T1: Rule of the Rump Flashcards
when was the rule of the Rump?
1649-53
how many MPs were there in the Rump Parliament?
around 210 (half of before)
how many MPs in the Rump were ‘active’ MPs?
about 1/3 (60ish)
who governed under the Rump Parliament?
a Council of State
who was the first chair of the Council of State?
Cromwell
when were the House of Lords and monarchy officially abolished?
March 1649
when was England declared a Commonwealth?
May 1649
in what way were the Levellers a problem for the Rump?
wanted universal male suffrage-
- threat to social and religious hierarchy
- harder to control outcomes of elections if more people could vote
when and where was there a Leveller mutiny?
Leveller mutiny at Burford, May 1649
how successfully did the Rump deal with the Leveller mutiny May 1649?
10/10 success- Leveller leaders shot
what were some of the objectives of the Rump Parliament?
- maintain order and stability
- legal and social reform
- economic and administrative control
why was it especially important that the Rump brough in reform?
the NMA favoured reform - needed to appease them as the Rup relied on them to protect it, as not yet secure
what was set up to investigate the reform of the legal system?
the Hale Commission
when was the Hale Commission set up?
1651
overall, how successful was the Rump’s objective of reform?
unsuccessful - never adopted the recommendations of the Hale Commission
reform had slowed by 1652
number of Acts passed by the Rump 1649 vs 1652?
1649- 125 Acts passed
1652- 51 Acts passed
why were nobles reluctant to support the Rump?
- high taxation
- lesser gentry took over much of the government
- nobility were against reform (BUT this had slowed by 1652)
why could the Rump not end its high taxation?
needed high taxation to fund the NMA and wars
why was the lack of noble support a problem for the Rump?
nobility traditionally helped to run the country
what was the vicious cycle involving the NMA?
- NMA needed to protect the Rump from rebellions
- but high taxation needed to fund the NMA - unpopular
- high taxation actually made rebellions more likely
what was one way the Rump tried to remedy its economic problems?
sale of crown lands and royal items from April 1649
did the Rump manage to fix its economic problems?
no - wars led to a shortfall of £700,000 in 1653
what was the Anglo-Dutch War fought over?
trading rights on the seas and in colonies
why was the Anglo-Dutch War a problem for the Rump?
high-taxation to fund it cost support
