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Year 8

The causes of the English Civil War

I can explain how Charles I angered Parliament, which was the main cause of the English Civil War.

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New
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Year 8

The causes of the English Civil War

I can explain how Charles I angered Parliament, which was the main cause of the English Civil War.

Download all resources
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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Charles I believed in the Divine Right of Kings
  2. Parliament was angered by Charles I's religious, financial and political policies
  3. Parliament produced the Grand Remonstrance in 1641 to convey its many complaints to Charles I
  4. The Grand Remonstrance was published as a pamphlet to help Parliament put pressure on the king to make changes

Keywords

  • Divine - if something is divine it is connected to God

  • Parliament - Parliament is made up of politicians who vote on laws and taxes

  • Remonstrance - a remonstrance is a very critical protest

  • Pamphlet - pamphlets are small booklets offering information or arguments about a specific topic

  • Papist - Papist was an insulting word used to refer to Catholics

Common misconception

Parliament in the 17th century was similarly superior to the monarch as it is today

Parliament was there to assist the monarch but they could rule without it and did not consider it an equal to themselves

It may be helpful to discuss short-term causes with pupils. The Irish Rebellion and its impact on conspiratorial concerns in Parliament is particularly helpfull or helping pupils appreciate the shift from opposition to conflict preparation in 1641
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What does the word monarch refer to?
leader
Correct answer: king or queen
president
prime minister
Q2.
True or false? England has only had a monarchy since the Norman Conquest.
True
Correct answer: False
Q3.
Which of the following words best describes a challenge to the power of a monarch by their own subjects?
election
invasion
Correct answer: rebellion
Q4.
What is the name of the group of politicians who supported English monarchs in making laws and taxes?
clergy
council
nobility
Correct answer: Parliament
Q5.
Write the missing word. During the Reformation, England went from being a __________ country to being a Protestant country.
Correct Answer: Catholic, catholic, Roman Catholic, roman catholic
Q6.
Which group would be represented at the top of a social pyramid of feudal society? The top of the social pyramid is represented by row 1 in the image.
An image in a quiz
barons
knights
Correct answer: monarch
peasants

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Who was the English monarch when the English Civil War broke out?
Mary I
Elizabeth I
James I
Correct answer: Charles I
Q2.
Match the key words with their correct definitions.
Correct Answer:divine,related to God

related to God

Correct Answer:remonstrance,a very critical protest

a very critical protest

Correct Answer:Papist,insulting word used to refer to Catholics

insulting word used to refer to Catholics

Correct Answer:Parliament,group who vote on laws and taxes

group who vote on laws and taxes

Q3.
According to the Divine Right of Kings, a monarch was appointed by _______ and didn't have to answer to their subjects.
Correct Answer: God, god, the Lord
Q4.
What did Parliament ask for in the Grand Remonstrance in 1641?
Charles I to step down.
Charles I to execute all Catholics.
Correct answer: Charles I to give Parliament more power.
Charles I to start another period of Personal Rule.
Q5.
Identify an example of a political issue that Parliament had with Charles I.
Charles I married a Catholic queen, Henrietta Maria.
Correct answer: Charles I ruled without Parliament for 11 years.
Charles increased taxes such as Ship Money.
Charles' Church reforms re-introduced some Catholic practices.
Q6.
Identify an example of a religious issue Parliament had with Charles I.
Charles increased taxes such as Ship Money.
Charles would not remove unpopular advisors, such as the Earl of Strafford.
Charles stormed into Parliament to arrest five MPs in 1642.
Correct answer: Charles reintroduced some Catholic practices into worship.

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