Chapter 16: Cromwell, the Protectorate, Major-Generals, and relationships with the PN

Question 1

What was included in the Instrument of Government?

Answer 1

• Protector=head of state
• P elected every 3 years, sitting for minimum of 5 months
• militia controlled by P and Protectorate
• Council of state are crucial as balance power of Protectorate and P

Question 2

What did Republicans want during the First Protectorate?

Answer 2

• reduce armed forces

- reduce Cromwell’s power (over army + ordinances)

Question 3

Why were Republicans concerned about Cromwell’s power during the first Protectorate?

Answer 3

• he didn’t need P approval for ordinances etc. so cpuld cause dictator ship like atmosphere
• Cromwell’s control of army
• need to reduce armed forces

Question 4

What did P do to be a threat?

Answer 4

• P trying to control religion over Protectorate and Council despite Protectorate already enforcing religious freedom + toleration

Question 5

When was the First Protectorate?

Answer 5

Sep 1654-Jan 1655

Question 6

What did Cromwell respond with after Republicans attack his position?

Answer 6

• Fundamentals of government
• included govt. by a single person + Parliament, liberty of conscience (religious freedom), regular elections to ensure no perpetuation
• included militia controlled by Protector, Council + Parliament
• Recognition (MPs take oath of the first of fundamentals) which 100 MPs refuse on principle and withdraw from P

Question 7

What is Biddle’s Case (1654)?

Answer 7

• Biddle denied Holy Trinity so accused of blasphemy by MPs
• Commons declared he should be imprisoned and works burnt
• P attempting to control religion over Protectorate + Council
• MPs attacks on Instrument and P’s failure to find army cause Cromwell to dissolve P (Jan 1655)

Question 8

Why was there a rule of Major Generals / reform?

Answer 8

• Religious reformation: used to enforce godly reformation
• Failure of Western Design: Failure of the Spanish attack suggested reform was needed
• Finance: Decimation tax introduced under MGs to reduce army to cheaper militia by shifting tax burden to ex-royalists
• Royalism: Penruddock’s rising of March 1655 indicates the threat of royalism

Question 9

How did Lambert establish the rule of the Major Generals?

Answer 9

• split England into 11 areas, each ruled by a MG

- gave instructions to MGs of August + October 1655 and June 1656 to help prevent rebellions

Question 10

What the focus of the Major Generals?

Answer 10

• security of the regime, some had personal goals eg. godliness

Question 11

How did the PN react to the rule of Major Generals?

Answer 11

• Government: conservatives keep being removed so conservative PN aren’t represented in govt. + PN control of localities threatened due to bigger role of gentry (soldiers)
• Religion: conservative PN fear religious radicalism + increase of Quakers
• Finance: increase tax to support army + Decimation tax for royalists which puts off reconciliation

To the PN they all seemed like breakdown in order and hierarchy

Question 12

When did the Second Protectorate sit?

Answer 12

• Sep 1656

Question 13

What is the Militia Bill (Jan 1657)?

Answer 13

• enforces Decimation tax and make it permanent

Question 14

What is the Decimation tax?

Answer 14

10% of annual income of wealthy royalists to fund local militias

Question 15

What happened during the debates over the Militia Bill?

Answer 15

• power struggle between military and civilians

- Cromwell saw it wouldn’t lead to long term stability so abandoned MGs and opposed the Bill

Question 16

What caused the Humble Petition and Advice?

Answer 16

• plot to assassinate Cromwell discovered (Jan 1657) so brought into question what happens when he dies

Question 17

What was Humble Petition and Advice (1657)?

Answer 17

• motion to offer Cromwell the Crown

Question 18

What did Cromwell receive in March 1657 opposing The Humble Petition And Advice?

Answer 18

• receives a petition by 100 army officers opposing monarchy restoration and claiming settlement is needed

Question 19

How did Cromwell respond to The Humble Petition and Advice?

Answer 19

• (Apr 1657) rejected title of ‘King’
• (May 1657) accepted revised Petition with Title ‘Lord Protector for Life’
• June 1657 crowned

Question 20

Why did Richard Cromwell fail to maintain his position as Protectorate?

Answer 20

• his weakness and inexperience
• inability of surviving Grandees (retired MGs), Fleetwood and Desborough to control junior officers
• propaganda of old republicans MPs
• seriousness of problems inherited from his father

Question 21

When was Richard Cromwell proclaimed Protector?

Answer 21

• Sep 1658

Question 22

What caused resentment against Richard Cromwell?

Answer 22

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Question 23

How was England ruled 1659-60 after Cromwell was forced to resign?

Answer 23

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Question 24

What was James Nayler incident?

Answer 24

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Question 25

Why was the Instrument of Government written?

Answer 25

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Question 26

What were Cromwell's aims as Protector?

Answer 26

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Question 27

When was MG rule?

Answer 27

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Question 28

Who most openly opposed Cromwell as King?

Answer 28

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Question 29

What were the advantages/disadvantages of offering Cromwell the Crown?

Answer 29

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Question 30

Why did people fear anarchy after Cromwell's death?

Answer 30

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Question 31

Why was there division among the NMA after Cromwell's death?

Answer 31

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Question 32

What happened after Richard Cromwell resigned?

Answer 32

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Question 33

How did the recalled Rump operate?

Answer 33

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Question 34

What momentarily united the Rump and Parliament in July-August 1659?

Answer 34

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Question 35

How did Monck bring about the restoration of monarchy?

Answer 35

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