English Civil War
Causes
Charles did not rule according to the law
I think that the cause most responsible for the English civil war was that Charles did not rule according to the law. I think the event would have been altered if Charles did rule according to the law. If Charles had ruled according to the law some other causes may not have been present for example, Charles obtaining money without parliaments consent (1625-42) would not have happened because that was one of the ways that Charles broke the law, Parliament may not have been as compelled to pass the grand remonstrance (1641), if that happened Charles would not have invaded the House of Commons (1642) thus changing the outcome, the civil war. If this cause was not present the civil war still may have happened at a later date. I think that the effect this cause had on the event is obvious, one of the immediate causes being the passing of the Grand Remonstrance.
Court of star chamber
Components
Solemn league and Covenant
The Solemn league and Covent was significant because it could have ended in a different outcome, I think that this can been seen clearly. When Parliament secured the alliance of Presbyterian Scots into accepting the solemn league of covenant after their promise to submit England into Presbyterianism. Not only did Parliament gain aid from Presbyterian Scots, but they also gained power to increase the strength of their army. This could have altered the outcome because at the time Parliament and the Royalists army had an equal amount of strength and when Parliament secured the alliance with the Scots they gained the upper hand in the battle of Naseby because their army was stronger.
Solemn league and covenant
http://www.thereformation.info/solemnleague.htm
Battle of Naseby
The battle of Naseby is a significant component because it represents the climax or turning point, it also may have resulted in a different outcome. When Charles met Cromwell in a sharp battle at Naseby, the king lost a large part of his army making the royalists cause hopeless. This was the climax because it was the event that would determine whether Parliament or the royalists would win the Civil war. The battle of Naseby could have also ended in a different outcome, for example, if Charles did not lose a big portion of his army at the battle of Naseby then he wouldn’t have surrendered himself to the Scots thus changing the outcome.
Battle of Naseby
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Naseby
Charles escapes
Charles escapes is an important component because it shaped the course of the events yet to come. When the Scots handed Charles over to Parliament, the army resisted Parliament proposal to dissolve it by taking Charles, after that the desire to dispose of the king became greater. By taking the king the desire to dispose of him became greater, this could have also added onto the reasons for Charles’s execution, shaping the course of events yet to come. You could also add that Charles refusing the army’s proposal for peace shaped the course of events yet to come.
Charles I escapes to isle of Wight.
Consequence
Charles on trial
The consequence of the Civil war that was most significant was when Charles was on trial. When Charles was on trial (1649) he entered the Court in a calm manner and stayed calm through the whole trial with a king like attitude which had an impact on the way people looked at him and made people rethink whether or not to execute Charles or not. If Charles didn’t have the trial and wasn’t accused of treason people wouldn’t have to think on whether or not to execute the king, and he would not have been executed. The immediate effect his Trial had was huge, Charles execution had a strong effect on England and lead to the abolishment of the House of Lords and the Monarchy making England a republic. This was by far was the consequence of the Civil war that had the biggest impact and long term effect.
Charles on trial
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Puritans_under_Charles_I
Components/Events
Lord Protector
When the army leaders introduced the instrument of government which appointed Cromwell Lord protector this would later shape the course of events yet to come. Cromwell becoming Lord Protector would later shape the course of events because after Cromwell’s reign was over England found that they didn’t like the way things were run as a republic. The long terms of Cromwell being appointed Lord Protector were that England would run as a republic for years during his reign.
Cromwell refusing crown of England
http://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/exhibitions/Cromwell/polit.htm
Blue laws
What made the Blue laws important was the effect that it had on England. Although the blue laws were more in favour of the puritans, only a small part of England were puritans. The extent of the impact on England was huge because soon after the blue laws were established they became very unpopular. They were unpopular because they limited the amount of freedom the people of England had the rules were very strict because Cromwell strongly believed in the Puritan religion.
Cromwell places laws on Christmas
https://mercuriuspoliticus.wordpress.com/2011/01/27/cromwellballs/
Component/Event
Test act
Parliament passes the test act was significant because of the impact it had on Charles II. The fact that the Test act was passed when Charles was trying to protect the freedom of Catholic religion, and the fact that Charles II was a Catholic made Charles resist the test act even more and made this event more significant tome. The test act was also a power struggle between Charles II and Parliament because Charles was not in favour of the test act. The long term effects of the test act were that no Catholic was allowed to be a Member of Parliament or of any other form of a higher government, this also forced James II to resign from his job as a military director.
Catholics could not be members of Parliament
http://www.lurganancestry.com/1829.htm
Components/Events
James II abdicates the throne
James II abdicates the throne (1688) was significant because of its impact and its immediate effect. The impact of James abdicating the throne also known as the glorious revolution, had a big impact because James II couldn’t get enough support to defend the throne he resigned from the throne and left England, this was referred to as the Glorious Revolution because there was no war and nobody got killed. The immediate effect was that Mary, James II daughter was appointed as the new monarch, this was very significant because this was the first time that Parliament had chosen the monarch.
Mary and William agree to the Bill or Rights
When Mary and William accepted the Bill of Rights what made it significant was its long term effect and the impact that it made. When they accepted the Bill of Rights impact that it made was that Parliament was the supreme and the true government of England because they were the ones that had the most power, The Bill of Rights also had a strong impact because they limited the amount of power the monarch had and indicated the rights of Parliament. The long term effect that is still in place today is that the monarch has almost no power and rules alongside Parliament without any conflict.
Mary and William become King and Queen
http://www.paranormalx.yolasite.com/stuarts_and_commonwealth.php
