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CAUSES

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POWER: Charles I believed in the DIVINE RIGHT OF KINGS - that he was chosen by God. He did not want many people involved in decisions about the country. Charles only allowed a few privileged people in his court, e.g. The DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM. In 1629 Charles dissolved parliament and ruled alone for 11 years. Another favourite was the Earl of STRAFFORD who was sent to keep control in Ireland where there was great tension between Catholics and Protestants. Parliament was unhappy about Strafford’s control – he had a loyal, strong army that Charles could use. Strafford also encouraged Charles to rule alone, without Parliament.

MONEY: Charles needed money from parliament to fight wars with Spain, but parliament refused it because they felt they couldn’t trust Charles. Parliament also feared Charles would use the money to become independent from Parliament. Charles introduced SHIP MONEY, a very unpopular tax, in 1637. It was normally paid by people in coastal towns to strengthen the navy, but Charles made everyone pay it. Some people refused – for example the MP JOHN HAMPDEN – he was convicted in court and this increased publicity and anger towards Charles. 

RELIGION: Charles was married to a Catholic (French princess Henrietta Maria) and seemed too sympathetic towards Catholics.  Some Protestants regarded the Catholics in England as a threat (there had been Catholic plots against Elizabeth I and James I). When the Duke of Buckingham was killed in 1628, Charles closest advisor was his wife. WILLIAM LAUD was Archbishop of Canterbury. He was not a Catholic, but believed in worshipping in a similar way (more decorative churches and decorative robes for priests for example). These changes were opposed by the many PURITANS (extreme Protestants) in Parliament. 3 men wrote a pamphlet criticising the reforms. They were tried in the STAR CHAMBER – a replacement for Parliament during Charles’ 11 year personal rule. It was used against anyone who criticised Charles or Laud and was very biased towards the king. The 3 men were pilloried and had their ears cut off. However, they were seen as heroes by the public and met with cheering crowds when released from prison. In 1637 Charles insisted Scotland use the new LAUDIAN prayer book (this moved away from the Protestant idea of personal worship). There were riots in Edinburgh. In 1638 some Scots signed a COVENANT refusing to accept the changes. They defeated Charles’ army in 1639 and then invaded England. Charles needed more money to defeat the Scots. In 1640 Charles recalled Parliament and they agreed to give Charles money if he agreed not to pass laws without Parliament’s agreement, not to raise unpopular taxes and to stop Laud’s religious changes. Charles would not agree and dissolved this parliament again after 1 month (the SHORT PARLIAMENT).  Strafford returned to England and there were riots in Ireland. Thousands of Protestants were killed by Catholics. Many people thought Charles supported the Catholic rebellion. In NOVEMBER 1640 Charles had no choice but to call another parliament (THE LONG PARLIAMENT). They were willing to give him money to suppress the Irish rebellion, but did not want him in charge of the army. Parliament took control of the army and Charles was furious. However, by the summer of 1641 Charles had agreed to several of Parliament’s demands:

* Strafford was executed and Laud was imprisoned. Charles was to accept some new advisors.

* The Star chamber court was abolished

*Parliament had to meet every 3 years

* Ship money was made illegal

*Parliament could not be dissolved

By 1642 relations between the King and Parliament had worsened again. JOHN PYM a leading opponent of King Charles presented THE GRAND REMONSTRANCE – a list of complaints about the King. Charles raised an army and marched to Parliament to arrest the FIVE MEMBERS who led the opposition. They had escaped, but this proved to many that Charles was a tyrant who wouldn’t listen to his people.and felt court was removed

 

DEVELOPMENTS

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In August 1642 civil war was declared between Parliament (the ROUNDHEADS) AND King Charles (CAVALIERS/ROYALISTS). Wealthy landowners supported the king. Middle classes and peasant workers tended to support Parliament. The north was more royalist and the south more parliamentarian. Both sides fought using cavalry and infantry and used propaganda to make people turn against the opposition. Some members of Parliament did not want the removal of the monarchy, while others like OLIVER CROMWELL DID. He trained the NEW MODEL ARMY and recruited men based on their skill, not their class. The new Model Army was used for the first time at the battle of NASEBY in 1645. They outnumbered the king’s men and gained a decisive victory. Charles was captured in 1647 by the Scots and imprisoned to await trial. While he was in prison Charles negotiated with Parliament, but secretly wrote to the Scottish Parliament convincing them to invade England and defeat Cromwell’s army. The 2 sides met at the BATTLE OF PRESTON in 1648. The Scots were defeated and Charles had proved he could not be trusted.

In DECEMBER 1648 the regiment of COLONEL THOMAS PRIDE surrounded the Houses of Parliament and refused entry to MPs who supported negotiating with Charles. This meant Charles’ trial was very biased against him. When the trial began on 20th January 1649 out of 135 commissioners due to attend the trial only 68 turned up. Charles refused to plead guilty or not guilty saying parliament had no right to act as judge and jury. After 3 days Charles was banned from court. Witness statements for the prosecution (none for the defence of Charles) were heard. On 27th January Charles was found guilty of treason against his country (for failing to call regular parliaments and for starting the civil war) and sentenced to death by beheading.  

 

CONSEQUENCES

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On 30th January 1649 King Charles was executed at Whitehall. The executioners did not turn up as they were scared to kill the king and new ones had to be found. Parliament also had to pass a new law that said no new monarch could take over after Charles’ death.

Oliver Cromwell and Parliament now controlled England; the first and only time in its history that the country was without a monarch (a commonwealth/republic). Many saw this as a time of opportunity – ordinary men could now have influence over how the country was run. There had been political, moral and religious objections to the way Charles ran the country. The army saw Charles’ losing the war as a sign that God was against him. Others wanted an end to the unfair taxes he had imposed. However others were horrified at the execution of the king.

 

SIGNIFICANCE

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The civil war led to massive upheaval, destruction and chaos in the country. There was the potential for further conflict as people wondered who would establish power. Monarchy was abolished and replaced with parliamentary rule at first. Oliver Cromwell took personal rule later.

Divisions within religions continued and there were several new groups like the Levellers and Diggers with ideas about how the country should be run.

In the longer term, future monarchs realised that they had to work with parliament or suffer the consequences. Protestantism and rule by Parliament gradually established a stronghold over England and the idea of divine right and personal rule faded away.

 

MAIN FACTORS

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RELIGION,  INDIVDUALS, IDEAS, WAR, ECONOMY