Year 8 Homework Project
Why did Parliament win
English civil War?
Key Concept:
Causation
Introduction
Welcome to your First homework project of Year 8. This
project is about the English Civil War and why Parliament
won.
By the end of this project you should be able to:
(1) Describe some of the key battles that took place
during the war
(2) Explain some of the reasons why Parliament won the
war
(3) Decide what you think the most important reason
was for Parliament’s victory
To achieve this you have to complete three tasks.
Task 1
Research what happened during the following battles:
 Edgehill, October 1642
 Marston Moor, July 1644
 Newbury, October 1644
 Naseby, June 1645
As you are researching you should complete the table provided
to help you work out which side had the better army.
Task 1 table:
Royalist Army
Strengths
Weaknesses
Parliamentarian Army
Task 2
a) Read the information boxes about why Parliament won the
English Civil War (on the last page)
b) Make a key to colour the boxes to show the following
reasons:
 Leadership skills
 Tactics and decisions
 Military (army) strength/weakness
Be careful! Some of the boxes may show more than one reason!
Task 3
You are going to write an answer to the question:
‘Why did Parliament win the English Civil War?’
In this answer you should include:




What you think was the most important reason
Examples to prove this reason
At least one more additional reason
A conclusion that thinks about whether Parliament won due to
their own achievements or the failures of the King?
You can use the following writing frame to help you if you want:
(on the next page)
The English Civil War broke out in 1642 because…
The most important reason Parliament won the war was
because…
This is shown in the example when…
This was the most important reason for their victory because…
Another reason why Parliament won the Civil War was because…
For example when…
In conclusion, I think Parliament won the war because…
Where can I find information?
You can use the books in the LRC or try some online research at the
following websites:
http://www.historyonthenet.com/Civil_War/civil_war_battles.htm
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/battles_english_civil_war.htm
http://www.battlefieldstrust.com/resource-centre/civil-war/
or you could even watch the Battlefield Britain episode dedicated
to the English Civil War! Ask you history teacher for more details.
Information boxes for Task 2
Parliament created
the New Model
Army which was
better organised
and trained than
the king’s army,
though it did lack
experience.
In the Battle of
Naseby, Oliver
Cromwell used
clever tactics to
defeat the king’s
army, such as
hiding his cavalry
behind a row of
hedges.
Parliament
controlled the areas
with the most
money, such as
London.
Though both
sides did it, a
lack of money
meant the king’s
army had to steal
food which made
them unpopular.
The New Model
Army would pray
for victory
together which
made them more
loyal to one
another.
There was strict
Parliament’s army
religious discipline
fought harder as
in Parliament’s
they believed they
army: if anyone
were fighting for
swore they
God.
severely punished.
Several
commanders
believed that
removing the
King was
important as he
was a tyrant.
Parliament
controlled East
Anglia which
produced the best
horses – and so the
best cavalry – in
the country. Oliver
Cromwell was in
charge of these.
The king made
some tactical
errors, such as
splitting up his
army before the
Battle of Naseby.
Having more
money meant
troops could be
paid more and
soldiers given
better weapons.
Parliament
controlled the
navy, meaning
they controlled
all trade coming
in to the country.