1. Causes of the
English
Civil War

2. Growing Powers of Parliament
Purpose of the parliament was to advise the King
According to Magna Carta (1215), the King cannot charge taxes without parliaments consent
Parliament had 2 groups
House of Lords – bishops and nobles
House of Commons – wealthy landowners

3. Growing Powers of Parliament
This SEEMS democratic… BUT…
People don’t vote
Parliament is only held when the King calls it
Parliament is constantly fighting the King for more power

4. Money $$$
Charles I needs $$$, but cannot charge taxes so needs parliament
Ex. If King wants to go to war, he needs to ask Parliament. They can use this to increase their power.

5. Money $$$
When Parliament gave conditions to the money he wanted, Charles found other “sneaky” ways to get it (forced loans, fines…)
Charles, in his quest for
money and power only
alienated himself from his
people and their government
….mo money, mo problems

6. Religion
There are many Puritans in parliament and they do not like Charles
They think he is too lenient on Catholics (after all… he married one)

7. Religion
Charles I’s friend Archbishop Laud starts to decorate the Church of England elaborately = angry Puritans
Puritans speak up, but are ex-communicated and charged fines = no freedom of speech

8. Behaviour of the King A few of the complaints against Charles:
Expensive Wars
Married a Catholic
Court of the Star Chamber
Henrietta Maria from France

9. Behaviour of the King
1628 Charles calls parliament (needs $$$), but the House of Lords and the House of Commons gang up on him and force him to sign the Petition of Right (a reminder of all the civil rights he is breaking)
Charles dissolves parliament

10. Timeline - Road to Civil War
1628
Charles I refuses to sign Petition of Right and dissolves parliament
1629
11 years without parliament begins
1639
Charles attempts religious reform in Scotland
Bishops Wars

11. Timeline – Road to Civil War
1640
Recalls parliament because needs money for Bishops War = ‘short parliament’. Dissolved after three weeks
1641
Parliament executes Lord Stafford for Treason
Archbishop Laud arrested
Grand Remonstrance = Parliament shows opposition to all Charles actions and demands the removal of his ministers

12. Timeline – Road to Civil War
1642
Charles enters House of Commons with 400 soldiers to arrest radical members
Queen takes Crown Jewels to Europe to sell them = raising $ for war
Charles flees London
Civil War begins