Consolidation of the Republic: Scotland, Ireland and England Flashcards
How did the establishment of the Republic cause concern?
Feb 1649 - Rump voted to abolish the monarchy, Lords and CofE
Hugely worried non-puritans and PN - revolution carried out by NMA lacked popular support
Why was the initial regime conservative?
Unrest in the 3 Kingdoms and the inherent social conservatism of the Grandees like Cromwell ensured the subsequent regime was maintained order
They had been driven to regicide out of political necessity and religious fervour - Worden calls Cromwell an ‘ideological schizophrenic’
When was the Republic established and enforced?
Name 3 points
May 1649 established
Jan 1650 Engagement act made all adult males swear loyalty to the Commonwealth
July 1650 Treason Act made it illegal to deny the authority of the regime
What was the nature of royalist support in Ireland after the regicide?
Some Irish supported Charles Stuart, particularly the Catholic Confederacy
How did Cromwell’s campaign in Ireland unfold?
Aug 1649 - accompanied by 11,000 to impose English Protestant rule , to punish the Catholics for the rebellion and exploit the country - Rump had borrowed money on security of Irish land and had to repay it
1649-50 - Series of bloody sieges on Catholic strongholds, at Drogheda 3,000 men, including non-combatant clerics, were killed and Wexford
What were the reasons for Cromwell’s brutality in Ireland?
Give 2 points
Sought to break resistance and ensure swift victory to return to Scotland to face Charles Stuart
Jan 1650 - blamed Catholic clergy for misleading the people and subject English ‘to the most unheard of and most barbarous massacre in 1641’ - shows ethnic/religious hatred
How did Cromwell protect his campaign in Ireland after his departure?
Give 2 points
Left Ireton in charge of imposing control when he left for Scotland who commanded the occupation until 1660
Disciplined his men and treated the natives fairly - hung plunderers and paid locals for food and rent
How did Charles Stuart garner support in Scotland?
Argyll had declared Charles II King in Scotland despite plmt outlawing this so Charles arrived and accepted the Covenant in exchange for military aid
Who led the NMA against Charles II’s Scot force?
Cromwell returned from Ireland to take over from Fairfax who refused to lead the fight due to the radicalisation of the army and the regicide
How did Cromwell defeat the Covenanter force?
The Scots initially withdrew to defensive positions and by Sept 1650 Cromwell’s force had shrunk from 16,300 to 11,000
Retreated to Dunbar to ship his army back to England when attacked by an army twice their size but fought on 3rd Dec 1650 killing 3,000 and capturing 10,000
Attributed to religious motivation of NMA, but also Leslie’s strategic mistakes and funding from England and sea power which enabled resupplying
How was Charles II forced to march to England?
Lambert’s attack at Iverkeithing killed 2,000 Scots and captured 1,4000 - enabled Cromwell to establish English control in Perth
NMA now blocked Charles II’s retreat to Scotland, but English militia in front of him was less well trained
Spurred on by his advisors who told him England retained royalist sympathies, he marched south
What was the state of Charles II’s army when it crossed the border?
Had a force of 20,000 whittled down to 13,000 due to desertion - Charles himself wanted to escape from the Scot leaders he felt were trying to control him
Charles lacked foreign aid, the Scots were uncommitted to the invasion and all royalist plots had failed - Norfolk 1650 uprising was crushed
How was Charles II defeated at Worcester?
Lambert and Harrison faced him with a force of 4,000 men steering him south to Worcester, away from London allowing the NMA to reorganise
He was heavily outnumbered and fled to the continent leaving 3,000 dead compared to 200 NMA troops
These military victories protected the Rump and the early Republic and establshed Cromwell as the dominant figure in NMA and govt
