In the English Civil War, which faction supported Parliament?

• A. Roundheads
• B. Cavaliers
• C. Royalists
• D. Independents

Answer: (A)

Think about who stood with Parliament in the struggle against King Charles I. In the English Civil War, the royal faction supported the king and his attempts to rule with less parliamentary constraint, while the Parliamentarian side fought to limit royal power and push through constitutional and religious reforms. The group most widely associated with backing Parliament is the Roundheads. They earned their nickname partly from their short hair, which contrasted with the longer hairstyles favored by the king’s supporters, the Cavaliers. Within Parliament there were various strands, including the Independents who argued for religious independence for local congregations, but the name most commonly used to describe the side opposing the king is Roundheads.