Failure of Post War Settlement

Question 1

Newport Treaty

Answer 1

Parliament went against the Vote of No Address and tried to negotiate with Charles.
Charles rejected all attempts of the negotiation with Charles.

This angered the army. Resulted in the Windsor Prayer Meeting and thus the Remonstrance of the Army.

Question 2

Failure of Settlement: Charles

Answer 2

Charles was deemed untrustworthy by escaping and launching an invasion with Scotland.
Lost two Civil Wars and had no real bargaining power yet refused to negotiate in Newport Treaty
Showed his unwillingness to compromise throughout, little hope of agreeing to a settlement

Question 3

Diggers

Question 4

Windsor Prayer Meeting

Answer 4

April 1648: gathered at Windsor to pray before facing their enemies
Preachers declared that Charles was a man of blood
Debated regicide in public for the first time

Question 5

Failure of Settlement: Radicalism of the NMA

Answer 5

Both Cromwell and Ireton thought they were carrying out God’s will and didn’t want a settlement.

Politicisation and radicalism scared many in parliament, feared NMA were too radical.
Led to a worse relationship between NMA and Parliament which made reaching a settlement that satisfied all three even more difficult

Relationship with levellers also scared many in Parliament, and the low ranking troops were less open to a settlement due to Leveller influence.

Question 6

Remonstrance of the Army

Answer 6

November 1648: written by Ireton.
Called for Charles put on trial and brought to justice.
If Parliament refused, purge it than put the King on trial.
Parliament voted to continue Newport treaty
Forced army to react
Led to the Pride’s Purge

Question 7

Pride’s Purge

Answer 7

Dec 1648
Ireton organised army, led by Thomas Pride, purged parliament of those who opposed the NMA

Rest of parliament left called rump parliament and supported the NMA’s decisions regarding Charles

Question 8

Charles’ Trial

Answer 8

He refused to accept the courts legitimacy and refused to argue his case.
Declared guilty and sentenced to death
Small majority: 59/135 signed death warrant

January 1649: executed, mixed public reaction, most unsure or opposed it. Many of those who signed the death warrant didn’t attend