1. The Story of the Gunpowder Plot

2. In 1605 a gang of Catholic men made a plan to kill the King,
James I.
Guy Fawkes was a member of the gang.
The gang wanted England to be Catholic, but although James I. was a Catholic himself, England remained Protestant.

3. Guy Fawkes

4. The gang knew that King James was going to the Houses of Parliament in London on November 5th and that all the other members of Parliament would be there, too.
Houses of Parliament

5. So they decided to use gunpowder and blow up the Houses of Parliament when the King was there.
The plan failed because one member of the gang sent a letter to one of his relatives warning him not to go to Parliament on that day.

6. The police searched the House the night before November 5th.
Guy Fawkes was arrested and later hanged for treason – trying to kill the King.
The rest of the gang escaped, but were killed soon after in a fight.

7. It is this failed attempt to kill the King which is remembered to this day, although the history behind the event is now no longer of such great importance!

8. Today November 5th, or Guy Fawkes Day, or simply Bonfire Night, is when people in Britain let off fireworks and have large bonfires.