Guy Fawkes and his fellow conspirators aimed to blow up Parliament in 1605 as part of the Gunpowder Plot. Their goal was to eliminate King James I and end the suppression of English Catholics, hoping that by killing the king and destroying Parliament, a Catholic-friendly succession could be facilitated—eventually allowing a Catholic monarch, or a restoration of Catholic influence, and sparing Catholics from ongoing persecution. The plot sought to clear a path for James’s political heir to assume the throne with Catholic support, and to trigger a broader political and religious shift in England. Key context and goals

• Religious motive: English Catholics faced severe restrictions and persecution under Protestant rule; the plot reflected a desperate attempt to change the religious settlement in favor of Catholicism.

• Strategic target: The plan targeted the State Opening of Parliament and the Houses of Parliament, with the intended result of killing the king and decapitating the government to pave the way for a Catholic restoration.

• Entrusted role: Guy Fawkes had charge of the gunpowder due to his experience and expertise; he was to light the fuse in the cellar beneath the Parliament building.

What happened afterward

• The plot was exposed and thwarted on November 5, 1605; Fawkes was discovered guarding 36 barrels of gunpowder and arrested. This led to investigations, torture, and executions of the conspirators.

• The incident gave rise to Bonfire Night in Britain, commemorating the thwarted plot and serving as a public reminder of the dangers of treason.

If you’d like, I can pull in more authoritative summaries from Britannica or primary historical sources to give a concise timeline and assess the differing historical interpretations of Fawkes’s motives.