What were the causes of the English Civil War?

 Parliament’s Role: ◦ Included representatives from the entire country ◦ Had the power to pass laws and approve taxes ◦ Example: Henry VIII used parliament to make England Anglican ◦ Seen as a check on the power of the monarchy because it represented the wishes of people  Parliament’s Makeup: ◦ Two houses: Similar to Congress ◦ House of Lords  Nobles and Clergy ◦ The House of Commons  Gentry: landowners who had social position but no titles  Burgesses: merchants and professional people from towns and cities  BOTH GROUPS HAD POWER THAT THE MONARCH NEEDED TO RESPECT!!!!!!

 Ruler from Scotland who came to power after the death of Elizabeth I in 1603  From the Stuart family  Believed in Divine Right  Many Englishmen suspected that he did not entirely understand their parliamentary system  Strong supporter of the Anglican church putting him at conflict with the Puritans  The main opposition to James I came from Parliament, where the Puritans had a strong voice. ◦ Could never collect taxes ◦ The growing tension between the Stuart ruler and his English subjects explodes with his son Charles I.

 Charles I- son of James I ◦ Divine right- put him out of touch with population ◦ Could not get funds from Parliament ◦ Tried getting money through threat of imprisonment ◦ Petition of Right- given to the King by Parliament  King could not tax without agreement from parliament  Could not declare martial law  Could not board soldiers in private homes during peace time  Could not imprison a person w/o specific charge  For 11 years, Charles refused to call parliament into session- time period was known as Long Parliament  Religion issues grew ◦ Charles Anglican ◦ Parliament still Puritan ◦ Tensions rose

 Charles needed money to put down Rebellion in Scotland  Calls Parliament into session ◦ This process was called LONG PARLIAMENT because of how long it was since they were last called into session  Instead of Parliament helping the King, they hurt his power with two key rules: ◦ end King’s power of dissolving Parliament and kept him from raising taxes ◦ Parliament has to meet once every 3 years

 Rejected Parliaments' radical puritan changes in the church  When parliament also tried to make changes in the Anglican church, approximately ½ of the public support shifted to the king

 While Charles struggled with long Parliament, an Irish rebellion broke out (1641) ◦ 1100’s conquered people- treated brutally  Parliament and Charles fight over who should control army to fight the Irish (1642)

 What were the top issues/problems that caused tensions between Charles I and Parliament? ◦ Religion: Charles was Anglican, Parliament was Puritan ◦ Charles belief in divine right ◦ Charles’ inability to collect taxes or create laws