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3.2 The English Civil War and the Glorious Revolution

4 min readdecember 20, 2022

Catherine Brown

Catherine Brown

Catherine Brown

Catherine Brown

Causes of the English Civil War

England serves as one example of resistance to and the development of a political system alternative to . In England, resistance to an absolutist monarch culminated in the . 

The was a conflict between the English monarchy, Parliament, and the English elite. The War completely made the competition that was happening among the monarchs and the other powers seen on the whole World stage. 

James I

The war was in part an outgrowth of ongoing religious and social divisions from the Reformation. The reign of King , who was also known as , meant that Anglican England, Catholic Ireland, and Calvinist Scotland were united under a single ruler. Although the monarchy officially supported the , which King Henry VIII had placed under control of the English Monarch with the in 1534, King James tended to act in favor of Catholicism. This angered many elites and members of the upper classes who tended to be Calvinists. King (VI of Scotland) also believed in the

Charles I

James was succeeded by his son , who married the daughter of Catholic , further alienating Calvinists. Some believed that Charles was hatching a sinister plot to restore Catholicism in England, especially when he tried to force Scotland to accept a new prayer book in 1637. Parliament passed the , which stated that the king: 

  • Could not impose taxes without Parliamentary approval;

  • Could not imprison a free man without a trial;

  • Could not subject free men to special courts;

  • Could not force free men to lodge troops in their homes.

Charles, however, attempted to raise money to support European wars, mainly against Spain, with : essentially a tax that used to be only collected in times of war and only in coastal towns. Charles, however, insisted he could collect the tax in times of peace and throughout the whole country. When a arose, asking for religious and social reforms, Charles dissolved Parliament.

Thus, from the period of 1629-1640, ruled without any form of Parliament interaction. But in 1640, Charles attempted to impose religious changes in Scotland caused the Scots to rise up in rebellion.  In need of money, Charles had to reconvene Parliament. But when they refused to support his policies, he dissolved what became known as the .

Needing money to fight the Scots, Charles was forced to call Parliament back into session, especially after some nobles and gentry aligned with the Scots. This brought on the period of , during which Parliament called for reforms. Parliament was divided: puritans wanted religious and government reforms, while nobles wanted to support the king in order to retain their own power. 

A failed coup against caused Charles to flee to London. His supporters also left Parliament. This coup attempt led to the outbreak of civil war between the (supporters of the king) and the (those against the king, mostly puritans and middle-class Presbyterians). The (nicknamed for their haircuts) wanted a limited parliamentary monarchy and religious reforms. 

Oliver Cromwell

The leader of the Roundhead Parliamentarians, , drove the monarchists out of parliament. was sentenced to death, and the English or was proclaimed. Cromwell assumed leadership of the Commonwealth as Lord Protector of the Kingdom. Charles was tried, found guilty of treason, and beheaded in 1649. Cromwell’s Commonwealth imposed a strict moral code and crushed the Irish uprising, causing intense famine that was worsened by a plague. Cromwell’s essentially functioned as a military dictatorship.

🎥 Watch: AP European History - English Civil War

The Glorious Revolution

After Cromwell died in 1658, the Commonwealth fell apart. , the son of , was invited to resume the throne in 1660, known as the . But Charles was an ineffective and unpopular leader. When he died, his Catholic brother assumed the throne, renewing fears of a plot to restore Catholicism to England. 

A group of English Protestants turned to , the Dutch Stadtholder, asking him to assume the throne. William was married to ’s daughter, , and was also Protestant. Thus, in 1688, William and were crowned in the . James fled to France, gathered a French army, and attempted to retake the throne, but he was defeated by William in 1690. William and agreed to sign the , which outlined specific constitutional and civil rights and ultimately gave Parliament power over the monarchy, creating a . Under the in 1701, the throne would return to the Protestant descendants of . The whole culminating outcome of the and of the was that the aristocracy and gentry had their rights protected from . The Parliament’s rights were also asserted in the .

🎥 Watch: AP European History - English Restoration to Glorious Revolution

Key Terms to Review (27)

Absolutism

: Absolutism is a political doctrine asserting that in matters of governance, all power should be vested in one ruler or other authority. This system often sees monarchs hold supreme autocratic authority, unrestricted by laws or constitutions.

Act of Settlement

: The Act of Settlement is a law passed by English Parliament in 1701 to settle the succession to the English and Irish crowns on Protestants only.

Act of Supremacy

: The Act of Supremacy was an act passed by English Parliament under Henry VIII in 1534 that declared him and his successors as the 'Supreme Head' on earth of the Church of England, thereby separating it from papal authority.

Anglican Church

: The Anglican Church or Church of England is a Christian church which became separate from the Catholic Church under Henry VIII in 1534 with the Act of Supremacy.

Cavaliers

: Cavaliers were supporters of King Charles I during the English Civil War. They were often wealthy nobles and landowners who favored a strong monarchy.

Charles I

: Charles I was King of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1625 until his execution in 1649. His reign was marked by conflict with Parliament due to his belief in absolute monarchy and divine right.

Charles II

: Charles II was king of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1660 to 1685 during what's known as the Restoration period. His reign is known for attempts at modernization and religious tolerance.

Commonwealth Republic

: The Commonwealth Republic refers to the period from 1649 to 1660 in England when it was ruled as a republic following the end of the English Civil War and the execution of Charles I.

Constitutional Monarchy

: A Constitutional Monarchy is a form of government where a king or queen acts as Head of State within parameters set by a constitution. They have ceremonial duties rather than governing responsibilities.

Divine Right of Kings

: The Divine Right of Kings is a political and religious doctrine that asserts the monarchy derives its authority directly from God, not from the people or any earthly authority. This means that only God can judge a king's actions.

English Bill of Rights

: The English Bill of Rights is a document signed into law in 1689 by William III and Mary II who became co-rulers in England. It outlined specific constitutional and civil rights and ultimately gave Parliament power over the monarchy.

English Civil War

: The English Civil War (1642-1651) was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians ("Roundheads") and Royalists ("Cavaliers"). It ended with the victory of the Parliamentarians, the execution of King Charles I, and the establishment of a republican Commonwealth.

Glorious Revolution

: The Glorious Revolution was a non-violent overthrow of King James II in 1688 by William of Orange and his wife Mary, who were invited by the English Parliament. This event marked the beginning of constitutional monarchy in England.

James I

: James I was King of Scotland (as James VI) before becoming King of England and Ireland in 1603. He ruled both kingdoms until his death in 1625. His reign is known for struggles with Parliament and religious conflicts.

James II

: James II was the King of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1685 to 1688. He is best known for his strong belief in absolute monarchy and his attempts to create religious liberty for his subjects against the will of the Parliament.

King Henry IV of France

: King Henry IV of France, also known as 'Good King Henry', was the first French monarch from the House of Bourbon. He is best known for issuing the Edict of Nantes, which granted religious freedom to Protestants.

King James VI of Scotland

: King James VI of Scotland (1567-1625) was the son of Mary, Queen of Scots. He became king at a young age and ruled for 58 years. He is best known for succeeding Elizabeth I to become James I of England in 1603, uniting the crowns of England and Scotland.

Long Parliament

: The Long Parliament was an English Parliament which lasted from 1640 until 1660. Unlike its short-lived predecessor, it made significant legislative changes and played a key role during the English Civil War.

Mary

: Mary II was Queen regnant from 1689 until her death in 1694. She ruled jointly with her husband and cousin, William III of Orange.

Oliver Cromwell

: Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader best known for serving as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland during the Commonwealth period following Charles I's execution.

Petition of Right

: The Petition of Right, enacted in 1628, was a significant constitutional document that set out specific liberties of the subject that the king is prohibited from infringing. It challenged the idea of divine right and absolute monarchy.

Puritan Movement

: The Puritan Movement was a religious reform movement in the late 16th and 17th centuries that sought to "purify" the Church of England from remnants of the Roman Catholic Church practices.

Restoration

: The Restoration refers to the period when monarchy was restored in England following Oliver Cromwell's Commonwealth. Charles II was invited to return from exile and reign as king in 1660.

Roundheads

: The Roundheads were the supporters of the Parliament during the English Civil War. They got their name from their typical short, cropped hairstyle which was in contrast to the long hair and wigs worn by royalists.

Ship Money

: Ship money was a tax levied on counties in England to fund ships for defense during times of emergency. King Charles I controversially expanded its use during peacetime to raise revenue without Parliament's consent.

Short Parliament

: The Short Parliament was a brief session of the English Parliament in 1640 called by King Charles I, lasting only three weeks.

William of Orange

: William III was a Dutch prince who became King of England, Scotland, and Ireland following the Glorious Revolution. He ruled jointly with his wife Mary II.

3.2 The English Civil War and the Glorious Revolution

4 min readdecember 20, 2022

Catherine Brown

Catherine Brown

Catherine Brown

Catherine Brown

Causes of the English Civil War

England serves as one example of resistance to and the development of a political system alternative to . In England, resistance to an absolutist monarch culminated in the . 

The was a conflict between the English monarchy, Parliament, and the English elite. The War completely made the competition that was happening among the monarchs and the other powers seen on the whole World stage. 

James I

The war was in part an outgrowth of ongoing religious and social divisions from the Reformation. The reign of King , who was also known as , meant that Anglican England, Catholic Ireland, and Calvinist Scotland were united under a single ruler. Although the monarchy officially supported the , which King Henry VIII had placed under control of the English Monarch with the in 1534, King James tended to act in favor of Catholicism. This angered many elites and members of the upper classes who tended to be Calvinists. King (VI of Scotland) also believed in the

Charles I

James was succeeded by his son , who married the daughter of Catholic , further alienating Calvinists. Some believed that Charles was hatching a sinister plot to restore Catholicism in England, especially when he tried to force Scotland to accept a new prayer book in 1637. Parliament passed the , which stated that the king: 

  • Could not impose taxes without Parliamentary approval;

  • Could not imprison a free man without a trial;

  • Could not subject free men to special courts;

  • Could not force free men to lodge troops in their homes.

Charles, however, attempted to raise money to support European wars, mainly against Spain, with : essentially a tax that used to be only collected in times of war and only in coastal towns. Charles, however, insisted he could collect the tax in times of peace and throughout the whole country. When a arose, asking for religious and social reforms, Charles dissolved Parliament.

Thus, from the period of 1629-1640, ruled without any form of Parliament interaction. But in 1640, Charles attempted to impose religious changes in Scotland caused the Scots to rise up in rebellion.  In need of money, Charles had to reconvene Parliament. But when they refused to support his policies, he dissolved what became known as the .

Needing money to fight the Scots, Charles was forced to call Parliament back into session, especially after some nobles and gentry aligned with the Scots. This brought on the period of , during which Parliament called for reforms. Parliament was divided: puritans wanted religious and government reforms, while nobles wanted to support the king in order to retain their own power. 

A failed coup against caused Charles to flee to London. His supporters also left Parliament. This coup attempt led to the outbreak of civil war between the (supporters of the king) and the (those against the king, mostly puritans and middle-class Presbyterians). The (nicknamed for their haircuts) wanted a limited parliamentary monarchy and religious reforms. 

Oliver Cromwell

The leader of the Roundhead Parliamentarians, , drove the monarchists out of parliament. was sentenced to death, and the English or was proclaimed. Cromwell assumed leadership of the Commonwealth as Lord Protector of the Kingdom. Charles was tried, found guilty of treason, and beheaded in 1649. Cromwell’s Commonwealth imposed a strict moral code and crushed the Irish uprising, causing intense famine that was worsened by a plague. Cromwell’s essentially functioned as a military dictatorship.

🎥 Watch: AP European History - English Civil War

The Glorious Revolution

After Cromwell died in 1658, the Commonwealth fell apart. , the son of , was invited to resume the throne in 1660, known as the . But Charles was an ineffective and unpopular leader. When he died, his Catholic brother assumed the throne, renewing fears of a plot to restore Catholicism to England. 

A group of English Protestants turned to , the Dutch Stadtholder, asking him to assume the throne. William was married to ’s daughter, , and was also Protestant. Thus, in 1688, William and were crowned in the . James fled to France, gathered a French army, and attempted to retake the throne, but he was defeated by William in 1690. William and agreed to sign the , which outlined specific constitutional and civil rights and ultimately gave Parliament power over the monarchy, creating a . Under the in 1701, the throne would return to the Protestant descendants of . The whole culminating outcome of the and of the was that the aristocracy and gentry had their rights protected from . The Parliament’s rights were also asserted in the .

🎥 Watch: AP European History - English Restoration to Glorious Revolution

Key Terms to Review (27)

Absolutism

: Absolutism is a political doctrine asserting that in matters of governance, all power should be vested in one ruler or other authority. This system often sees monarchs hold supreme autocratic authority, unrestricted by laws or constitutions.

Act of Settlement

: The Act of Settlement is a law passed by English Parliament in 1701 to settle the succession to the English and Irish crowns on Protestants only.

Act of Supremacy

: The Act of Supremacy was an act passed by English Parliament under Henry VIII in 1534 that declared him and his successors as the 'Supreme Head' on earth of the Church of England, thereby separating it from papal authority.

Anglican Church

: The Anglican Church or Church of England is a Christian church which became separate from the Catholic Church under Henry VIII in 1534 with the Act of Supremacy.

Cavaliers

: Cavaliers were supporters of King Charles I during the English Civil War. They were often wealthy nobles and landowners who favored a strong monarchy.

Charles I

: Charles I was King of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1625 until his execution in 1649. His reign was marked by conflict with Parliament due to his belief in absolute monarchy and divine right.

Charles II

: Charles II was king of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1660 to 1685 during what's known as the Restoration period. His reign is known for attempts at modernization and religious tolerance.

Commonwealth Republic

: The Commonwealth Republic refers to the period from 1649 to 1660 in England when it was ruled as a republic following the end of the English Civil War and the execution of Charles I.

Constitutional Monarchy

: A Constitutional Monarchy is a form of government where a king or queen acts as Head of State within parameters set by a constitution. They have ceremonial duties rather than governing responsibilities.

Divine Right of Kings

: The Divine Right of Kings is a political and religious doctrine that asserts the monarchy derives its authority directly from God, not from the people or any earthly authority. This means that only God can judge a king's actions.

English Bill of Rights

: The English Bill of Rights is a document signed into law in 1689 by William III and Mary II who became co-rulers in England. It outlined specific constitutional and civil rights and ultimately gave Parliament power over the monarchy.

English Civil War

: The English Civil War (1642-1651) was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians ("Roundheads") and Royalists ("Cavaliers"). It ended with the victory of the Parliamentarians, the execution of King Charles I, and the establishment of a republican Commonwealth.

Glorious Revolution

: The Glorious Revolution was a non-violent overthrow of King James II in 1688 by William of Orange and his wife Mary, who were invited by the English Parliament. This event marked the beginning of constitutional monarchy in England.

James I

: James I was King of Scotland (as James VI) before becoming King of England and Ireland in 1603. He ruled both kingdoms until his death in 1625. His reign is known for struggles with Parliament and religious conflicts.

James II

: James II was the King of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1685 to 1688. He is best known for his strong belief in absolute monarchy and his attempts to create religious liberty for his subjects against the will of the Parliament.

King Henry IV of France

: King Henry IV of France, also known as 'Good King Henry', was the first French monarch from the House of Bourbon. He is best known for issuing the Edict of Nantes, which granted religious freedom to Protestants.

King James VI of Scotland

: King James VI of Scotland (1567-1625) was the son of Mary, Queen of Scots. He became king at a young age and ruled for 58 years. He is best known for succeeding Elizabeth I to become James I of England in 1603, uniting the crowns of England and Scotland.

Long Parliament

: The Long Parliament was an English Parliament which lasted from 1640 until 1660. Unlike its short-lived predecessor, it made significant legislative changes and played a key role during the English Civil War.

Mary

: Mary II was Queen regnant from 1689 until her death in 1694. She ruled jointly with her husband and cousin, William III of Orange.

Oliver Cromwell

: Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader best known for serving as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland during the Commonwealth period following Charles I's execution.

Petition of Right

: The Petition of Right, enacted in 1628, was a significant constitutional document that set out specific liberties of the subject that the king is prohibited from infringing. It challenged the idea of divine right and absolute monarchy.

Puritan Movement

: The Puritan Movement was a religious reform movement in the late 16th and 17th centuries that sought to "purify" the Church of England from remnants of the Roman Catholic Church practices.

Restoration

: The Restoration refers to the period when monarchy was restored in England following Oliver Cromwell's Commonwealth. Charles II was invited to return from exile and reign as king in 1660.

Roundheads

: The Roundheads were the supporters of the Parliament during the English Civil War. They got their name from their typical short, cropped hairstyle which was in contrast to the long hair and wigs worn by royalists.

Ship Money

: Ship money was a tax levied on counties in England to fund ships for defense during times of emergency. King Charles I controversially expanded its use during peacetime to raise revenue without Parliament's consent.

Short Parliament

: The Short Parliament was a brief session of the English Parliament in 1640 called by King Charles I, lasting only three weeks.

William of Orange

: William III was a Dutch prince who became King of England, Scotland, and Ireland following the Glorious Revolution. He ruled jointly with his wife Mary II.


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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.