Civil War

Chapter 21:i

The English Parliament had won several important rights

by the 1500s.

Parliamentary powers included:

• approval of new taxes• passage of laws proposed

by the monarch• advising monarchs

Even so, monarchs

such as King Henry VIII still wielded more power

than the Parliament.

English monarchs had the power to

name officials and appoint judges, . . .

summon and dismiss parliament,

. . .

and conduct foreign policy.

Henry VIII sought and won Parliament’s approval to establish

the Church of England.

Queen Elizabeth I

died in 1603 leaving no

direct heir to the English

throne.

As a result, King James VI

of Scotland became King

James I of England in

1603.

James I believed that

kings ruled by divine right.

“Kings are called gods because they sit upon

God’s throne on earth.”

- King James I

King James Bible

James I’s belief that kings should have no restraints on their power led to conflict with Parliament.

Guy Fawkes

The English Parliament was a bicameral legislative assembly.

The House of Lords was composed of nobles who served for

life and were known as

Lords of the Realm.

The elected representatives to the House of

Commons were mostly

wealthy landowners

known as the gentry.

James I and Parliament quarreled over:

• religion

• money

• foreign policy

Puritans wanted to

“purify” the Anglican Roman

Church of Catholic

rituals and ceremonies.

James I constantly needed money to support his lavish lifestyle and pay for his wars with Catholic Spain.

James I angered

Parliament when he revived

feudal fines and increased

customs duties.

Many people felt that

James I did not give

enough help to Protestants

in Europe during the Wars of Religion.

Charles I inherited the

throne from his father in 1625. Like James I, he believed in

the divine right of kings.

The alliance with France was sealed when he married Louis XIII’s sister

Henrietta Maria in 1624.

Charles I dismissed Parliament when it refused to give him enough money.

Charles I was forced to summon Parliament in 1628 because he

needed funds desperately.

Petition of Right

• no forced loans

• cannot levy taxes without

Parliament’s consent

• cannot imprison a person

without cause

• no quartering of soldiers

After Parliament approved the

funds he needed, Charles I

dismissed it, ignored the

Petition of Right, and returned to the policies of

James I.

Charles I would rule for eleven years without calling

another Parliament.

Charles I appointed unpopular

officials such as William Laud to be

Archbishop of Canterbury.

Charles I used special courts such as the Court of High Commission and the Court of Star Chamber to

silence opposition.

A Scottish army invaded England

in 1640 when Charles I tried to

impose the Anglican Church

on Scotland.

Charles I summoned

Parliament in 1640 because

he needed money to

equip and for pay an army.

The Parliament called in 1640 would meet in one form or

another until 1660 and become known as the Long Parliament.

Demanded trial

and execution

of Charles I’s

chief ministers

for abusing

power.

Warrant

Parliament abolished the Court of High Commission

and the Court of Star

Chamber.

The king was required to call a parliament at least once

every three years.

Parliament condemned Charles I as

a tyrant.

Compromise between Charles I and Parliament

was made impossible when the king attempted to arrest five of his most outspoken

opponents.

John Pym

John Hampden

Henry Ireton

Sir Arthur Hazelrich

The king’s supporters were called Cavaliers.

Supporters of Parliament were called Roundheads because they cut their hair close to their

heads.

A fully equipped pikeman

A typical 17th century musketeer

with “twelve Apostles” containing

pre-measured powder charges.

A political cartoon

depicting a pillaging soldier.

Puritan army officer Oliver

Cromwell reorganized Parliament’s

army in 1645.

New Model Army

Oliver Cromwell was known as “Ironsides” because of the strict discipline he enforced, and the fact that he never lost a battle while in command.

Battle of Naseby, 14th June 1645.

Charles I was put on trial by Parliament in January 1649.

Charles I was sentenced to die by having his head chopped off.

The House of Commons abolished both the monarchy and the House of Lords and proclaimed England

a republic.

Cromwell was chosen to lead the new republic, or Commonwealth.

Reformers known as Levellers wanted to

abolish titles of nobility and

allow all English men the

right to vote.

Parliament became so seriously divided

that Cromwell dissolved it in 1654

and ruled England as a dictator with the

title Lord Protector.

Cromwell used the army to govern the country and impose strict Puritan rule.

Richard Cromwell

succeeded his father as Lord Protector of

England.

Charles I and family

John Milton