An evaluation of the reasons for the outbreak of civil war in England

An evaluation of the reasons for the outbreak of civil war in England

Political Division

  • Conflicts between The King and Parliament: After Charles I disbanded Parliament for a period of 11 years – a period referred to as the Personal Rule or the Eleven Years Tyranny – tensions were high. When the Long Parliament was finally assembled in 1640, they sought to curb the King’s power, leading to conflict.
  • Increased Monarchical Power: The concept of the divine right of kings led Charles I to believe that he could rule without Parliament’s approval. Parliament, however, believed that the King should rule with their endorsement and approval.

Religious Disputes

  • King Charles I’s marriage to a Catholic : Charles I’s marriage to a Catholic princess, Henrietta Maria of France, made the public and Parliament suspicious of his religious leanings. As anti-Catholic sentiment was prevalent in the country, his association with Catholicism elicited distrust.
  • Changes in Church Practices: The introduction of a new Prayer Book in Scotland and the movements by Archbishop Laud to make the Anglican Church more elaborate were viewed as popish tendencies, alienating Puritan factions within Parliament and society.

Economic and Social Factors

  • Financial disagreements: Charles I’s frequent requests for money, alongside disagreement over controls and measures such as Ship Money, led to resentment as Parliament felt Charles was overextending his rights.
  • Social unrest: The period leading up to the English Civil War also saw an economic downturn marked by bad harvests, rising prices, and land enclosure disputes creating dissatisfaction among the populace.

Role of Personalities

  • Charles’s Unpopularity: Charles I was seen as an aloof and distant figure, lacking the charisma of his father James I. His reliance on unpopular counsel such as the Duke of Buckingham did not help his standing with the public or Parliament.
  • Parliamentary Leaders: The opposition in Parliament was steered by strong figures such as John Pym and Oliver Cromwell, crucial in rallying against Charles I, and stirring up public opinion against the monarch.