What was the Gunpowder Plot?

   In English history, the Gunpowder Plot was an attempt to blow up the House of Parliament. It was arranged by a desperate knot of Catholic gentlemen, whose motive was partly political, partly religious. They caused barrels of powder to be conveyed by way of the Thames to the cellar under Parliament House. Guy Fawkes, a Yorkshire soldier of fortune was engaged to explode the powder on the night of November 5, 1605, at the opening of Parliament, when King James was expected to be present. The plot failed and the leaders and Fawkes were executed.