The English Civil War and Execution of Charles I

The English Civil War (1642--1651) was the most dramatic constitutional crisis in British history. It pitted King Charles I against Parliament and resulted in the king's execution, the abolition of the monarchy, and the establishment of a republic. These events permanently changed the balance of power between the Crown and Parliament.

---

Background: The Growing Conflict

The tension between Crown and Parliament had been building for decades.

Issue	Detail
Divine Right of Kings	Charles I believed he ruled by God's authority and did not need Parliament's approval
Taxation without consent	Charles raised money through controversial methods (e.g. Ship Money) without Parliament's agreement
Personal Rule (1629--40)	Charles dissolved Parliament and ruled alone for 11 years
Religious conflict	Charles married a Catholic (Henrietta Maria of France) and appointed William Laud as Archbishop of Canterbury, who introduced unpopular High Church reforms
The Scottish Crisis	Laud's attempt to impose a new prayer book on Scotland provoked the Bishops' Wars (1639--40), forcing Charles to recall Parliament to raise money