (1) Charles I became King of England, Scotland and Ireland. He married
Henrietta Maria, the 15-year-old sister of the French King. Many MPs were opposed to
Charles' marriage to a Roman Catholic.

(2) Charles' closest adviser was the Duke of Buckingham. Many MPs thought he had too
much power. In 1626, when Buckingham's naval attack on Spain went badly, MPs tried to
force him out of office. Charles defended Buckingham and had two MPs arrested.

1628-29 – (3) England was now at war with both Spain and France. Relations worsened
between king and Parliament. MPs were angry that Charles imposed a new tax to pay for
the wars. There were also concerns he had begun to promote bishops with Catholic
views. In June 1628, Parliament presented the king with the 'Petition of Right', which
tried to limit his power.

(4) When parliament met again in January 1629, it continued to attack Charles and his
ministers for their financial and religious policies. The king responded by closing
Parliament. This was the beginning of Charles I's 'personal rule'.
(1) Why were MPs opposed to Charles I's marriage to Henrietta Maria? (For later in the lesson)
MPs were opposed to the marriage because... Answer the questions about Charles I, Scotland and Parliament.

What did Charles I try and make Scottish people use?

Charles I tried to make Scottish people use...

(2) How did Charles react to criticism of his adviser?

Charles reacted by...
Why did Charles I recall Parliament after 11 years?
Charles I recalled Parliament because...

(3) Why were MPs angered with the bishops promoted by Charles I?
MPs were angered by the bishops because... What did Parliament demand from Charles I?
Parliament demanded...

(4) How did Charles I react to parliament's criticism in 1629? What was the Divine Right of Kings?
Charles I reacted by... The Divine Right of Kings was...
 Discuss as a class: Read Source A and Source D. What do they tell you
about the following...

A) The Personality of Charles I

B) Why Charles I was so unpopular
C) Why Charles I closed Parliament in 1629

CHALLENGE: What do you think the nature (what type of source is it), origin (when was it created) and
purpose (why was it created) of these sources are?
Copy down the key word and definition below...

Civil War: A war between organised groups within the same country.

Watch the video using the link below.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zky82hv/video

Answer the questions about Charles I, Scotland and Parliament.

What did Charles I try and make Scottish people use?

Charles I tried to make Scottish people use...

Why did Charles I recall Parliament after 11 years?

Charles I recalled Parliament because...

What did Parliament demand from Charles I?

Parliament demanded...

What was the Divine Right of Kings?

The Divine Right of Kings was...
Task 1 – Copy down the table below
War Peace
In April 1640, Parliament
refused to increase taxes
until Charles promised to
end Ship Money.
Task 2 – Read about the events of April 1640.
In April 1640, Charles needed money so that he could fight the
Scots. He called a Parliament – the first in 11 years. MPs
refused to vote for taxes until Charles promised to end ship
money (a tax they thought was unfair) and stop religious
changes. The king refused and ended the Parliament after just
three weeks.
In summer 1640, the Scots invaded northern England. Charles
was desperate for more money to pay for his army. Nearly all
MPs were against Charles, and they demanded the following...
• Regular meetings of Parliament must be held.
• There should be no taxes without Parliament's agreement.
• Religious changes must be reversed.
Task 3 – Add information to either the 'war' or
'peace' column. Look at the example.
Title: Was Parliament responsible for the start of English Civil War?
Task 4 – Read about the 'Events of 1641' and the 'Events of 1642'.
Add the information to the 'war' or 'peace' column.
Events of 1641 Events of 1642
During the summer, the king agreed to Parliament's On January 4th, 1642, Charles took soldiers to Parliament and
demands. It looked like the two sides had solved their tried to arrest five MPs who had criticised him, but the MPs
differences. Then, in November, two things happened which escaped.
led to more conflict:
Then in March 1642, Parliament took control of the army
• Parliament introduced the Great Remonstrance, which and introduced even more demands on the king. Some MPs
made more demands on the king and also criticised him. were worried that Parliament was going too far.
Not all MPs agree with this. It looked like Charles had
some support in Parliament. On June 1st, 1642, Parliament passed a set of demands called
• A Catholic rebellion began in Ireland. Parliament refused the 'Nineteen Propositions' (see Source A). This clearly
to allow the king to lead the army in case he used it divided the king's supporters and his enemies. Civil war was
against them. soon to begin in August 1642.
Challenge: Add information from the source to your table
Source A – Examples of the demands from the Nineteen Propositions.
• All affairs of state, including foreign policy, religion and finance, must be agreed with parliament.
• All the king's ministers must be approved by parliament.
• Parliament must control the education of the king's children. His children cannot marry without parliament's approval.
Limiting the power of Parliament - abolition of
Parliament and abuse of laws
In 1642 the English Civil War began. This meant that
there were two sides fighting in a conflict in one
•People came to believe that Charles was undermining country. One for the King and one who wanted to
their liberties or rights as he did not believe in sharing
power with Parliament
remove the King.
•Charles used a private 'Court of the Star Chamber' to
try and punish his opponents. Explain your opinion in your book: How did power
•When Parliament complained in 1629, he dismissed
them. Until 1640, Charles ruled without a Parliament,
contribute to tensions in England? (use the reasons on
a period known as the 'Eleven Years Tyranny'. this page AND what we have learnt about today)
•Charles found a forgotten law that said that anyone
earning more than £40 a year had to be a knight. In
1630 he started fining people who had not obeyed.
Discuss as a class: What can we learn from the actions
•The MP John Hampden refused to pay in 1637 and of the King and the actions of parliament about the
narrowly lost the subsequent court case, but his stand causes of the English Civil War?
gathered support for the dissenters (people against the
King).
•Charles needed to raise money without Parliament so Challenge: How much power should a King or
he used old laws such as Ship Money, which was a tax Parliament have?
collected from coastal towns in the Middle Ages to
pay for the navy. In 1635 Charles made inland Revise: Can we remember other events we have learnt about
counties pay it too. in British history where Kings have faced challenges to their
power?