The interregnum

Question 1

The Rump Parliament, 1649-53…

Answer 1

Power was passed to the MPs who remained in Westminster on 4th January 1649.
Became the sole legislative authority and their focus was the reformation of government.
March 1649 - monarchy and House of Lords abolished.
May 1649 - Britain declared to be a commonwealth.

Question 2

What acts did the Rump pass?

Answer 2

2 January 1650, the Rump passed an Engagement Act by which all adult males had to declare loyalty to the Commonwealth.
July 1650, a Treason Act by which it was illegal to deny the authority of the regime.

Question 3

What acts did the Rump introduce regarding religious nonconformity?

Answer 3

In May 1650, the Blasphemy Act restricted religious sects and an Adultery Act which introduced the death penalty for adultery and incest. This marked the Rump as more religiously conservative than the army.
Also, in 1650 the Rump bought an end to compulsory attendance of national churches.

Question 4

The Rump and Ireland…

Answer 4

Parliament was scared of an Irish invasion in England, aimed at bringing Charles II to the throne.
July 1649 - Cromwell landed in Ireland to restore English rule, methods were brutal.
The garrison at Drogheda was massacred because it refused to surrender but proceeded to slaughter thousands of civilians after they surrendered.

Question 5

The Rump and Scotland…

Answer 5

Scotland posed a threat to republican rule because Scottish officer David Leslie commanded a powerful army which he handed over to Charles II.
Cromwell was appointed as commander-in-chief of the army to put down the Scottish threat.
Cromwell defeated the Scots at Dunbar in 1650 (3,000 killed and 10,000 captured), and in 1651 he destroyed Charles II’s armies in Worcester.
Charles II fled to France and spent nine years in exile.

Question 6

What did Cromwell’s success in Ireland and Scotland do?

Answer 6

Cromwell’s successes in Ireland and Scotland ensured the survival of the republic government, and increased the prestige of the armed forces.

Question 7

What did the Navigation Act, 1651 introduce?

Answer 7

The Navigation Act intended to promote the self-sufficiency of the British Empire by restricting colonial trade to England and decreasing dependence on foreign imported goods. The Navigation Act of 1651, aimed primarily at the Dutch, required all trade between England and the colonies to be carried in English or colonial vessels.

Question 8

The Anglo-Dutch war 1652-54…

Answer 8

The passing of the Navigation Act resulted in much anger from the Dutch. The Dutch received much of their revenue from transatlantic trade, and the inability to use English ports had a detrimental impact on their financial position. The War began when the Dutch refused to salute the English. The war continued for a year after the Rump was dissolved, and ended with Cromwell’s signing of the Treaty of Westminster in 1654, hoping for an alliance.

Question 9

What did the Anglo-Dutch war do?

Answer 9

The Anglo-Dutch war exacerbated tensions as army generals were unsure of the Rump’s objectives.

Question 10

What were the three reasons for the Rumps failure?

Answer 10

1. The reforms involved complex aspects of law which could not be agreed upon.
2. They struggled to maintain a large standing army.
3. They had limited finances, without substantial resources, the MPs of the Rump were less inclined to initiate significant reform.

Question 11

The reforms involved complex aspects of law which could not be agreed upon…

Answer 11

The Hale Commission was set up in 1651 to investigate reform of the legal system.
Reform slowed down - 125 acts passed in 1649, 51 in 1652.

Question 12

They struggled to maintain a large standing army…

Answer 12

Without support from the political nation, the regime could not disband the army. While there was an army they were unlikely to get this support.
The main issue for the army was the Rump’s failure to introduce constitutional reform.

Question 13

They had limited finances, without substantial resources, the MPs of the Rump were less inclined to initiate significant reform.

Answer 13

The threats from Ireland and Scotland meant that the Rump had to employ its immediate resources and time.
By 1650, the Rump’s deficit was over £700,000 which was half of its annual income.
The Dutch War, resources and time were used in war with the Dutch.

Question 14

What happened in 1653?

Answer 14

In 1653, Cromwell believed that the Rump intended to extend its life. He dissolved the Rump by force and replaced it with the Nominated Assembly.

Question 15

What were the problems of Cromwell in April 1653?

Answer 15

1. Did not want a dictatorship nor a general election.
2. Everyone hated the army. Any new parliament would clash with the army.
3. Everyone wanted a civilian constitutional government.

Question 16

The Nominated Assembly…

Answer 16

The Nominated Assembly was composed of members nominated by the government, the religious radicals determined to establish godly rule in the country. However, most members were from the lesser gentry who were conservative by nature and had little desire for godly reformation.

Question 17

What was its nickname and where did it come from?

Answer 17

Nicknamed the ‘Barebones Parliament’, it comes from one of its more radical members ‘praise God’ Nicholas Barbon.

Question 18

What were the Assembly’s substantial achievements?

Answer 18

1. Civil marriage was legalised.
2. Registers for births, marriages and deaths were established.
3. The revenue system was reformed.
4. Regulations concerning the treatment of lunatics were introduced.
5. Legal measures to help debtors were introduced.

Question 19

Why did the Nominated Assembly collapse?

Answer 19

There was a divide between traditionals and radicals which did not help, meaning church reform created a gap in the parliament. Radicals met and planned reforms, traditionals often missed critical votes.
In November and December the radicals attacked any church structure they could and abolished tithes with no structure in place to replace. Propertied members were unhappy at the suggestion to abolish tithes.

Question 20

What happened on 12 December 1653?

Answer 20

The more moderate members of the Nominated Assembly met and voted to dissolve the Nominated Assembly.

Question 21

What did Lambert produce three days after the Nominated Assembly was dissolved?

Answer 21

Lambert produced the Instrument of Government offering an entirely new constitution, the Protectorate, with government by a single person, Cromwell. Cromwell became Lord Protector.

Question 22

The First Protectorate Parliament…

Answer 22

Cromwell hoped that the Protectorate would bring stability and national life.
Lord Protector would be supported by a Council of State and a single chamber parliament with 460 members.
Parliaments were to be elected every three years by those who owned property of at least £200.
There would be a state Church but there would be freedom of worship for all except Catholics.

Question 23

What were the successes of the first protectorate parliament?

Answer 23

There was some initial success including laws banning bear baiting and cock fighting, improving postal services and allowing for maintenance of roads.

Question 24

What did Cromwell use the English fleet for?

Answer 24

Cromwell decided to use the English fleet in the Caribbean.
December 1654, fleet sent to capture Haiti under Admiral Penn and General Venables. The two argued and bad supplies and tropical diseases affected the English, failed to get Haiti but captured Jamaica.

Question 25

What did foreign policy do for the Protectorate?

Answer 25

Foreign policy of the Protectorate made it feared and respected throughout the world.

Question 26

Why was their opposition to the Protectorate?

Answer 26

Republicans opposed any single person government, especially from the republican MPs he had excluded from power when he dissolved the Rump.
Royalists wanted the King back.
Military were scared of its power being reduced.
One hundred members refused to accept the Instrument of Government and withdrew from parliament. This destabilised parliament by refusing to recognise the Instrument of Government, Cromwell dissolved it in 1655.

Question 27

The Major Generals…

Answer 27

After a royalist rising in Wiltshire in 1655, Cromwell decided that greater control of the provinces was needed.
He divided the country into 11 districts, each under the command of a major-general.
They would be responsible for local government and security, and were encouraged to attempt a ‘reformation of manners’, carry out a national reform of morals and behaviour.
A new militia was to support them, paid for by a tax of 10% on the estates of royalists.

Question 28

Were they successful?

Answer 28

Effectiveness was mixed.
In Lancashire Major General Worsley closed down 200 ale houses and in Lincolnshire traditional entertainments such as stage plays and horse racing were suppressed.
Whalley made concerted efforts in his area to improve the lot of those at the bottom of society and the record indicates that even in his short time of influence he made an impact.
Some seemed to neglect their duties.
The rule of the Major Generals alienated more of the traditional gentry than anything else and highlighted the fundamental tensions between reform and stability which characterised the entire period of republican rule.

Question 29

How did the Major Generals come to an end?

Answer 29

Cromwell established Commissions of Triers and Ejectors.
This was to supervise the running of the Church with an emphasis on the Church with an emphasis on quality teaching and flexibility.
In 1657, Cromwell was offered the crown by a second parliament.
Although the major-generals had been relatively effective, their militaristic nature and restrictions on social activities made them unpopular.

Question 30

The Second Protectorate Parliament, 1656-58…

Answer 30

The Second Protectorate Parliament met in September 1656 and, once again, one hundred MPs were excluded.
The new constitution was based on the restoration of the monarchy.
In March 1657, parliament presented Cromwell with the Humble Petition and Advice.

Question 31

What was the Humble Petition and Advice?

Answer 31

A constitutional document which wanted government by king. Also included, the Lords and Commons to govern with the Lord Protector, parliament to control the army, officers of state to be approved by parliament and regular elections and limited religious toleration.

Question 32

What was Cromwells reaction to the Humble Petition and Advice?

Answer 32

Strong opposition from the army and religious radicals persuaded Cromwell to refuse the offer in May. However, he accepted the office of Lord Protector for life, with the power to choose his successor.

Question 33

Was the Second Protectorate Parliament successful?

Answer 33

The Humble Petition and Advice would have done much to restore stability but Cromwell refused it and it was the opposition of the army which led him to reject the Crown.

Question 34

What happened in September 1658?

Answer 34

Cromwell died and the opportunity had passed.

Question 35

What happened when Cromwell died?

Answer 35

Cromwell was succeeded by his son Ricard, and the brief Third Protectorate Parliament was called in 1659.
Richard was a civilian and unacceptable to the Council of Officers who forced him to resign.
The Rump was recalled but showed that it had learnt nothing from their previous failures as parliament again disintegrated.
Saw a period of chaotic instability which was caused by the inability of military and civilian groups to agree on the future government of the country.

Question 36

How was order restored after the interregnum?

Answer 36

General George Monck (commander of the army in Scotland). He marched towards London where he was presented with a large number of petitions calling for the restoration of the monarchy.
Election were held for a new parliament, and the Convention Parliament met in April 1660.
Parliament resolved to restore the traditional government of King, Lords and Commons, and on 29 May Charles was welcomed on his return to London from exile abroad.