Republican rule, 1649-60 Flashcards
In the years 1649-60 several attempts were made to established a…
stable republican regime acceptable to the country as a whole.
What did Cromwell and his supporters do to attempt to broaden support for the government? What did this do?
Allowed MPs back into parliament. This reinforced the tension between parliament and the army due to the reintroduction of conservative MPs who were less likely to enact reforms.
What did the Rump Parliament do in May 1649?
Abolish the monarchy and the House of Lords, and declared England to be a Commonwealth.
What did the New Model Army have to do following the declaration of a republic? What did this?
Had to deal with the threat from Ireland and Scotland and this delayed any confrontation with parliament over who held power.
What did parliament fear after the declaration of a republic? What did Cromwell do in response to this fear?
A possible Irish invasion of England, aimed at bringing Charles II to the throne. Cromwell landed in Ireland in July 1649 and set about restoring English rule - his methods were notoriously brutal.
Why was the Garrison at Drogheda massacred? Which town suffered a similar fate?
Because it refused to surrender, and the town of Wexford suffered a similar fate.
Cromwell left his generals to…
complete the subjugation of the country, and returned to England in 1650 to deal with the threat from Scotland.
Why did Scotland pose a threat to republican rule?
- Scottish officer David Leslie commanded a powerful army which he handed over to Charles II, provoking a third civil war
- Charles II was the son of Charles I and only had the title Charles II by the Scots’ declaration
When and where did Cromwell defeat the Scots?
Cromwell defeated the Scots at Dunbar in 1650 and in 1951 he destroyed Charles II’s armies at Worcester.
What do Charles II exile to following his defeat, and for how long did he exile for?
France spent nine years there.
Cromwell’s success in Ireland and Scotland ensured…
the survival of the republican government, and increased the prestige of the armed forces.
Why did the Rump Parliament, through its short life, fail to command widespread support for its rule?
- The Conservative nature of many MPs
- Limited finances - without substantial resources, the MPs of the Rump were less inclined to initiate significant reform
- The threat from Ireland and Scotland - facing a serious threat, the Rump had to employ its immediate resources and time
- Fear of radical religious groups - MPs were concerned at the development of new groups and sought to reimpose religious control
- Fear of the New Model Army - Pride’s Purge had shown the MPs of the Rump that the army held real power
- The Dutch War - resources and time were used on war with the Dutch, which broke out in 1652
When was the Nominated Assembly established?
1653.
What was the Nominated Assembly?
Was composed of members nominated by the government. They were religious radicals determined to establish godly reformation in the country.
What substantial achievements did the Nominated Assembly have to its name?
- Civil marriage was legalised
- Registers for births, marriages and deaths were established
- The revenue system was reformed
