English Civil Wars Essay Research Paper The

English Civil Wars Essay, Research Paper

The eruption of the English Civil War in 1642 was the culminating result of political conflict coupled with nationalistic resentment of the English Crown and Parliament towards each other and the various powers each exercised. The English Revolution was initiated by King Charles I with the calling of Long Parliament and proceeded through two civil wars, the trial and execution of a king, the republican experiments of Oliver Cromwell, and eventually the restoration of King Charles II. While many events contributed to the English Revolution, it is fair to say that no one event is solely responsible for its existence. Though not entirely a spiritual conflict, the English revolution marks the first of the so-called great revolutions. Religion, while definitely making its presence felt prior to and during the English Civil War, is only one of many aspects that had a direct impact upon the creation and direction of the war. To some degree, the English Civil War seemed to reflect England s resentment toward its former Scottish Kings, James and Charles. This struggle for the constitution could be seen as either a conflict of ideologies, absolutism versus constitutionalism, or as a struggle for power between rival institutions, monarchy and parliament, competing for the position of ultimate authority in the English state. The question of sovereignty in the English State and Puritans in the Church were the problems that seemed paramount during this time.

At its earliest roots, the English Civil War can be traced back many years before its actual occurrence. Because the English Crown was left without an heir after the death of Queen Elizabeth, James VI of Scotland ascends the English throne, becoming King James I. Many Parliament members resented the fact that a Scottish King has now become their king. James was an absolute ruler and a believer in divine right. Because of his autocratic behavior, James frequently offended Parliament. Despite these various offenses, James managed to avoid any serious confrontation with Parliament. The problems that existed between the Parliament and the king were postponed to the next king. After James death in 1625, his son Charles succeeded him as king.

Charles was every bit as arbitrary and autocratic as king than his father. At court, Charles began to rely heavily on French advisors, which only worsened his relationship with Parliament. Charles had also engaged in a failed and expensive war with Spain. Parliament eventually developed a large number of grievances against King Charles. Charles called parliament in 1625. They confronted the king with their list of grievances but the king became so outraged by their attempt he waited eleven years before calling Parliament again. In the absence of parliaments the royal court was, as always, the center of official political activity. This latent period of time for parliament later became known as the Long Parliament.

Much of the problem between the King and Parliament centered on religion. Charles was rumored to be catholic, which held little favor with Parliament. On of the chief religious issues concerned the Book of Common Prayer, a book of prayers recognized by the Anglican Church as the only one legal. The Puritans lead the criticism of this level of state control over religious practice. Another chief issue was the fact that only Anglicans were allowed to hold government office. Charles was determined to impose the Anglican liturgy in Scotland. This sparked open rebellion by the Scots. In 1639, the Scots formed an army and invaded England.

Forced to deal with the Scottish revolt while simultaneously fighting a war with Spain, Charles knew he had no choice but to turn to Parliament for financial help. Out of sheer desperation, Charles called Parliament in 1640. The Parliament Charles called in England to finance this 1640 campaign was a political disaster. After eleven years, Parliament demanded reform in return for aid. They knew they had Charles in a prime negotiating position. Parliament arrested and ultimately executed for treason the king s chief advisors, Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford, and William Laud, archbishop of Canterbury. It also put limits on the king s prerogatives. The members spilt over the Root and Branch Bill to abolish bishops in the Anglican Church, over raising an army to squash an Irish rebellion, and over the Grand Remonstrance, by which Parliament would control the choice of the king s ministers. This political quarrel became an armed conflict in 1642.

In August 1642, Charles gathered his army at Nottingham. The king s soldiers were known as Cavaliers. The members of Parliament s Army were called Roundheads. The first battle between the king s army and parliaments came at Edgehill. The winner of this battle was unclear. It was clear that the king controlled the northwest of England and Parliament controlled the southeast, including London. In 1643, Parliament secured the support of the Scottish Army by promising that the recently convened Westminster Assembly would make the Anglican Church conform to the Presbyterian Church of Scotland.

During this time period, Oliver Cromwell, an outspoken leader of Parliament and a military genius, emerged as a key leader of the Parliament s Army. He would soon become its unquestionable leader, earning him the nickname of Ironsides. The war wage