The English Civil War (1642-1651) was a series of conflicts between the Parliamentarians and the Royalists, which ultimately resulted in the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of a republic. After the war, England was declared a Commonwealth, meaning that it was no longer ruled by a monarch. This was done in order to ensure that the power of the monarchy would not be restored and that the people would have more control over their government. The Commonwealth also allowed for greater religious freedom, as it abolished the Church of England's official status as the state religion.
