Republican rule 1649-60
- Created by: Tori
- Created on: 12-04-20 12:52
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- Republican Rule, 1649-60
- The Rump Parliament, 1649-53
- After the execution of Charles, Cromwell and his supporters attempted to broaden their support for the government.
- Did this by allowing many MP's back into Parliament.
- This reinforced the tension between parliament and the army due to the reintroduction of conservative MP's.
- This was because Conservative MP's were less likely to enact reforms.
- This reinforced the tension between parliament and the army due to the reintroduction of conservative MP's.
- Did this by allowing many MP's back into Parliament.
- In May 1649, the Rump abolished the monarchy and the House of Lords, and declared England to be a Commonwealth.
- Short term, the New Model Army had to deal with the threat from Ireland and Scotland.
- This delayed any confrontation with parliament over who held power.
- Short term, the New Model Army had to deal with the threat from Ireland and Scotland.
- Ireland
- Parliament feared a possible Irish invasion of England
- Feared they wanted to bring Chalres II to the throne.
- Cromwell landed in Ireland in July 1649 and set about restoring English rule.
- His methods were brutal.
- The garrison at Drogheda was massacred because it refused to surrender, and the town of Wexford suffered a similar fate.
- Cromwell left his generals to complete taking contorl of Ireland and returned to England in 1650 to deal with the threat from Scotland.
- His methods were brutal.
- Scotland
- Scotland was a big threat to republican rule.
- Scottish officer David Leslie commanded a powerful army which he handed over to Charles II, provoking a third civil war.
- Chalres II only had the title from the Scots, which was a big statement.
- Cromwell defeated the Scots at Dunbar in 1650, and in 1651 he destoryed Chalres II's armies at Worcester.
- After his defeat, Charles II fled to France and spend 9 years in exile.
- Cromwell's successes in Ireland and Scotland ensured the survival of the republican government, and increased the prestige of the armed forces.
- Scottish officer David Leslie commanded a powerful army which he handed over to Charles II, provoking a third civil war.
- Scotland was a big threat to republican rule.
- Parliament feared a possible Irish invasion of England
- After the execution of Charles, Cromwell and his supporters attempted to broaden their support for the government.
- Between 1649-60, several attempts were made to establish a stable republican regime acceptable to the country as a whole.
- The experiment failed, leading to the Stuart restoration in 1660.
- The failure of the Rump Parliament
- Failed to gain widespread support for it's rule due to:
- Conservative nature of many MP's
- Limited finances
- Without substantial resources, the MP's of the Rump were less inclined to start significant reform.
- Threat of Ireland and Scotland
- Serious threats as the Rump had to employ its immediate resources and time.
- Fear of radical religious groups
- MPs were concerned at the developement of new groups and sought to reimpose religious control.
- Fear of the New Model Army
- Pride's Purge had shown the MPs of the Rump that the army held real power.
- The Dutch War
- Resources (that were already limited) and time were used on war with the Dutch, which broke out in 1652.
- Failed to gain widespread support for it's rule due to:
- The Nominated Assembly, 1653
- Composed of members nominated by the government.
- They were religious radicals determined to estabish 'Godly rule' in the country.
- Reached a few substancial achievements:
- Civil marriage legalised.
- Registers for births, marriages and deaths established.
- The revenue system was reformed.
- However, the Assembly lost the support of the political classes with its more radical proposals.
- eg. propsed to abloish the tithe.
- In December 1653, conservative members handed back the Assembly's powers to Cromwell.
- Composed of members nominated by the government.
- The end of the Commonwealth, 1653
- The 'Instrument of Government' of 1653 was a written constitution.
- Aimed at giving the republic long-term stability.
- The Commonwealth was replaced with the Protectorate.
- Government was to be carried out by a Council of State.
- A Parliament was to be elected every 3 years.
- Oliver Cromwell was installed as Lord Protector.
- A Parliament was to be elected every 3 years.
- The 'Instrument of Government' of 1653 was a written constitution.
- The Rump Parliament, 1649-53
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