Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot aimed to blow up Parliament in 1605 to change the religious balance of power in England. The conspirators, led by Catholics unhappy with Protestant rule under King James I, planned to kill the king and eradicate members of Parliament by detonating 36 barrels of gunpowder stored in a cellar beneath the House of Lords. The plan was foiled when a letter (likely warning of the danger) prompted a search of the building, where Fawkes was found guarding the gunpowder. The plotters were subsequently arrested or killed, and the event has since been commemorated as Bonfire Night on 5 November. Key context and motives:

• Religious conflict: The Reformation had established Protestant dominance, and Catholics faced discrimination; Plot leaders hoped to restore Catholic influence by removing the king and Parliament.

• Desired outcome: Assassinating James I and destroying Parliament, paving the way for a Catholic claimant or regime to take power.

• Secrecy and betrayal: The plan depended on secrecy but was betrayed by the discovery of the gunpowder-filled cellar after the warning letter reached the authorities.

What happened next:

• Fawkes was captured, tortured, and forced to reveal the names of accomplices; several conspirators were killed or executed following sieges such as Holbeche House.

• The event is remembered annually in the UK as Bonfire Night, with fireworks and burning effigies of Fawkes. Parliamentary safety practices have since become ceremonial rather than precautionary.

If you’d like, I can tailor this to a specific aspect (political, religious, social impact, or its legacy in modern Britain) and provide concise timelines or primary-source references.