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.
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.
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