From republic to restored and limited monarchy: The consolidation of the Republic Flashcards
What kind of revolution was there in England in 1649?
A political revolution
What made Charles responsible for his execution in 1649?
- Charles refused to acknowledge the authority of the show court
- Charles’ refusal to plea meant the Rump had no choice other than execute the ‘tyrant’
- Charles had proven himself to be untrustworthy and duplicitous, and it was his character traits which ultimately led to his demise
- Charles rejected at least 7 other offers of settlement
How did the NMA lead to Charles’ execution?
The NMA felt a parliamentary majority may restore an untrustworthy, vengeful king, and any settlement would betray the cause they had fought for
- The NMA had grown in religious radicalism, and it was the militancy of this minority which initiated the ‘purge’ in late 1648
What did Cromwell call the regicide?
‘A cruel necessity’
How can Cromwell be described as?
‘A reluctant regicide’
When did Cromwell arrive in London?
On the evening of 6 December 1648, after Pride’s Purge
What signature was Cromwell’s on Charles’ death warrant?
He was the third signature on the death warrant
What did the execution of Charles signify the end of?
The end of the revolutionary, tumultuous process
What did the execution of Charles signify the start of?
- Anything next would be a new regime
- the need to restore the status quo
When was the Interregnum?
1649-60
What was the Interregnum?
An intermediary period and the quest for ‘healing and settling’ following the English Revolution
- restoring religious and political stability
Who carried out the events leading up to and the execution?
Pride’s purge, the trial and execution were all carried out by a small, determined minority
What were opinions on the monarchy after Charles’ death?
Monarchy was still popular throughout the Three Kingdoms
- The Scots immediately announced that Charles is still their king in spirit, proclaimed their support for the Stuarts and offered the crown to Charles II
- so did the Irish
What did the Rump Parliament face as a result?
Immediate and serious challenges in 1649
What were the Interregnum regimes built on?
- Narrow bases of support
- They lacked popular support from the Three Kingdoms, and succeeded in winning only grudging cooperation from people in England, Wales, parts of Scotland but not Ireland
What did the interregnum regimes have to rely on?
The lack of legitimacy meant that they always relied on the army for support
What difficulties did the martydom of Charles pose?
Substantial difficulties for the legitimacy of the republican government that ruled in the Interregnum
How did Charles’ actions leave the minority with no choice?
- Charles had been executed because he left a determined minority no choice
- He refused to compromise and could not be trusted to abide by any agreement
What did a few think Charles’ execution would be?
The first stage of a revolution
How did many view the Rump?
As illegitimate by many as it was not truly representative, and only existed because of a military coup
What support was rising in Scotland and Ireland?
There was an upsurge of royalist support in Scotland and Ireland
How was the trial and execution of the King a revolutionary act?
It marked a significant turning point
- it led to the ‘de-sacralisation’ of the monarchy
What did ‘de-sacralisation’ of the monarchy refer to?
- It divorced the monarchy from religion
- the public regicide destroyed the notion of the divine right and that the King was God’s anointed chosen one
Whats the significance of the regicide being carried out by a radical minority?
This might go some distance to explain why the new English republic eventually failed in 1660