The Gunpowder Plot

This page requires the latest version of the Flash plugin and JavaScript to be enabled. You can download the latest version of Flash for free from adobe.com/go/getflashplayer

Every year people across the United Kingdom celebrate Bonfire Night with fireworks and ‘Penny for the Guy'.

But do you know why?

The tradition grew out of the actions of just a few men in 1605. The gang, which included Guy Fawkes, devised a daring plan to kill King James I. Their plot failed. And Fawkes and the others paid with their lives. 

So what happened? This is the story of The Gunpowder Plot.
 

Who's who?

Guy Fawkes and the Gun Powder Plot Educational ResourcesMore about the daring plotters and other key players in the story.

 

The plot

Learn about the Gunpowder PlotWhy were the plotters trying to kill the king? And what caused the plan to fail?


Useful links

Find out more about the Gunpowder Plot and Guy FawkesFind out more about the famous Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot.

 

 

Interactive whiteboards

Interactive whiteboards

Discover how Parliament works and find out all about elections and voting with our interactive whiteboard classroom resources. 

The Gunpowder Plot continued...

Read more about the build-up to the Gunpowder Plot, what happened on the night, and the aftermath.

They said it...

'I would advise you ... to devise some excuse to shift your attendance at this Parliament for God and man hath concurred to punish the wickedness of this time...'

  • From an anonymous letter to Lord Monteagle warning him to stay away from 1605's State Opening of Parliament.