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Year 8

The execution of Charles I

I can explain why Charles I was executed for treason.

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New
New
Year 8

The execution of Charles I

I can explain why Charles I was executed for treason.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. After the First English Civil War, Parliament and the New Model Army began trusting each other less
  2. Charles encouraged Scotland to wage war with England, which was seen as a betrayal
  3. 'Pride's Purge' was when MPs who were sympathetic to the king were not allowed to enter Parliament
  4. 'Rump Parliament' put Charles I on trial for treason
  5. Charles was executed by beheading on 30 January 1649

Common misconception

Parliament fought both Civil Wars to remove Charles I from power

The majority of people in Parliament wanted to change how Charles I behaved but only a minority wanted to remove the king from power.

Keywords

  • Treason - treason is a serious crime which involves hurting your country or government

  • New Model Army - the New Model Army fought for the Parliamentarians, and against the Royalists, during the English Civil War

  • Regicide - regicide is the act of killing a monarch

  • Martyr - a martyr is a person who died for their beliefs and is respected because of that

  • Purge - getting rid of things you don’t agree with can be called a purge

In learning cycle 3, you could begin by asking students if they think the source was just reporting events or acting as propaganda (trying to persuade). Ask students to identify details from the source which can justify their answer.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of serious crime
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
True of false? England’s Civil War split many families.
Correct answer: True
False
Q2.
Write the missing word. People with very strict Protestant beliefs were known as _______.
Correct Answer: Puritans, puritans
Q3.
Which English side did Scotland’s army support during the Civil War?
Correct answer: Parliamentarians
Royalists
Neither
Q4.
Who surrendered in 1646, bringing an end to conflict in England?
Correct answer: Charles I
Parliament
Scotland's army
Q5.
Why did Parliamentarian propaganda say people should not support the Royalists?
Correct answer: There were too many Catholics in the Royalist armies.
There were too many foreign people in the Royalist armies.
There were too many rich people in the Royalist armies.
Q6.
Why must historians be careful when using propaganda as a source?
Propaganda never comes from the time period being studied.
Propaganda does not always have a clear author.
Correct answer: Propaganda often includes exaggerations to change people's minds.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match up each of the key words with its correct definition.
Correct Answer:martyr,a person who died for their beliefs and is respected

a person who died for their beliefs and is respected

Correct Answer:purge,getting rid of things you don’t agree with

getting rid of things you don’t agree with

Correct Answer:regicide,the act of killing a monarch

the act of killing a monarch

Q2.
Who purged Parliament in 1648?
Correct answer: New Model Army
The Scottish
King Charles I
Q3.
Starting with the earliest, sort these events into chronological order.
1 - Charles I defeated in the Second Civil War
2 - Parliament considers returning Charles I to power
3 - 'Pride’s Purge'
4 - Rump Parliament votes to put Charles I on trial
5 - Regicide
Q4.
How did the pamphlet "Pretended Judges" describe the regicide of Charles I?
Correct answer: ‘murder’
‘necessary’
‘unfortunate’
‘welcome’
Q5.
When did the New Model Army begin calling Charles I ‘that man of blood’?
After the First Civil War
Correct answer: After the Second Civil War
After 'Pride’s Purge'
After the regicide
Q6.
Select two examples which show the trial of Charles I lacked support from many people.
Charles I was sentenced to death for treason by the judges.
Correct answer: Less than half of the judges showed up to the trial.
Correct answer: Judges were interrupted by members of the audience.
The Rump Parliament voted to put Charles I on trial.

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