Cromwell, succession and the restoration

Question 1

Whats wrong with the rule of the Major Generals

Answer 1

The rule of the Major Generals was unpopular with the Second Protectorate Parliament, its members were determined to find a system to replace it

Question 2

What was the Humble Petition based on

Answer 2

It was based on the restoration of monarchy.

Question 3

What did the Humble Petition consist of?

• King

Answer 3

Government by a King, change to Lord Protector when Cromwell refused the Crown

Question 4

What did the Humble Petition consist of?

• Succession

Answer 4

Provision for a hereditary succession

Question 5

What did the Humble Petition consist of?

• Lords and Commons

Answer 5

The Lords and Commons to govern with the Protector

Question 6

What did the Humble Petition consist of?

• Control of the army

Answer 6

Parliament to control the army, and officers of state to be approved by parliament

Question 7

What did the Humble Petition consist of?

• Elections

Answer 7

Regular elections and limited religious toleration

Question 8

Why was Cromwell offered the Crown?

• To restore a system

Answer 8

By offering Cromwell the Crown, his MPs were attempting to restore a system where the powers and privileges of the leader were established and known, rather than another experimental government.

Question 9

Why was Cromwell offered the Crown?

• The term ‘King’

Answer 9

The use of the term ‘King’ would confirm that traditional laws and the courts system would be used.

Question 10

Why did Cromwell decline the Crown?

• The army

Answer 10

Cromwell was concerned about how the army would react to him being given the Crown by a civilian parliament

Question 11

Why did Cromwell decline the Crown?

• Lack of support

Answer 11

A number of commanders in the army made it clear that they would not support Cromwell if he took the Crown

Question 12

Why did Cromwell decline the Crown?

• More power

Answer 12

If Cromwell accepted the Crown from parliament, Cromwell would be vesting more power in the MPs than the army, who had always served to protect his position

Question 13

When was the Third Protectorate Parliament?

Answer 13

Richard Cromwell summoned the brief Third Protectorate Parliament to meet in January 1659.

Question 14

What was the weakness of Richard Cromwell?

• No experience of war

Answer 14

Unlike his father, Richard was a civilian and had no experience of war.

Question 15

What was the weakness of Richard Cromwell?

• the Council of Officers

Answer 15

Richard was unacceptable to the Council of Officers, which forced him to resign later in 1659 and then recalled the Rump

Question 16

Political vacuum after the death of Cromwell

• The newly restored Rump

Answer 16

The newly restored Rump appeared to have learned nothing from its earlier failures and the ruling minority began disintegrating rapidly. In October 1659, the army closed it down by force

Question 17

What did General Monck do

• Restore the Rump

Answer 17

He was fearful that the country was sliding towards military rule, he assembled an army to bring the Rump to power again

Question 18

The return of the Long Parliament

• Under Lambert

Answer 18

The army sent a force north under Lambert to counter the threat of Monck but other members of the army reinstated the Rump again.

Question 19

The return of the Long Parliament

• The role of Monck

Answer 19

Against the wishes of the Rump, Monck moved to reverse Pride’s Purge.

Question 20

The return of the Long Parliament

• The Convention Parliament

Answer 20

In March 1660, the restored Long Parliament voted to dissolve itself, leading to elections for the Convention Parliament

Question 21

Who was in the Convention Parliament

Answer 21

the newly elected parliament included a number of Royalists and excluded many of the republicans who had been involved in government since Charles’s execution

Question 22

Monck’s role in the Restoration

Answer 22

It was accepted that the monarchy should be restored.

Monck stared secret negotiations with CharlesII

Question 23

Declaration of Breda

Answer 23

Charles II sent his own proposals for a settlement, the Delectation of Breda, and this was accepted by MPs

Question 24

Why was Charles restored?

• One-man rule under Cromwell

Answer 24

A rejection of the republican governments of the 1650s was inevitable after the return to one-man rule under Cromwell

Question 25

Why was Charles restored?

• Fear of another civil war

Answer 25

There was fear of another civil war in the context of the political uncertainty of 1659.

Question 26

Why was Charles restored?

• Radical religious groups in 1650s

Answer 26

The number of radical religious groups alarmed the political nation in the late 1650s.
In 1659, there were as many as 60,000 Quakers

Question 27

Why was Charles restored?

• Stability

Answer 27

As the republic had collapsed so quickly, it was essential to men of property that a stable government be restored

Question 28

Why was Charles restored?

• Declaration of Breda

Answer 28

Charles’s Declaration of Breda made him look like an attractive option. He offered religious toleration and payment of arrears to the army.