Interregnum 1649-59 Flashcards
What lead to the creation of the Rump Parliament?
Prides Purge in December 1648
What did the rump abolish in February 1649?
The House of Lords and the monarchy.
What act was passed in January 1650 and what did it do?
The engagement act, all males had to declare an oath of loyalty to the commonwealth
Why,how and when did Oliver Cromwell dissolve parliament?
✏️It was too conservative
✏️With musketeers
✏️April 1653
What what did Cromwell enter between 1652-1654?
The first Anglo Dutch war.
Why was this a great tension between the Rump and the NMA?
The army saw the Dutch as a natural ally as they were Protestant and during the laudian reforms was a place of asylum for religious radicals.
Why had the Dutch lost their economic advantages in terms of the English?
The navigation act of 1651 which banned all vessels that weren’t English to import fish to England and its colonised lands.
What divides did Cromwell have to contend with?
Cromwell had to contend with increasingly Presbyterian Parliament and an army which had sympathies with sects. He hoped for religious settlement where godliness and toleration would be established without extremism. Maintained parishes and tithes so people could worship. Presbyterians closer aligned with royalists.
Where royalists a threat during Cromwell’s rule?
Royalists not threat initially as lacked leader without Charles II and lacked support in localities. In 1652 Sealed Knot formed by 6 aristocratic royalists who discouraged uprising as they knew it would fail. Decimation tax issued, 10% of income for those worth >£100 a year.
When did Richard Cromwell gain power? What challenges was he met with?
Sept 1658-April 1659 Richard Cromwell in power. Presbyterian opposition – they never got religious settlement. Charles Fleetwood and senior members felt his indifference could maintain army’s role, lower army members feared Cromwell’s sympathy for Presbyterians and sided with Sects, wanted return of Rump.
How did military criticise Richard Cromwell?
Rejected demands by Charles Fleetwood and John Desborough to give up commander-in-chief title, got civilian advisors George Monck, Edward Whalley, William Gough. Army owed £900,000 but Protectorate in £2.5 mil debt.
Rump May-Oct 1659 - what conflict did the Rump and army have? How was the state threatened?
May-Oct 1659, army wanted arrears covered and Rump refused, alongside not committing to reform. Rump needed army to preserve itself, army wanted Rump to hide military control. Local military’s power diluted through being placed under control of sects including Quakers. 1659 rise of Leveller pamphlets and conservatives talked of restoration, Presbyterian-royalist risings.
What were results of the dissolution of the Rump in Oct 1659?
Army set Committee of Safety in Oct 1659 to act as interim government and General George Monck condemned dissolution, negotiated with expelled members who proposed he bring army South and restore Rump for title of commander-in-chief. Lambert’s forces tried to ward him off but no match.
What did Monck do when he entered England?
Monck arrived and used force, restored order as long as Rump dissolved in May 1660. Returned those removed from Pride’s Purge and in Feb-March 1660 balanced shifted against Republicans.
What happened when Rump was opened in December?
Dec 1659 new Rump opened and Desborough, Lambert, and Fleetwood dismissed, Monck arrived in Jan 1660 and became commander-in-chief and Rump removed half of officers in purge causing opposition from merchants etc who refused to pay tax.
Who was MONCK
Soldier
George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle, KG was an English soldier and politician, and a key figure on both sides of the English Civil War, as well as the Restoration of the monarchy to King Charles II in 1660.
How long had Monck and Charles been in negotiation?
Monck in negotiation with Charles II since July 1659. Lambert in March 1660 tried to resist restoration by calling army force but Fleetwood and Desborough made no move, and Haselrig didn’t get involved. At Edgehill Lambert’s army was defeated.
In 1660 when was Charles II made King?
25 April 1660 Convention Parliament met with 60 monarchists and republicans did badly in contrast. Lords reintroduced and considered terms for settlement with Commons. 4 April 1660 Charles II makes Declaration of Breda committing to promoting religious freedom, pardon, and Parliament to determine property and arrears. 8 May England not republic, 14 May Parl visits Charles, 29 May Monck escorts him to King ceremony in London.
Why was it called a commonwealth and not a republic
Too radical
Vague enough to cover lots of bases and didn’t promise anything specific, whereas ‘republic’ does
What happens in march 1649
Act abolishing the monarchy and the House of Lords passes through the commons
Transition from. bicameral to a unicameral political system
In what year does the RUmp declare England a commonwealth
May 1649
What was the council of state
Sat above the rump parliament
41 members - including 31 MP’s
Responsible for major executive decisions which the king had previously been responsible for
Appointed for one year by rump in 1649 to be reappointed annually
Give a weakness of the council of state
Attendance rarely exceeded 15 and sometimes didn’t even reach the required 9
- Not a system embodied by the majority of people
Describe the structure fo the RUmp 1649
Around 300 MP’s - but only 50-100 regular attenders
Cromwell encouraged some MP’s who’d abstained after Pride’s Purge to rejoin - making the rump more conservative
