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English Civil Wars Facts & Worksheets

The English Civil Wars were a series of conflicts between those loyal to the king, and those loyal to parliament over the scope of the king's power. The conflicts saw Charles I executed, Oliver Cromwell rule the Protectorate, followed by the restoration of Charles II.

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Parliament and armies loyalists to King Charles I fought three civil wars between 1642 and 1651 over long-standing disagreements regarding religious freedom and government of the “three kingdoms” of England, Scotland, and Ireland. King Charles I death in 1649, 11 years of republican governance in England, and the construction of Britain’s first standing national army were all notable effects of the conflicts.

See the fact file below for more information on the English Civil Wars or alternatively, you can download our comprehensive worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment. 

Facts & Information

Background

  • Elizabeth I, England’s final Tudor ruler, died in 1603 and was replaced by her cousin, James Stuart. Already, King James VI of Scotland became King James I of England and Ireland, unifying the three kingdoms for the first time under a single monarch.
  • Though the Catholic minority in England first hailed James’ accession to the throne, they eventually turned against his administration, even attempting to blow up the king and Parliament in the Gunpowder Plot.
  • In 1625, James’ son, Charles I, ascended to the throne. Charles I’s marriage to Henrietta Maria of France raised fears that the monarch would impose Catholic practices into the Church of England.
  • Charles also strongly believed in his divine right to govern, and in 1629 he disbanded Parliament entirely; he would not call it back for the following 11 years.

Parliament in an English Constitutional Framework

  • The Parliament of England did not play a substantial permanent part in the English system of governance at the period. Instead, it served as a transitory advisory group, convened only when the king deemed proper.
  • A Parliament’s continuing existence was at the king’s discretion, as it was liable to dissolution at any time.
  • Despite this restricted function, Parliament had amassed de facto powers of such significance over the ages that kings could not just ignore them permanently.

Wars in Scotland

  • Starting in the late 1630s, Charles attempted to develop a more English-like religious practice in Scotland but met with severe opposition from the country’s Presbyterian majority.
  • A Scottish army beat Charles’ armies and invaded England, causing Charles to summon Parliament back in 1640 to raise funds to pay his troops and end the fight.
  • Instead, Parliament moved fast to limit the king’s authority, even demanding the trial and death of Lord Strafford, one of his key ministers.
  • During the political turmoil in London, the Catholic majority in Ireland rebelled, slaughtering hundreds of Protestants in October 1641. The stories of the bloodshed heightened tensions in England, where Charles and Parliament divided on how to respond.
  • The king attempted and failed to arrest five members of Parliament who opposed him in January 1642. Charles escaped London for northern England, where he rallied his allies to prepare for war.

Recall of the English Parliament

  • Charles needed to put down the insurrection in Scotland but lacked the necessary cash. In 1640, he needed to seek funding from a newly elected English Parliament.
  • Its dominant group, led by John Pym, used the money appeal to air complaints again and hehe monarch to resist an English invasion of Scotland.
  • Without the assistance of Parliament, Charles assaulted Scotland again, breaching the ceasefire at Berwick, and was thoroughly defeated.

First English Civil War (1642-1646)

  • When the civil war officially began in August 1642, Royalist forces (called Cavaliers) dominated northern and western England, whereas Parliamentarians (or Roundheads) ruled the south and east.
  • By early 1643, the king’s armies looked to be gaining the upper hand, especially after allying with the Irish Catholics to end the Irish Rebellion. However, a significant alliance that year, the partnership between the Parliamentarians and Scotland, resulted in a vast Scottish force joining the war on Parliament’s side in January 1644.
  • The most significant fight of the First English Civil War took place on July 2, 1644, at Marston Moor, west of York, between Royalist and Parliamentarian armies. The lesser Royalist army of 18,000 was beaten by a Parliamentarian force of 28,000, ending the king’s rule over northern England.
  • Parliament established a regular, professional, trained army of 22,000 soldiers in 1645. This New Model Army, led by Sir Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell, won a decisive victory in the Battle of Naseby in June 1645, essentially ending the Royalist cause.

Second English Civil War (1648-1649) and the Execution of Charles I

  • Even in defeat, Charles refused to surrender and attempted to exploit his opponents’ religious and political differences.
  • Spring and summer of 1648, the king managed to arrange a peace pact with the Scots and organize Royalist sentiments and displeasure with Parliament into a series of military uprisings across England while on the Isle of Wight.
  • Following the crushing of the Royalist uprisings by Fairfax, Cromwell, and the New Model Army, hard-line opponents of the monarch assumed control of a smaller Parliament.
  • While Charles was still alive, they concluded that peace would not be accomplished and established a high court and tried the king for treason. On January 30, 1649, Charles was judged guilty and beheaded at Whitehall.

The Third English Civil War (1649-1651)

  • With Charles gone, a republican rule was created in England, supported by the New Model Army’s military strength.
  • Cromwell commanded his forces in a victorious reconquest of Ireland beginning late in 1649, including the infamous killing of thousands of Irish and Royalist troops and citizens at Drogheda.
  • In the meantime, Scotland reached an arrangement with the executed king’s eldest son, Charles, who was anointed King Charles II of Scotland in early 1651.
  • Even before being anointed in 1650, Charles II had gathered an army of English and Scottish Royalists, compelling Cromwell to conquer Scotland.
  • In September 1650, after losing the War of Dunbar to Cromwell’s soldiers, Charles launched an invasion of England the following year, only to be defeated again at Worcester by a massive Parliamentarian army.
  • The young king nearly evaded captivity, but the decisive victory brought the Third English Civil War and the larger War of the Three Kingdoms to an end (England, Scotland, and Ireland).

Impact of the Civil Wars

  • During the three civil wars, murders were an estimated 200,000 English troops and civilians by battle and illness carried by armies; the loss was equivalent to the population size of World War I.
  • In 1653, Oliver Cromwell was appointed Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Despite the continued growth of radical religious sects and widespread apprehension about the new standing army, he attempted (largely unsuccessfully) to rally broad support behind the new republican regime.
  • Richard took over as protector when Cromwell died in 1658 but surrendered only eight months later. With the republic’s dissolution continuing, the more significant Parliament convened and resumed negotiations with Charles II to reclaim the crown. In May 1660, the triumphant king landed in London, kicking off the English Restoration.

English Civil Wars Worksheets

This bundle includes 11 ready-to-use English Civil Wars worksheets that are perfect for students to learn about the English Civil Wars which pitted the armies of King Charles I against the armies of Parliament for control of England.

This download includes the following worksheets:

  • English Civil War Facts
  • King Charles I
  • Opponents
  • Parliament
  • Supporters
  • The War
  • New Model Army
  • Soldiers
  • Oliver Cromwell
  • Effects of the War
  • End of the War

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the leading cause of the English Civil War?

The cause of the English Civil War is the long-standing disagreements regarding religious freedom and government of the “three kingdoms” of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

What happened in the English Civil War?

King Charles I death in 1649, 11 years of republican governance in England, and the construction of Britain’s first standing national army were all notable effects of the conflicts.

Who were the two sides of the English Civil War?

The two sides during the English Civil War were the Royalist forces (called Cavaliers) and Parliamentarians (or Roundheads).

Who won the First English Civil War?

The lesser Royalist army of 18,000 was beaten by a Parliamentarian force of 28,000, ending the king’s rule over northern England.

What happened when the Third English Civil War ended?

With the republic’s dissolution continuing, the more significant Parliament convened and resumed negotiations with Charles II to reclaim the crown. In May 1660, the triumphant king landed in London, kicking off the English Restoration.

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Use With Any Curriculum

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