English Civil War

Question 1

English Civil War …..

Answer 1

English Civil War was fought between 1642 to 1651.

Question 2

What were the reasons for the English Civil War?

Answer 2

There were three main reasons for the English Civil War: Religion, Power and Money.

Religion

• Charles I was married to a French Roman Catholic, Henrietta Maria.
• William Laud, one of Charles’s advisers, introduced unpopular ideas such as burning incense and candles during church services. These were seen as Catholic practices at a time when England was Protestant.
• In 1637, Charles tried to enforce a new prayer book in Scotland.
• Most Members of Parliament were Puritan (strict Protestants), and disapproved of Charles’s Catholic connections.

Power

• Charles was often seen as arrogant. He strongly believed in the ‘Divine Right of Kings’, which meant God had chosen him to be King and no one could question that choice.
• Charles ruled without Parliament between 1629 and 1640. This is known as the ‘eleven years of tyranny’.
• Charles used the private Court of the Star Chamber to ruthlessly punish his opponents, and fine people when he was short of money.
• In 1642, Charles attempted to arrest five Members of Parliament, including Oliver Cromwell, on a charge of treason when they refused to give in to his demands.

Money

• Charles was known for his extravagant, expensive lifestyle, which often left him needing more money.
• In 1635, he extended Ship Tax, previously only paid in coastal areas, to the whole country.
• He fought two expensive and unsuccessful wars, with Spain in 1625 and France in 1627.
• After the Scots rebelled in 1640, he was forced to ask Parliament for more money to be able to fight another war.

Question 3

The English Civil war was fought between ….. and ….

Answer 3

The English Civil War was fought by the Royalists (Cavaliers) and Parliamentarians (Roundheads).

Question 4

Royalists (Cavaliers) ….

Answer 4

The Cavaliers were:

• supported by most of the gentry
• often from northern and western regions, with some Irish, Scottish and Welsh soldiers
• had the better horsemen, or cavalry, which is where they get their name Cavaliers
• generally conservative Protestant or Catholic
• mainly led by Charles’s nephew, Prince Rupert.

Question 5

Parliamentarians (Roundheads) …

Answer 5

The Roundheads were:

• mainly merchants and traders
• generally from London and the south-east
• in control of London and the navy, increasing their power
• mainly Puritan, a strict Protestant movement
• latterly led by Oliver Cromwell, who proved himself a key solider.

Question 6

Name the three major battles in the English Civil War.

Answer 6

English Civil War 1642 to 1648

• Battle of Edgehill, 23 October 1642
• Battle of Marston Moor,2 July 1644
• Battle of Naseby, 14 June 1645

Question 7

1. Why was Charles I’s wife unpopular?

Answer 7

Henrietta Maria was a French Roman Catholic and the English who were mainy Protestants disliked the foreign Roman Catholic being married to their King Charles I.

Question 8

What did Charles introduce that angered the Scots?

Answer 8

Charles introduce a new prayer book in Scotland and that angered the Scots.

Question 9

Who led King Charles’s army?

Answer 9

King Charles I’s army was led by his nephew Prince Rupert.

Question 10

What was the first major battle of the war?

Answer 10

The first major battle of the English Civil war was The Battle of Edgehill.

Question 11

At which battle did Charles lose control of the north of England?

Answer 11

Battle of Marston Moor

Question 12

What was the ‘New Model Army’?

Answer 12

Cromwell had developed a ‘New Model Army’, meaning soldiers were to be trained in peace time as well as war.

Question 13

When did Prince Rupert surrender?

Answer 13

After the Battle of Naseby, Prince Rupert surrendered and fled to Holland.

Question 14

Who was the King at the time of the English Civil War?

Answer 14

KIng Charles I

Question 15

Battle of Edgehill - provide information

Answer 15

War broke out in August 1642, but Edgehill was the first major battle on 23 October 1642.

• The two sides stumbled upon each other as Charles marched his army from Shrewsbury to London.
• There was a stalemate situation many times in the battle, with neither side advancing.
• Both sides lost approximately 1 500 men, and both declared a victory although there was no clear winner.
• The Cavaliers had intended to continue the battle the following day, but decided against it as their troops were exhausted.

Question 16

Battle of Marston Moor - provide information

Answer 16

Battle of Marston Moor 2nd July 1644

This important battle ended any significant Royalist support in the north.

• Prince Rupert had marched into York, a powerful city, quite easily.
• The Royalists’ power over York gave them an advantage.
• The battle started to go wrong as the Royalist men arrived bit by bit.
• Cavaliers 18 000 men were soon outnumbered by 28 000 Roundheads, causing them to lose.

Question 17

Why was Charles I’s wife unpopular?

Answer 17

Charles I’s wife Henrietta Maria was unpopular because she was a French Roman Catholic princess.

Majority of the people in Britain were Protestants and they opposed their King marryong a foreign Roman Catholic.

Question 18

What did Charles introduce that angered the Scots?

Answer 18

In 1637, Charles tried to enforce a new prayer book in Scotland.

Question 19

What brought Oliveer Cromwell to prominence during the English Civil War?

Answer 19

The establishment of the New Model Army prior to the Battle of Naseby was a key step in bringing Oliver Cromwell to prominence.

Question 20

Battle of Naseby - Provide information

Answer 20

Battle of Naseby, 14 June 1645

• Charles’s confidence had been boosted by a relatively easy attack on Leicester in May.
• He then decided to try to take Oxford, a key Parliamentarian stronghold.
• He started well but his commanders had become divided.
• Cromwell had developed a ‘New Model Army’, meaning soldiers were to be trained in peace time as well as war.
• Many of Charles’s supporters were late as they were travelling from Wales and Somerset. Some never arrived.
• Charles was soon outnumbered by between 8 000 and 13 000 men.
• Many see Parliament’s victory at Naseby as a turning point in the war.
• Following this battle, in September Prince Rupert surrendered Bristol to Parliament.
• Charles withdrew his position in the army, and Rupert fled to Holland.

Question 21

The Second English Civil War - Provide information

Answer 21

The Second English Civil War

• Following Naseby, there was a series of smaller defeats for the Royalists, but the war was all but over.
• In 1646, Charles gave himself up to the Scots, who eventually surrendered him to Parliament in January 1647.
• Charles fled from Hampton Court Palace, where he was being held, in November 1647. Ironically, Charles sided with the Scots, and raised another army, who invaded England.
• This is sometimes known as the Second English Civil War.
• There were a number of Royalist uprisings, but most were easily put down by the New Model Army.
• The Royalists lacked leadership, money and support.
• Charles was eventually recaptured in August 1648.

Question 22

When did Charles give himself up?

Answer 22

In 1646 Charles I gave himself up to the Scots.

Question 23

When was Charles surrendered to the Parliament?

Answer 23

In January 1647, the Scots surrendered Charles to the Parliament.

Question 24

Where was Charles I held in 1647?

Answer 24

Charles I was held in Hampton Court Palace,

Question 25

When did Charles I escape from Hampton Court Palace?

Answer 25

Charles I escaped from Hampton Court Palace in November 1647.

Question 26

What did Charles I do after his escape from Hampton Court Palace in November 1647?

Answer 26

Charles I sided with Scots and raised another army and fought with the New Model army but Charles I was defeated. Charle I was recaptured in August 1648. This is known as the second English Civil War.

Question 27

What were the reasons for the failure of the second English Civil War?

Answer 27

The Royalists lacked leadership, money and support.

Question 28

When was Charles I eventually recaptured.

Answer 28

Charles I was eventually recaptured in August 1648.

Question 29

What was the Rump Parliament?

Answer 29

Many MPs did not want the King to stand trial.

Cromwell only allowed MPs into Parliament if he believed they wanted the King to stand trial.

This was known as the ‘Rump Parliament’.

However, only 29 of these 46 politicians voted for the King to stand trial.

Question 30

When did Charles I’s trial begin?

Answer 30

Charles I’s trial started on the 1st of January 1649.