Rule of the Rump, 1649-53

Question 1

Why were there problems establishing govt after Charles I was executed in Jan 1649?

Answer 1

Ireland = royalist stronghold

Scotland - Charles II declared king in Feb 1649 - in exile in Holland

No plan

Question 2

What was the govt situation in early 1649?

Answer 2

Ireton - wanted to dissolve parliament and hold elections - impossible due to mood of country - power to MPs = Rump - Lords didn’t return

Assembly = ‘sole legislative authority’
- Council of State - elected in its name

Question 3

What happened in March 1649 (first big reform)?

Answer 3

Lords + monarchy abolished

COMMONWEALTH (single chamber parliament) - 1649-53

Council of State - similar to privy council

Question 4

Radicals within NMA

Answer 4

Levellers and Anabaptists

Question 5

What were the eccentric groups that emerged?

Answer 5

By 1650:

• Fifth Monarchists (christ return)
• Ranters - predestination (incapable of sin)
• Quakers - spiritual equality (God’s within us)

Question 6

Toleration Act

Answer 6

1650 - removed church requirements, but religious service mandatory (weekly)
- Tithes (church taxes) not removed

Question 7

Blasphemy Act

Answer 7

1650 - restricted radical religious sects

Question 8

Main issue with the new regime in early 1650s?

Answer 8

Minority had won in 1649 - not enough support

Active cooperation across political nation required
- First task - restore stability - landowners worried (afraid of army)

Question 9

How was stability restored by the new govt?

Answer 9

• Army suppressed threats e.g., levellers (Burford (Banbury) mutiny - 1649 - 3 levellers executed by Cromwell)

Question 10

How was law reformed early in republican govt?

Answer 10

End of imprisonment for debt
End to high taxation
- Appeals to the masses (social justice) - country stabilised

Question 11

How did the greater gentry and nobility view the new republican govt?

Answer 11

They weren’t cooperating

Question 12

How powerful were the lesser gentry at the start of republican govt?

Answer 12

Had taken over much of local govt

Question 13

Charles II - 1651

Answer 13

Attempted invasion - unpopular due to reform and stability from new regime

• Battle of Worcester - reminder that Royalism wasn’t extinct

Question 14

Why was the Rump unstable early on?

Answer 14

• Proposed reforms complex - couldn’t be agreed

Question 15

Hale Commission

Answer 15

1651 - investigated legal system - regularly met for 1 year - couldn’t agree so not a success

No recommendation ever made it to law under the Rump

Question 16

How did the rate of reform change from 1649 to 1652?

Answer 16

Slowed down:
1649 - 125 Acts
1652 - 51 Acts

Question 17

Why did the new regime have to keep an army?

Answer 17

Not enough support to end it:

Therefore - large standing army = high tax - couldn’t pay for it

April 1649 - Sale of crown land by regime - still shortfall in 1653 - due to wars w/ Ireland, Scots, Dutch - so army unhappy

Question 18

Cromwell lands in Ireland

Answer 18

August 1649 - suppress royalists - they surrender - but are slaughtered - Ireton left in Ireland

Scots cut ties w/ England after Charles I (despite allies during CW)

Question 19

Charles II as King of Scotland

Answer 19

1650 - made peace w/ Covenanters (founded by John Knox, mid 16th century)
- Planning to invade England

Battle of Dunbar (1650) - Charles II and Cromwell

Question 20

Consequence of the First Anglo Dutch War

Answer 20

1652-54 - pressure on treasury

Question 21

1653 - Rump

Answer 21

Cromwell dissolves Rump by force - due to repressive measures and self-seeking by the Rump

Final straw - MPs wanted to hold elections - more conservative views, therefore nothing passed