The English Revolution, 1625–1660

Welcome to the English Revolution!

Welcome! In this study guide, we are diving into one of the most exciting and dramatic periods in British history: The English Revolution (1625–1660). This was a time when the people of England did the unthinkable—they went to war with their King, put him on trial, and eventually chopped off his head!

Don't worry if this seems like a lot of names and dates at first. We are going to break it down into simple steps. Think of this era as a massive "family argument" between the Monarchy (the King) and Parliament (the people representing the nation) that got completely out of control. By the end of these notes, you’ll understand why they fought and how England eventually became the country it is today.

Part One: Why did it all go wrong? (1625–1642)

1. The King and His Big Ideas (1625–1629)

When Charles I became King in 1625, he inherited a lot of problems from his father, James I. But Charles also had a specific belief that made things worse: the Divine Right of Kings.

Simple Concept: Charles believed that God had personally chosen him to be King. This meant he thought he shouldn't have to answer to anyone on Earth—especially not Parliament.

The Problem with Buckingham: Charles’s best friend was the Duke of Buckingham. Parliament hated him because they thought he was corrupt and bad at running wars.

Memory Aid: Think of Buckingham as the "unpopular sidekick." Every time Charles asked for money for a war, Parliament said, "Only if you get rid of Buckingham!" Charles always chose his friend over his government.

Quick Review: The Petition of Right (1628)
Parliament eventually got so fed up they forced Charles to sign this document. It said the King couldn't tax people without Parliament's permission. Charles signed it to get money, but then ignored it and sent Parliament home for 11 years!

2. The "Eleven Years' Tyranny" (1629–1640)

This period is officially called the Personal Rule. For 11 years, Charles ruled without calling Parliament once. To survive, he had to find "sneaky" ways to get money.

The Ship Money Example: Usually, only people living by the coast paid "Ship Money" to protect against pirates. Charles started charging everyone in the country.

Analogy: Imagine if your school had a "Bus Fee" for students who live far away, but suddenly the Principal started charging students who walk to school too, just because the school ran out of money. You'd be pretty annoyed, right? That’s how the English people felt.

Religious Conflict: Charles and his friend Archbishop William Laud started making the Church of England look "too Catholic" for many people's liking. This really upset the Puritans (strict Protestants), who wanted the Church to be simple and plain.

The Breaking Point: Scotland
Charles tried to force his religious ideas on Scotland. The Scots hated it, formed the Covenanters, and invaded England. Charles was broke and had no army. He had to call Parliament back to ask for money. This ended his Personal Rule.

Key Takeaway: By 1640, Charles had annoyed the taxpayers (with Ship Money), the religious groups (with Laudianism), and the neighboring Scots. He was backed into a corner.

Part Two: The Road to War (1640–1642)

1. The Long Parliament

The Parliament that met in 1640 is called the Long Parliament because it lasted for years. Their leader was John Pym. Pym was a political genius who knew exactly how to press the King's buttons.

Step-by-Step Breakdown of the Crisis:
1. Parliament executes the King's top advisor, Thomas Wentworth (Earl of Strafford).
2. A massive rebellion breaks out in Ireland. Both the King and Parliament want an army to stop it, but they don't trust each other with the weapons!
3. Parliament passes the Grand Remonstrance—a long list of everything Charles had done wrong.
4. The Failed Arrest: Charles loses his cool. He enters Parliament with soldiers to arrest Pym and four other leaders. But they had already escaped! Charles looked like a bully and a failure at the same time.

Did you know? After the failed arrest of the Five Members, Charles fled London. Both sides started raising armies. The Civil War was about to begin.

Part Three: The Civil War and the Republic (1642–1660)

1. The First Civil War (1642–1646)

The war was between the Cavaliers (Royalists who supported the King) and the Roundheads (Parliamentarians).

At first, the King was winning. But Parliament created a secret weapon: The New Model Army.

What made the New Model Army special?
• Promotion by Merit: In the old days, you became an officer if you were a rich Lord. In the New Model Army, you became an officer if you were actually good at fighting.
• Religious Zeal: The soldiers were highly motivated Puritans who believed they were fighting for God.
• Professionalism: They were well-trained and well-paid.

2. Radicalism and the Death of the King (1646–1649)

After Parliament won, they didn't know what to do with the King. He was held captive but kept trying to start new wars (the Second Civil War).

Inside the army, radical ideas were spreading. A group called the Levellers wanted everyone (well, all men) to have the vote and be equal.

Eventually, the army leaders—including Oliver Cromwell—decided that the only way to have peace was to kill "that man of blood," Charles I. He was tried for treason and executed in 1649. This is called Regicide.

Common Mistake to Avoid: Many students think everyone wanted the King dead. Actually, it was a very small, determined group in the army that pushed it through. Most of the country was shocked!

3. The Experiment: Life Without a King (1649–1660)

England became a Republic (called the Commonwealth). But ruling was hard!

The Rump Parliament: This was the small group of MPs left after the army kicked out the King's supporters. They were slow and unpopular.
Oliver Cromwell: In 1653, Cromwell got fed up, dismissed Parliament, and became Lord Protector. He was basically a King in all but name.
The Major-Generals: Cromwell divided England into 11 districts ruled by soldiers. They closed down pubs and banned Christmas to keep people "godly." As you can imagine, people hated this!

4. The Restoration (1660)

When Oliver Cromwell died in 1658, his son Richard took over but was a disaster. The country was falling into chaos.

The Solution: The army and Parliament agreed to bring back Charles I’s son, Charles II. This is called the Restoration. The "Revolution" was over, and the King was back—but the world had changed forever. The King now knew that if he pushed Parliament too far, there were consequences.

Quick Review: The Mnemonics of Power
To remember the order of government 1649-1660, think R-P-P:
1. Rump Parliament (1649-53)
2. Protectorate (Cromwell as Boss, 1653-58)
3. Parliament Returns (The path to the Restoration, 1659-60)

Final Summary Takeaways

• Conflict Source: The war started because Charles I believed in Divine Right, while Parliament wanted power over taxes and the Church.
• Religious Tension: Puritans feared Charles was making England too Catholic.
• Military Shift: The New Model Army was the turning point that allowed Parliament to win.
• Radicalism: The execution of the King was a radical act that led to 11 years of "experimental" government under Oliver Cromwell.
• Outcome: The Restoration in 1660 brought back the Monarchy, but it proved that Parliament was now a permanent, powerful partner in ruling England.

Don't worry if this seems tricky at first—you're doing great! History 7042 is all about understanding the "why" behind these big changes. Keep reviewing these key terms and you'll be an expert in no time!