Chapter 14 - The consolidation of the Republic: Scotland and Dunbar; campaigns in Ireland; Charles II and Worcester

Question 1

When was the republic established?

Answer 1

February 1649

Question 2

How was the republic established?

Answer 2

February = the Rump voted to abolish the monarchy and monarchical government
March = became formal acts abolishing monarchy and House of Lords
May = England declared to be a ‘Commonwealth and free state’ governed by a single-chamber Parliament

Question 3

Why was there difficulty in establishing a new government after Charles’ execution?

Answer 3

• Ireland was a royalist stronghold

- Scotland immediately declares Charles II as King

Question 4

When was the engagement act passed?

Answer 4

2 January 1650

Question 5

What was the engagement act?

Answer 5

Act passed that meant all adult males had to declare loyalty to the commonwealth.

Question 6

When was the treason act passed?

Answer 6

July 1650

Question 7

What was the treason act?

Answer 7

Act passed that made it illegal to deny the authority of the regime as vested in the Commons.

Question 8

How did the Rump structure the new government?

2 points

Answer 8

• Rump declared that it had sole legislative authority

- elected the Council of State to act as government council (similar to Privy council)

Question 9

What was the first aim of the Rump?

Answer 9

To remove the last traces of Royalism from England

Question 10

How did the establishment of the Rump affect foreign relations?

Answer 10

No foreign monarchies prepared to recognise he legitimacy of the Rump after if had executed Charles = created much uncertainty

Question 11

How did the uncertainty in Britain at this time help military advances?
Why was this so beneficial?

Answer 11

Because of uncertainty, the navy was bolstered by construction of 20 new warships
- Provided the necessary support for Cromwell’s expedition to Ireland and Third Civil War against Scots

Question 12

When did the wear with Ireland begin?

Answer 12

August 1649

Question 13

What were Cromwell’s forces, and what were his aims for going to Ireland?

Answer 13

Took 20,000 men

Intended to suppress Catholic Royalist sympathisers.

Question 14

Why was there a need to take forces to Ireland?

4 points

Answer 14

• Rebellious forces had controlled Ireland since the initial uprising in 1641.
• Cromwell wanted to punish the Irish for 1641 rebellion
• Also were mostly Catholic and so he believed they were evil and against God (Catholic v Puritan)
• wanted to exploit Ireland financially

Question 15

What were Comwell’s expectations for the war in Ireland?

Answer 15

He expected a swift victory

Question 16

What were Cromwell’s intentions for going to Ireland?

3 points

Answer 16

• quick end to threat of Irish Catholics
• so that he could go back and sort out the Scottish threat from Charles Stuart and Covenanters.
• wanted to break the back of their ability to resist

Question 17

Where were the two key battles of the War in Ireland and why were they so infamous?

Answer 17

Drogheda and Wexford
He stormed both of these strongholds and controversially slaughtered thousands of defenders after they had surrendered.
They are known as some of the greatest atrocities in Anglo-Irish history.

Question 18

When was the siege at Drogheda?

What happened?

Answer 18

3-11th September 1649

Thousands of soldiers and civilians massacred

Question 19

When was the siege at Wexford?

What happened?

Answer 19

2-11th October 1649

Negotiations fell through so stormed the town and executed the garrisons. Around 1,500 to 2,000 killed

Question 20

How did Cromwell justify his actions in Ireland?

Answer 20

Referred to it as Divine Providence (did this a lot in his military career)

Question 21

When and why did Cromwell leave Ireland?

What state did he leave it in?

Answer 21

Cromwell left May 1650 to organise invasion of Scotland

Left Henry Ireton to further impose control and had army in occupation there until 1660

Question 22

Why were there tensions between Scotland and England at this time?

Answer 22

Had originally been Parliament’s allies but had cut ties with the English after Charles’ execution.

Question 23

What actions led to the Scottish war?

3 points

Answer 23

• Charles II declared King in Scotland
• Charles made peace with the Covenanters
• Covenanters and Charles’ military assembled army to invade England

Question 24

What was the problem with the engagement act for the Rump?

Answer 24

Impossible to enforce the engagement

- Rump survival depended on how it met the Irish/Scottish threat.

Question 25

Who was appointed to take over from Fairfax and lead the invasion and what did this begin?

Answer 25

Cromwell appointed Commander-in-Chief to take over = start of the Third Civil War

Question 26

Where were the two major battles that define the Civil War?

Answer 26

Dunbar and Worcester

Question 27

When was the invasion of Dunbar?

What happened?

Answer 27

September 1650
Rather than face Cromwell, Scots had withdrawn to defensible positions. Cromwell’s forces depleating so he was preparing to ship them back to England when pinned down by Scottish army double his size. Although in weak position, Cromwell defeated the Scots at Dunbar with his 15,000(ish) men.

Question 28

What happened at the same time as this event that Cromwell granted his victory to?

Answer 28

Thomas Harrison back in London led the radicals in prayer for Cromwell’s hopeless position. Cromwell regarded this victory as the hand of God!

Question 29

What were the real reasons for The New Model Army’s victory?

4 points

Answer 29

• Leader of Scots made strategic mistakes
• Religious motivation at core of New Model Army gave them confidence to launch an attack like this
• English sea power ensured that Cromwell’s forces could be resupplied throughout campaign
• English strong economy meant forces were better funded

Question 30

When was the invasion of Worcester?

What happened?

Answer 30

Defeat on 3 September 1651
Charles wanted to invade England (helped by Scottish army) and wanted to take London. Led his army across border but faced 4000 troops led by NMA generals. Generals heavily outnumbered but held their force allowing Cromwell time to coordinate. Charles’ troops refused to move on from Worcester and were outnumbered by the NMA. Long battle but Charles was defeated.

Question 31

What obstacles did Charles’ invading force face?

6 points

Answer 31

• desertions meant the invading force was only 13,000 when they crossed the border
• army of Scots attracted little English support
• Scottish general (Leslie) uncommitted to invasion
• republic intelligence network foiled many plots to overthrow the republic
• any risings quickly suppressed (ie. Norfolk Dec 1650)
• Charles had no foreign aid

Question 33

Why did Charles want to invade England?

2 points

Answer 33

• Ultimately aimed to take London so he could take the throne.
• wanted to escape the influence of Presbyterian leaders who he thought were seeking to control him.

Question 34

What happened to Charles after defeat at Worcester?

Answer 34

Escaped to Continent after (famously) hiding in an oak tree. Spent the next nine years in exile in France and later in United provinces. Came back for restoration in 1660.

Question 35

How did the English intend to outsmart the Scottish?

Why were there problems with this?

Answer 35

Wanted to march into Scotland to attack first

Fairfax was reluctant to take on this task

Question 36

What did the Irish and Scottish Wars mean for the Rump?

Answer 36

Rump was not in control of all of the British Isles