Associated Controversy: what factors account for limited success of protectorate 1653-1658?
- Created by: BeccaEK
- Created on: 04-04-15 14:45
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- Associated controversy: what factors account for limited success of protectorate 1653-1658?
- Cromwell
- A great soldier but not a constructive politician
- Effective politician as his lack of practical ideas allowed him to blame failure on others
- Did not initiate any experiment of the period
- His control of the army never wavered
- Never in danger of being overthrown
- A great soldier but not a constructive politician
- Instrument of government 1653
- Putting King on trial = last minute decision by army grandees to abolish monarchy
- Most assumed once king was defeated there would be a negotiated settlement
- Instrument established Cromwell as Lord Protector
- To be assisted by Council of State, chosen by protector
- Had the power to nominate successor
- To be assisted by Council of State, chosen by protector
- Parliament to meet every 3 years for at least 5 months
- Now single chamber (no House of Lords)
- Protector could veto any bills contrary to Instrument
- Putting King on trial = last minute decision by army grandees to abolish monarchy
- First Protectorate Parliament 1654-1655
- 400 MPs for England, 30 each for Scotland + Ireland
- Only parliament could draw up new constitution
- Wanted religious doctrine for CofE
- MPs wanted Parliament to have more power than the Protetor
- Second Protectorate Parliament 1656-1658
- Called year early due to desperate financial position - high levels of debt
- 1656 100 MPs excluded by army, 30 stay away in protest - only 66% full
- Lots of opposition to Major Generals wanting act passed giving them money collected from tax on Royalists
- Major Generals abolished + act defected
- Lots of opposition to Major Generals wanting act passed giving them money collected from tax on Royalists
- Humble Petition + Advice 1657 - new constiution
- Wanted Cromwell to accept crown but refused it
- Savage new laws against Catholics
- Constitutional problems in 1657
- Humble Petition had widespread support BUT new constitution failed to reintroduce effective parliamentary government
- 100 MPs exluded in 1656 allowed back
- Continued sqabbling led to dissolution of parliament in 1658
- Cromwell was a great believer in 'healing + settling' but he had ultimately failed
- Rule of Major Generals 1655-1656
- Government introduced Major Generals when stories of Royalist conspiracies were increasing
- Army commanders already interfering in local government so this was nothing new
- Country divided into 100 military districts to raise new militia
- Had to introduce godly reformation + reformation of manners
- Unpopular - tried closing down alehouses + suppressing sports + Local gatherings
- Government introduced Major Generals when stories of Royalist conspiracies were increasing
- Religion
- Cromwell was an Independent so didn't want coercive national church
- cut him off from Anglicans + Presbyterians
- Increasing numbers of 'gathered churches' in 1650s
- Also increasing numbers of Quakers
- Cromwell thought religious people may attempt an uprising if given the chance
- Material state of church dieteriorated
- Cromwell was an Independent so didn't want coercive national church
- Military dictatorship?
- Instrument of Government drawn up by cavalry commander of NMA
- Cromwell = Lord Protector as he was commander of army
- Power from victory over Royalits
- England divided + ruled by Major Generals
- Censorship of printing press
- Not seriously oppressive/ militaristic
- Army wanted civilian government with regular parliaments
- Major Generals had limited amount of force + spent most of time hunting for rebels/ Royalists
- Their rule was only temporary
- Strong military government = only way to keep peace
- Collapse of the Interregnum 1658-1660
- Sparked by Cromwell's death in Sept 1658
- Richard Cromwell lacked his father's experience
- Had no influence over army
- Army tried to call Rump again
- Long Parliament agreed to Restoration of Charles II
- Seemed only alternative to another Civil war or military dictatorship
- Cromwell
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