Government were concerned with the level of military rule and the interference in the local governments- initially the major-generals didn't do any purges and aimed to work with the local MPs but eventually many major-generals removed men to make their rule more efficient- confirming the fear of the gentry
Finance concerns were due to the high levels of taxation e.g. the Decimation tax- levels of taxation had risen drastically since the defeat of Charles, mainly to fund the militia. The decimation tax hindered the acceptance of the protectorate for many royalists and it didn't even raise enough money needed for the local militias
Religious issues included the spread of radicalism- many religious radicals had been or were members of the army and therefore their power raised a social, economic and political threat e.g. the explosion of Quakerism in the 1650's. Major-generals also made connections with those of the gentry regarded as radicals, Durston (2001) says that the central feature of the major-generals was not military ruling but Godly rule
Cromwell's reaction was not great- he opposed the decimation tax and the milita bill when proposed, and returned to a 'healing and settling' approach. OC did praise the generals at the opening of the second protectorate parliament but then sought their removal- pushed him towards abandoning the instrument and adopting the Humble Petition and Advice
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