Cromwell’s personality Flashcards
What role did Cromwell’s personality play in the constitutional experiments of the 1650s?
It played a crucial role, contributing to contradictions and instability.
Which beliefs influenced Cromwell’s approach to government?
His religious beliefs, personal humility, and confidence in divine providence.
What effect did Cromwell’s confidence in divine providence have on his decisions?
It sometimes led to pragmatic decisions that appeared inconsistent with his professed values.
Fill in the blank: Cromwell’s _______ contributed to the contradictions in the constitutional experiments of the 1650s.
[personality]
True or False: Cromwell’s decisions were always consistent with his professed values.
False
What was central to Cromwell’s political decision-making?
Cromwell’s religious zeal
His belief in providence shaped his actions.
What did Cromwell believe about providence?
God actively shaped events
He viewed his rise as divinely ordained.
What action did Cromwell take in 1653?
Dissolution of the Rump Parliament
Initially supported it as a Parliamentarian.
Why did Cromwell dismiss the Rump Parliament?
He viewed it as corrupt and self-serving
This was a contradiction to his earlier support.
What ideals shaped Cromwell’s vision of governance?
Puritan ideals
These ideals influenced his policies.
What policy did Cromwell implement for Protestants?
Religious toleration
However, he persecuted Catholics and radical sects.
Which radical sects did Cromwell persecute?
Catholics and Fifth Monarchists
Persecution occurred when they threatened stability.
How did Cromwell’s faith influence his foreign policy?
He formed alliances with Protestant states
His policies aimed to defend and promote Protestantism.
What was the Western Design?
Cromwell’s intervention in the Caribbean
It was part of his religiously motivated foreign policy.
Who were the Vaudois Protestants?
A group supported by Cromwell in Savoy
Their support reflected Cromwell’s mission to promote Protestantism.
What was a negative outcome of Cromwell’s aggressive foreign policy?
Alienation of potential allies
This contributed to financial strain on the Protectorate.
True or False: Cromwell’s religiously motivated policies always aligned with practical governance.
False
His religious zeal sometimes conflicted with effective governance.
What was Cromwell’s background?
Parliamentarian background
What did Cromwell attempt to establish with the Instrument of Government in 1653?
A mixed constitution with checks on the executive
What actions did Cromwell take when Parliament opposed his policies?
Dissolved both the First and Second Protectorate Parliaments
What tendency did Cromwell exhibit despite his support for constitutional government?
Authoritarian tendencies
What was Cromwell’s personal belief that often influenced his governance?
Order and stability
What title did Cromwell accept in 1657?
Lord Protector
What did Cromwell’s rejection of the Crown illustrate?
His internal conflict regarding stability and monarchy
True or False: Cromwell viewed kingship as a symbol of the corrupt past.
True
Fill in the blank: Cromwell’s acceptance of the title of _______ underscored the contradictions in his rule.
Lord Protector
What did Cromwell desire despite recognizing that monarchy provided a clear line of succession?
Stability
What did Cromwell’s rule highlight about his commitment to representative government?
His theoretical commitment often overrode by his personal beliefs
What was Cromwell’s desire for the nation?
Cromwell desired the ‘healing and settling’ of the nation
This reflects his aim for stability and reconciliation after the turmoil of the English Civil War.
How did Cromwell’s conservative instincts affect his governance?
His conservative instincts made him wary of radical social change
This wariness often conflicted with the need for reform and change in governance.
What was the role of the Major-Generals during Cromwell’s rule?
The Major-Generals enforced moral reform and maintained order
Their rule (1655–1657) reflected Cromwell’s Puritan vision but was unpopular among the gentry.
What impact did the Major-Generals have on Cromwell’s authority?
Their unpopularity demonstrated the limits of his authority
It also showed the resistance to military governance.
What shaped Cromwell’s constitutional experiments in the 1650s?
Cromwell’s personality—his religious fervor, belief in providence, commitment to stability, and pragmatic decision-making
These traits influenced his approach to governance and policy.
What was the balance Cromwell sought between liberty and order?
He sought to reconcile liberty with order, but often prioritized order
This led to tensions within his government and its policies.
What was the consequence of Cromwell’s prioritization of order?
It led to the erosion of Parliamentary government and increased reliance on personal rule
This shift undermined the principles of representative governance.
What characterized Cromwell’s government?
Cromwell’s government was both dynamic and unstable
His contradictions in governance contributed to this instability.
What happened to Cromwell’s vision for England?
His vision for England died with him in 1658
This reflects the transient nature of his policies and governance.
