The English Civil War - Free Essay Example

The English Civil War although singular in name is resulted in three different consecutive conflicts. The first being the first war fought during the years of (1642-1646) between the roundheads which the parliamentarians and the cavaliers which represented the royalist. The second conflict only came a year after the first lasting itself only a year from (1648-1649). While the third and final conflict resulted in a two-year stent from (1649-1651) where the parliamentarians came represented out with a victory at the battel of Worcester. Breaking these three conflicts down under the umbrella of the English civil war is going to be the focus of this paper. In order to better understand these wars, one must start with the beginning. How and why did the civil war happen? Secondly, exploring who the major players and characters are in this war? Lastly, concluding the civil war and its aftermath. With almost any war, war starts with two different parties in disagreement and in case of England at the time it was the disagreement of many things starting with Charles I. Charles the I between 1629 and 1640 ruled England without parliament. Charles terminated them because of the offering of the petition of rights. This demanded that at no freeman should be forced to pay any tax, loan, or benevolence, unless in accordance with an act of parliament; that no freeman should be imprisoned contrary to the laws of the land; that soldiers and sailors should not be billeted on private persons; commissions to punish soldiers and sailors by martial law should be abolished (Morris). Charles although passing the petition disliked it because of his believe in divine right of kings. This belief can be summed up as the belief that a king was a god gave the notion that he was of divine decent (Figgins 18). Meaning, Charles felt as if he could do what he wanted because of this belief, if he was wrong then God was wrong and how can God be wrong? Therefore, he disassembled parliament and started the personal rule. During this eleven-year period he applied plans without having to respond to anyone. Among these plans where controversy religious restructurings. William lord his arch bishop gave him advise to change out alters and genuflect while receiving the sacrament among other things. To the protestants this looked a lot like Catholicism and people started to talk whether he was being influenced by queen Maria.