The English Revolution, 1637-1662

Aims

This course aims to: 

• explore the causes of the English Revolution
   
• examine the main political events in England during the 1640s and 1650s
   
• consider why the republic collapsed and the monarchy was restored in 1660

Content

This course will examine the dramatic events that engulfed England during the 1640s and 1650s.  These included the outbreak of civil war, the execution of the King, the abolition of the monarchy, and the establishment of a republic. The sessions will analyse these developments and try to explain how and why they came about. We will trace the origins and course of the Civil Wars of the 1640s, the failure to achieve a post-war settlement, the reasons for the execution of Charles I and the abolition of the monarchy, and then the republican regimes of the 1650s, led by the complex and controversial figure of Oliver Cromwell. Finally, we will examine why the Stuart monarchy was restored in 1660 and the terms of the Restoration Settlement. Although the main emphasis throughout the classes will be on events in England, these will be set within the wider context of developments in Scotland, Ireland and Wales. The course will explore the central themes and problems of this exciting period through an extensive selection of primary sources.

Presentation of the course 

The sessions will take the form of direct instruction, accompanied by extensive hand-outs in the form of extracts from primary sources. There will be some time for questions and discussion in each session.

Course sessions

1. The Origins of Civil War, 1637-42
   This first session will examine the deepening crisis over Charles I’s rule and the growing divisions of opinion over his policies in both church and state that were evident by the beginning of the 1640s. We will look at the events leading up to the outbreak of the English Civil War in August 1642. 
    
2. The Civil Wars, 1642-46
   This session will examine the course and principal events of the English Civil War. We will look at the war efforts and military strategies of the Royalists and the Parliamentarians, and consider the reasons why the Parliamentarians ultimately won, leading to the King’s surrender in the summer of 1646.
    
3. The Road to Regicide, 1646-49
   Here we will explore the attempts to reach a post-war settlement, and the reasons why they ultimately failed. That failure led to a second Civil War in 1648, a conflict that paved the way for the trial and execution of Charles I in January 1649. Shortly afterwards, the monarchy and the House of Lords were abolished.
    
4. Oliver Cromwell and the Interregnum, 1649-58
   This session will look at the Interregnum down to the death of Oliver Cromwell in 1658. Cromwell dominated those nine years, and he was Lord Protector for the last five of them. We will examine his priorities and policies and the reasons why he ultimately failed to generate lasting political stability.
    
5. The Restoration, 1658-62
   This final session will examine the collapse of the republic following the death of Cromwell and the events leading to the Restoration of Charles II in 1660. We will consider the nature of the Restoration Settlement of 1660-62, and the extent to which it marked a return to the pre-revolutionary situation.

Learning outcomes

You are expected to gain from this series of classroom sessions a greater understanding of the subject and of the core issues and arguments central to the course. 

The learning outcomes for this course are:

• to understand the origins of the English Revolution
   
• to gain a knowledge of the main events in England during the 1640s and 1650s
   
• to understand why the republic collapsed and the monarchy was restored in 1660

Typical week: Monday to Friday 

Courses run from Monday to Friday. For each week of study, you select a morning (Am) course and an afternoon (Pm) course. The maximum class size is 25 students.   

Courses are complemented by a series of daily plenary lectures, exploring new ideas in a wide range of disciplines. To add to your learning experience, we are also planning additional evening talks and events. 

Evaluation and Academic Credit  

If you are seeking to enhance your own study experience, or earn academic credit from your Cambridge Summer Programme studies at your home institution, you can submit written work for assessment for one or more of your courses.  

Essay questions are set and assessed against the University of Cambridge standard by your Course Director, a list of essay questions can be found in the Course Materials. Essays are submitted two weeks after the end of each course, so those studying for multiple weeks need to plan their time accordingly. There is an evaluation fee of £75 per essay. 

For more information about writing essays see Evaluation and Academic Credit. 

Certificate of attendance 

A certificate of attendance will be sent to you electronically after the programme.