The Early Stuarts: Tensions and Gunpowder · Spring Term

The Short and Long Parliaments

The breakdown of relations and the immediate triggers of the Civil War.

About This Topic

The recall of Parliament in 1640, after eleven years of Personal Rule, set the stage for the final breakdown of relations between Charles I and his subjects. This topic explores the 'Short Parliament' and the 'Long Parliament,' the execution of the Earl of Strafford, and the dramatic attempt to arrest the Five Members. Students investigate how a series of political miscalculations and deep-seated mistrust turned a constitutional crisis into a civil war.

This unit is the climax of the 'causes' section of the Stuart curriculum. It aligns with National Curriculum requirements for understanding the development of Parliament. This topic comes alive when students can physically re-enact the moment Charles I entered the House of Commons to arrest his enemies, only to find 'the birds have flown.'

Learning Objectives

• Explain how the Scottish rebellion compelled Charles I to recall Parliament after an eleven-year absence.
• Analyze the significance of the Earl of Strafford's execution as a turning point in the conflict.
• Evaluate the impact of the attempted arrest of the Five Members on the escalation towards civil war.
• Compare the immediate causes of the Short Parliament with the longer-term grievances leading to the Long Parliament.

Before You Start

The Reign of Charles I: Early Years

Why: Students need to understand Charles I's previous conflicts with Parliament and his policies during his Personal Rule to grasp the context of the 1640 recall.

Religious Tensions in Stuart England

Why: An understanding of the religious divisions and conflicts, particularly concerning Puritanism and the Church of England, is essential for comprehending the grievances leading to parliamentary opposition.

Key Vocabulary

Personal Rule	The period from 1629 to 1640 when Charles I ruled England without summoning Parliament, making decisions unilaterally.
Short Parliament	The Parliament summoned by Charles I in April 1640, which was dissolved after only three weeks due to disagreements over finances and religion.
Long Parliament	The Parliament summoned by Charles I in November 1640, which continued to sit, in various forms, until 1660, enacting significant reforms and challenging royal authority.
Earl of Strafford	Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford, a key advisor to Charles I whose execution in 1641 was a major political event, demonstrating Parliament's power.
Five Members	Five Members of the House of Commons (John Pym, John Hampden, Denzil Holles, Sir Arthur Haselrig, and William Strode) whom Charles I attempted to arrest in the House in January 1641, an act that failed and heightened tensions.

Active Learning Ideas

Simulation Game: The Trial of Strafford

Students role play the trial of the King's chief advisor, Thomas Wentworth (Earl of Strafford). They must decide if he is guilty of 'treason' against the King or 'treason' against the people, illustrating the shifting definition of the law.

⏱ 50 min·Whole Class

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Inquiry Circle: The Grand Remonstrance

Small groups are given snippets of the 204 complaints listed in the Grand Remonstrance. They must categorise them into 'Religious,' 'Financial,' and 'Political' grievances to see what Parliament was most angry about.

⏱ 35 min·Small Groups

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Role Play: The Arrest of the Five Members

Students re-enact the scene in the House of Commons where Charles I attempts to arrest his five biggest critics. They discuss the significance of the Speaker's refusal to help the King, marking a turning point in parliamentary independence.

⏱ 25 min·Whole Class

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Real-World Connections

Historians, like those at the National Archives, analyze primary source documents such as parliamentary records and personal letters to reconstruct the events and motivations leading to the English Civil War.

Political commentators today often draw parallels between historical constitutional crises, such as the breakdown of relations between Charles I and Parliament, and contemporary debates about executive power and parliamentary sovereignty.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Parliament wanted to get rid of the King from the start.

What to Teach Instead

In 1640, almost no one wanted to abolish the monarchy; they just wanted to limit the King's power and remove his 'evil advisors.' A 'demands vs. reality' sorting activity helps students see the moderate nature of early parliamentary goals.

Common Misconception

The war was only about the King being 'bad'.

What to Teach Instead

The rebellion in Ireland and the 'Bishops' Wars' in Scotland were huge factors that forced Charles to call Parliament. A 'map-based investigation' of the three kingdoms helps students see the wider British context of the crisis.

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

Provide students with a timeline template covering 1640-1642. Ask them to place the 'Short Parliament,' the 'Long Parliament,' the execution of Strafford, and the 'Attempted Arrest of the Five Members' in chronological order. For each event, they should write one sentence explaining its immediate consequence.

Discussion Prompt

Pose the question: 'Was the English Civil War inevitable by January 1642?' Ask students to discuss, citing specific events like the Scottish rebellion or the Grand Remonstrance, and justify their position with evidence from the topic.

Quick Check

Present students with three short statements about the Short Parliament and the Long Parliament. For example: 'The Short Parliament lasted for over a decade.' 'The Long Parliament passed laws limiting the King's power.' Ask students to identify each statement as true or false and provide a brief explanation for their answer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Charles I have to call the Long Parliament?

Charles had tried to force a new prayer book on Scotland, which led to a rebellion (the Bishops' Wars). The Scots defeated Charles's army and occupied northern England, demanding money to leave. Charles had no choice but to call Parliament to raise the funds, giving his critics the chance to air their grievances.

What was the 'Grand Remonstrance'?

This was a long list of 204 complaints about the King's rule, passed by the House of Commons in 1641. It was a direct challenge to Charles's authority and was even published for the public to read, which was a revolutionary move at the time.

What happened when Charles tried to arrest the Five Members?

In January 1642, Charles entered the House of Commons with 400 soldiers to arrest five MPs he accused of treason. However, they had been warned and had fled. This was a huge mistake by Charles, as it showed he was willing to use force against Parliament, making war almost inevitable.

How can active learning help students understand the lead-up to the Civil War?

Active learning, such as the 'Trial of Strafford' simulation, helps students understand the legal and moral complexities of the time. By arguing the case, they see that both sides believed they were defending the 'true' law of England. This student-centered approach makes the rapid escalation of tensions in 1641-42 feel logical and tragic rather than just a list of dates.