Why did the government of 1649-53 fail? Flashcards
What problems did the Rump face in 1649
The execution of Charles in 1649 had brought an end to
the civil war, but that did not mean the majority of the
nation were happy with the outcome
and therefore the Commonwealth was established on
the basis of an event which few people wanted
Both the army and the Rump wanted different things
- The soldiers thought that the Rump would start the
process of reform and then give power to a new
parliament - The levellers wanted the power of parliament reduced
and made more accountable - Active threats from Charles Stuart
What actions were conducted in Scotland?
Scotland, June 1650 Charles Stuart made King Charles II in Scotland.
Cromwell sent 15,000 to Scotland.
3 Sept at Dunbar 3000 Scots killed compared to 20 English despite the 2:1 advantage.
Scots invaded England and there was defeat at Worchester.
Charles II fled.
What achievements did the Rump make
- Laws on debtors eased
-The Elizabethan law requiring weekly attendance at
church was repealed
-There were acts to improve preaching in the
North,West and Wales
What three major issues brought the clashes between the Rump and army to head
- Religion
- Reform of the law
- A new constitution
What issues arose surrounding religion
-The Rump was keen to restrict religious liberty and in
1650 had legislated against some more extreme sects
that had developed and passed a Blasphemy act which
limited religious non-conformity
- Some members wanted to preserve a national Church,
which would be financed through a tithe - Both these caused disquiet with the army
What issues arose surrounding reform of the law
- December 1651, Rump appointed a commission to
review the legal system - It drew up a series of recommendations, but the lawyer
MP’s blocked the proposals, adding to the sentiment
that the Rump was self interested
What issues arose surrounding the new constitution
- The new Rump was too slow to draw up the
preparation of a new constitution. It wanted to
preserve it’s privileges and refused to be dictated to - under pressure from army officers it drew up a bill
-The bill included increasing representation and
narrowing the franchise
Why did the Rump fail
-It had failed to pass the wide range of measures that
were expected on religion and legal reform
- The Rump had disagreed vastly with the army on
religion, law and the constitution
What happened after the dissolution of the Rump
- With the dissolution of the Rump, authority went to a
council of army officers whose task it was to devise a
new form of government
When did the Nominated Assembly sit?
30th April 1653 - 12th December 1653
What other names were the nominated assembly given?
Barebones
What was the nominated assembly?
- After the dissolution with the Rump parliament - the
assembly was not intended to be permanent - Selected from a collection of ‘godly’ men who would reform the nation
- Cromwell saw the collapse of the rump as gods providence, and so pursued a more religious route of government
What did the nominated assembly achieve?
They passed 30 statutes in the space of 5 months, including….
reform of law on Debt,
civil registration of births, deaths and marriages
humane treatment of the insane
- in many respects the assembly proposed measures way ahead of its time
When and why were the nominated assembly dismissed?
They were only intended to be a temporary solution and were dismissed in December
It was also taken over by religious radicals and the moderates combines to dissolve it
The Instrument of Government (December 1653)
Decreed that Cromwell would become lord protector and would be granted £200,000 a year
- Establishes relationship between Cromwell and parliament e.g. Must be called every 3 years for 5 months at a time
- Vote given to those earning £200 a year
- Known Royalists were debarred from voting or standing
for election
