PowerPoint (with 5 slides) and three Word Documents that forms the first lesson of two on the causes of the English Civil War. The lesson examines the personality of King Charles I and the behaviour of his unpopular advisors including his wife, Henrietta Maria, the Duke of Buckingham and Archbishop William Laud. The lesson also considers the Eleven Years Tyranny and the unpopular financial measures Charles introduced during this period. Please note the lesson does not cover 1640-1642; the short term causes of the English Civil War which are covered in a second lesson.

Activities include

• Starter activity: analysis of the Banqueting House ceiling to introduce the concept of the Divine Right of Kings.
• Source analysis exercise on the personality of King Charles I.
• Reading and comprehension activity in which pupils complete a comparison table of King Charles I’s advisors.
• Matching exercise on the financial policies of King Charles I and the reasons why they made him unpopular.
• Ranking exercise of Charles’ errors in making him an unpopular King.

Designed for teaching an academically able Key Stage 3 class covering aspects of Stuart Britain / Early Modern Europe.

Lesson Length: 1hr depending on pace.

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