The English Civil War from 1642-1651 resulted from growing tensions between King Charles I, who believed in the divine right of kings, and the Parliament, which sought to limit the King's power. After Charles I was defeated, he was executed in 1649 and England became a republic led by Oliver Cromwell. Cromwell later dissolved Parliament and ruled as Lord Protector until his death in 1658. The monarchy was restored in 1660 when Charles II became King, but agreed to share power with Parliament. This established England as a constitutional monarchy, further cemented by the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and the English Bill of Rights, which defined the rights of citizens and limited the power of future monarchs.

1. The English Civil
War
From Absolutism to Constitutional Monarchy
The ideas of the Enlightenment cross the English Channel
1642 - 1651
MK 2016
Jerusalem England

2. Causes of the Civil War
Absolutism
James VI of Scotland James I of England
Inherited the English throne from Elizabeth I.
United Scotland and England into the United Kingdom.
Raised Protestant, married, 3 children
Believed in absolutism – Wrote a book “Trew Law”
justifying Divine Right of kings.
Paid for the Bible to be translated into common English
“King James” version.
Scotland England United Kingdom

3. Causes of the Civil War
Absolutism
Causes of distrust between James and Parliament:
* He was a “foreigner” ( England and Scotland had often been at war with each other)
• Brought Scottish “favorites” he could “trust” and gave them prominent positions
• Made Peace with Catholic Spain
• Allowed Catholics to have government positions, ability over religious beliefs.
• Spent large amounts of money on his court
• Had homosexual relationships.
He was often called “Queen James” by his friends.
When James died most members of Parliament were relieved.
Duke of Buckingham King James I Duke of Richmond

4. Causes of the Civil War
Absolutism
Charles I of England
Learned absolutism from his father.
Very authoritarian.
Married a French Catholic princess – had 4 children.
Was not known to have a sense of humor.
Lived an extravagant lifestyle.
Very religious ( Anglican but obviously tolerated Catholics )

5. Causes of distrust between Charles and Parliament:
Charles levied taxes without Parliament’s consent - Magna Carta/creation of Parliament
“Only Parliament can levy taxes”
Abuse of the courts and legal system - Arrests without due-process, illegal/secret
courts (Star Chamber), torture, self-incrimination
Catholic wife – are children Protestant or Catholic?
“To which of you has God anointed to carry out His will?” – Charles I to Parliament
Causes of the Civil War
Absolutism vs. Parliament
Old House of Commons

6. Causes of the Civil War
Absolutism vs. Parliament
The House of Commons (Parliament) was known as the freest place in England.
Here members of Parliament could say what they wanted. Many members gave
speeches against the king and his abuses of power.
Charles saw this as treason, but he had no legal ability to do anything about it.
In 1629, an argument with Parliament over taxes led Charles to order Parliament to
close. Charles would attempt to rule by himself.
After 11 years of wars, Charles was in desperate need of increased tax revenue.
Only Parliament could legally increase taxes, so Charles was forced to call Parliament
back into session.
Parliament immediately passed a law making it illegal for the king to dissolve
Parliament and said “no” to his tax increase.
The frustration between King and Parliament was at an extreme level.

7. Causes of the Civil War
Absolutism vs. Parliament
Crossing the Line
Charles accused 5 members of Parliament of treason.
In an attempt to arrest the fugitives, Charles and his
Guards entered the House of Commons.
No noble/monarch had ever set foot in the House of
Commons. This was the “Chamber of the People”.
The king had “crossed the line”.
The accused men had fled, and Charles was forced to
leave empty handed.
Parliament responded to this “egregious violation” by
seizing control of London and calling for the King to
abdicate in favor of the people. The Speaker of the House tells the
King he is unable to tell him where the
fugitives are without permission from
the members of Parliament.

8. Causes of the Civil War
Absolutism vs. Parliament
Crossing the Line
The House of Commons in Parliament today. The yellow strip is woven into
the carpet and is as far as any noble or non-member of Parliament may enter
after being invited into the chamber unless they are given permission by the
Speaker of the House to approach the royal scepter of state.
Every year the House of Commons demonstrates their independence and
freedom by slamming their doors to the monarch’s messenger.
The Messenger is there to summon the commoners to the House of Lords for
the Monarch’s speech.
Optional video – first 2:30 only

9. The English Civil War
1642 - 1649
Royal Forces
Royalists or “Cavaliers”
About 1/3 of Parliament was loyal
Nobles
Royalist civilians
Lead by King Charles I
Parliament’s Forces
“Roundheads”
2/3 of Parliament
Small land owners
The Middle Class store owners etc.
Lead by Oliver Cromwell
The war lasted 7 years. In the end Charles and the Royalists are defeated by Oliver
Cromwell and his “New Model Army”

10. The English Civil War
1642 – 1649
How does a King commit treason against himself?
What was left of Parliament decided to put King Charles on trial for treason.
Charles never answered any questions put to him and refused to recognize the
legitimacy of the court to try him.
Charles was found guilty and sentenced to death.
Death warrant signed by the “Rump
Parliament”.
Optional video – trial of the
King

11. The English Civil War
1642 – 1649
King Charles was executed on January 30, 1649
Optional video – execution of
Charles I – 3:38

12. The English Commonwealth
1649 - 1653
After the execution of the king, England ceased to be a monarchy
and became a Commonwealth / Republic .
This Commonwealth would be controlled by an elected Parliament.
Some members had been loyal to the king and had left.
Others had refused to put the King on trial and were removed.
Some had refused to sign the King’s death warrant and were removed.
The remaining members ( less than half ) were
called the Rump Parliament
Rump = the end / what's left over
The Rump Parliament would rule England.
There were no new elections to replace the
removed members.

13. The English Protectorate
1653 - 1658
Oliver Cromwell
* Member of Parliament
* Outspoken critic of the King
* Leader of the Parliamentary, New Model Army during the war
* Puritan
On 20 April 1653, supported by about forty musketeers, Cromwell cleared the
chamber and dissolved the Parliament by force.
( hmmm sounds like King Charles? )
A new constitution was written and Cromwell became
the dictator of England. He was called the Lord Protector.

14. The English Protectorate
1653 - 1658
Oliver Cromwell was a Puritan.
As Lord Protector he tried to force England to accept Puritan ideas and lifestyle.
* Most inns/taverns/bars were closed
* Theatres were closed
• Most sports were banned. Boys playing football on a Sunday could be whipped
• Swearing was punished with a fine; those who kept swearing went to prison
• Work on Sunday was not permitted
going for a walk (except to church ) on a Sunday was illegal
• Make-up was banned
Women caught with make-up had it scrubbed off with wire horse brushes
• Colorful clothing was not permitted
black white gray brown
Women had to be covered neck to toes
• Men could no longer wear wigs or have long hair
• Christmas celebrations were outlawed
Traditional Christmas decorations were illegal.

15. The English Protectorate
1653 - 1658
Invaded Ireland and committed the Irish Genocide. (Killing of Catholics- 610,000 dead)
Invited Jews to move to England – for financial gains for England
Was offered the crown in 1675 but refused it – ( he already had dictatorial powers )
Scenes of the Irish
genocide

16. End of The English Protectorate
1658 - 1560
Oliver Cromwell died in 1658 of malaria and kidney infection
He appointed his son Richard to be the next Lord Protector
* Richard was not well liked
Opposition army leaders deposed Richard and the Rump Parliament.
The old Parliament was recalled.
Parliament reached out to Charles I’s son, Charles, with an invitation to
become King of England……..with conditions.
Parliament and the king would now share power.
Charles was in debt and had worn out his welcome at the French Court.
Charles was happy to become king and have less responsibility than his father.

17. The Restoration
1660
Charles II’s arrival in London to cheering crowds

18. King Charles II
1660 – 1685
Restoration
Charles II
Son of Charles I
Had lived in exile in France during the Commonwealth
Married a French Catholic.
Had no children with his wife but 12 children with mistresses
Passed anti-Puritan laws
Was known as the “Merry Monarch” for his hedonistic ways
The English saw him as a breath of fresh air after the depressing
rule of Cromwell.

19. King Charles II
1660 – 1685
The Un-merry Death of the “Merry Monarch”
MONDAY
On the morning of February 2, 1685, King Charles II of England was preparing to shave when he suddenly cried out in pain, fell to
the floor, and started having fits. Six royal physicians rushed in and administered emergency “aid.”
* They let (drained) 16 ounces of blood.
* They applied heated cups to the skin, which formed large round blisters, in order to “stimulate the system.”
* They let 8 more ounces of blood.
* They induced vomiting to purify his stomach, gave an enema to purify his bowels, and made him swallow a purgative to clean
out his intestines.
* Then they force-fed him syrup of blackthorn and rock salt.
* They shaved his hair and put blistering plasters on his scalp. The king regained consciousness. The treatment seemed to be
working, so they kept at it.
* They gave him another enema.
* Then they applied hellebore root to the nostrils, more blistering plasters to the skin, and powdered cowslip flowers to the
stomach.
* Special plasters made from pigeon droppings were attached to his feet. After 12 hours of care, they put the ailing king to bed.

20. King Charles II
1660 – 1685
The Un-merry Death of the “Merry Monarch”
TUESDAY
* Charles awoke and seemed much improved. The attending physicians congratulated themselves and continued the treatment.
* They let 10 more ounces of blood.
* They gave him a potion of black cherry, peony, lavender, crushed pearls, and sugar. Charles slept for the rest of the day and
through the night.
WEDNESDAY
* He awoke, had another fit, and was bled again.
* They gave him senna pods in spring water, and white wine with nutmeg.
* They force-fed him a drink made from “40 drops of extract of human skull” of a man who had met a violent death.
* They made him eat a gallstone of an East Indian goat.
* Then they proudly announced that King Charles was definitely on the road to recovery.

21. King Charles II
1660 – 1685
The Un-merry Death of the “Merry Monarch”
THURSDAY
* The king was near death.
* He was blistered again, re-bled, re-purged, and given another enema.
* He was given Jesuit’s powder -a controversial malaria remedy- laced with opium and wine. His doctors were mystified by
the king’s weakening condition.
FRIDAY
* Showing no improvement, the king was bled almost bloodless.
* They scoured the palace ground and created a last-ditch antidote containing “extracts of all the herbs and animals of the
kingdom.”
SATURDAY
* The king was dead

22. King Charles II
1660 – 1685
Restoration
In these portraits, who is
Charles II imitating and
why?

23. King Charles II
1660 – 1685
“Treason must always be punished”
After the restoration, the deceased Oliver Cromwell was put on trial for treason,
found guilty and sentenced to death. His corpse was exhumed, then he was
hanged in chains, beheaded and disemboweled. His severed head was placed on a
pole and displayed outside of Westminster Hall until 1685.

24. James II
1685 - 1688
James II
Younger son of Charles I and brother of Charles II.
Converted to Catholicism while in exile in France
1st wife died ( English Protestant )
Disowned his two daughters ( Mary & Anne ) from his 1st
marriage, so that he could marry a Catholic princess from
Italy.
Parliament permitted James to take the throne after his
brother’s death as long as any Catholic son of his would not
inherit the throne and his wife would not be crowned
queen.
James Promoted Catholics and displayed Catholic symbols.
When a son was born & baptized Catholic, James
demanded he be recognized as the heir and his wife
crowned queen.

25. The Glorious Revolution
1688
Parliament protests King James II’s breaking of his agreement.
James closes Parliament….. ( repeated mistake made by his father )
Parliament “fires” James and asks for William Duke of Orange ( Charles’s nephew ), to
come to England to be king.
William is married to Mary ( remember she was the disowned daughter of James and was Protestant )
James refuses to give up the crown.
William & Mary
King James II

26. The Glorious Revolution
1688
Never dreaming she would ever be queen, Mary had married Prince William the
Duke of Orange ( Holland ).
William & Mary agreed to take the English Crown so long as they would rule as
equals.
Parliament agreed

27. The Glorious Revolution
1688
November 15th, William and Mary arrive in England with William’s army. They are
greeted with flowers, wine, cheers and relief by the English people.
Mary is ready and willing to fight her father and his small army of supporters.

28. The Glorious Revolution
1688
James found that his army was quickly evaporating like his support amongst the
people of England.
The Battle of Reading was a short and disastrous engagement for James.
The majority of his army fled the field forcing James to flee as well. Because it
involved so little fighting, the Glorious Revolution is also known as the Bloodless
Revolution.
On December 23, 1688, James left England for exile in France.
Along the way, James threw the Great Seal of the King of England into the River
Themes.
The Great Seal

29. The Glorious Revolution
1688
Before granting William & Mary the
Crown, Parliament passed the English
Bill of Rights.
William & Mary would rule with the
consent of Parliament and without
being absolute monarchs.
Parliament would have the majority of
the political power.
William & Mary agreed and were
crowned as joint monarchs in 1689
William & Mary receive the crown of England not from
God but from Parliament / the people.

30. The English Bill of Rights
1689
The King can not suspend laws without Parliament’s
consent.
The king can not create special courts and must follow
the legal system.
The King can not raise special taxes.
The King can not raise an army without consent of
Parliament.
All citizens are guaranteed a fair trial by their peers.
No cruel and or unusual punishment.
The monarch and spouse must be Protestant in the
future.
Members of Parliament will be elected not appointed.

31. From James I to William & Mary England had gone from an absolute
monarchy to a Commonwealth to a constitutional monarchy.
The monarch would now obey the laws made by the elected
representatives of the common people and not make the laws for the
common people.
Elected leaders of England
The Prime Minister
runs the government
starting in 1689