Lesson 44: What Caused the English Civil War?
Events that led to the English Civil War:

James I had become known as the ‘wisest fool in Christendom’. He believed
in the ‘divine right of kings’, so expected Parliament to do as he wanted and
not argue with any of his decisions, but Parliament and the king clashed over
several issues.

1625 – Charles I ascended the English throne and married a French Roman
Catholic princess, Henrietta Maria.

Charles was arrogant and also a firm believer in the divine rights of kings.
Having witnessed the damaged relationship between his father and
Parliament, he believed that Parliament was entirely to blame.

1626 – Parliament dismissed George Villiers, First Duke of Buckingham,
from command of English forces in Europe; furious for acting without his
consent, Charles dismissed Parliament.

1625–29 – Charles argued with Parliament over many issues, mainly money
and religion.

1629 – As his father James had done, Charles refused to let Parliament meet
– for 11 years! He ruled by himself, imposing fines and taxes.

1637 – Charles ordered that the Scots should use the Anglican prayer book
rather than their own Presbyterian prayer book. Furious, in 1639, the Scots
invaded England.

1640 – Charles recalled Parliament to raise funds to counter-attack the Scots.

1642 – Relations between Parliament and Charles had deteriorated. Charles
had to do as Parliament wished, as only they could raise the money that
http://education.hodge.continuumbooks.com © Susie Hodge (2010)
Resources for Teaching History 11–14. London: Continuum.
Charles needed, but he hated this as it went against his belief in the divine
right of kings.

1642 – Charles went to Parliament with 300 soldiers to arrest five men who
particularly criticized him. But they had been forewarned and had already
fled to the safety of the City of London.

Parliament represented the people; by the King attempting to arrest five of
its Members of Parliament simply because they criticized him, many no
longer felt safe.

Charles realized there was a serious problem and six days after trying to
arrest the five Members of Parliament, he left London to head for Oxford to
raise an army to fight Parliament for control of England.
http://education.hodge.continuumbooks.com © Susie Hodge (2010)
Resources for Teaching History 11–14. London: Continuum.