The English Civil War (AQA GCSE History)

Summary 

By 1642 Charles I and parliament were in open dispute. The King left London and headed for Nottingham. At Nottingham, he raised his battle standard to signify that the civil war had begun. The fighting became a vicious stalemate with neither side able to gain the upper hand. That changed when the New Model Army entered the conflict under the command of Oliver Cromwell. Before long, the Royalist forces had been roundly defeated and the King of England became a prisoner of his own people.

The Cavaliers

• Those who fought on the side of the King were known as Royalists or Cavaliers

  • The term Cavalier comes from the Spanish word caballero which means armed trooper or horseman

• Most of the gentry and wealthy landowners were Cavaliers

  • They wanted to maintain England’s existing social hierarchy

• Geographically, most of the King‘s support came from the north and the west of England

The Roundheads

• Those who fought on the side of Parliament were known as Parliamentarians or Roundheads

  • The term Roundhead came from the shaved heads of the London Apprentices who had become prominent supporters of Parliament in its struggle with the King

• Many merchants and traders entered the war on Parliament’s side

  • They had been angered by years of taxation by the King

•  Support for Parliament was strongest in the south of England – especially London

• The many religious and political disputes that had occurred during Charles’ reign meant that some families were divided in their support

Oliver Cromwell and the New Model Army

•  Oliver Cromwell was the Member of Parliament for Cornwall, he was:

  • Committed to abolishing the monarchy

  • A puritan 

• Cromwell rose to prominence as one of the leaders of Parliament’s armies

• Oliver Cromwell created Britain's first professional army, known as the New Model Army

• The creation of the army had a huge impact on:

  • Cromwell’s life and career

  • The outcome of the civil war

• Established in February 1645, the New Model Army was made up of skilled and battle-hardened soldiers who were often devout protestants

• Pay in the New Model Army was high

• Promotion was awarded based on achievement and ability rather than social class

• Each regiment had a religious minister and the soldiers were disciplined and strongly believed in what they were fighting for

The Battle of Naseby

• On 16 June 1645, near the village of Naseby in Northamptonshire, the New Model Army took to the battlefield for the first time

• The New Model Army defeated the King’s forces and completely turned the war in Parliament’s favour

• During the Battle of Naseby, the king’s last proper army was destroyed

• Cavalier strongholds such as Bristol and Oxford were soon captured by the New Model Army

• In 1647, the King himself was captured

The Second Civil War

• Once he became a prisoner of Parliament, Charles entered into negotiations with its leaders to bring the fighting to an end

• At the same time, Charles was also attempting to convince Scotland to attack Parliament’s armies

  • In return, he promised the Scottish Parliament that he would establish a Presbyterian church in England that was very similar to the Church of Scotland

  • The Scots agreed to attack Parliament

  • They invaded the north of England

  • This led to the Second Civil War

• The Scottish Army was defeated at the Battle of Preston in 1648

• For many Roundheads, the attack by the Scottish was proof that Charles could not be trusted and that he should be punished rather than negotiated with