STUART MONARCHY PROJECT

OLIVER CROMWELL & THE COMMONWEALTH

Naaz Tung

Gabbi Jackson

Paragraphs A. Cromwell’s Relationship with Parliament

Oliver Cromwell’s career began with his military prowess, however his role as Lord Protectorate is what makes him such an influential Briton. Even though Cromwell began his career in Parliament he was on notoriously negative terms with the Parliament he was meant to share power with. In fact, Cromwell’s relationship with the First Parliament ended in 1655 with him forcibly disbanding the legislative body. Cromwell was constantly frustrated with the need of the Parliament for lengthy deliberation, and by the fact that they frequently failed to see eye-to-eye on what reforms were needed. Therefore it is no surprise that for most of 1655 and the beginning of 1656, Cromwell governed without a parliament. To Cromwell’s credit, he did begin his Reformation movements in Parliament but his impatience with the time Parliament took to debate his agenda caused him to close the doors of Parliament. Despite his affinity to power, Cromwell refused to make the Lord Protectorate a hereditary position, and after his death another power vacuum existed in England due to this decision. Cromwell displayed the need for a strong Parliament by easily disregarding the Parliament that existed at the time, as well as the need for a strong monarch by leaving behind a power vacuum because of his opposition to a succession of the Lord Protectorate title.

B. Cromwell’s Relationship with Religions and the Reactions it Evoked Among Members of Parliament and the People of England.Cromwell is noted to have experienced a religious crisis, and thus became a radical Puritan. At this point

he adopted the idea that he would be guided to carry out God’s purpose. Therefore, his attitude towards Catholics was abhorrently strict. Whilst Cromwell was politically motivated to suppress the Catholics in Ireland, the fervor with which he took upon this task can be explained by his religious opinion. Cromwell was passionately opposed to the Catholic Church, which he saw as denying the primacy of the Bible in favor of papal and clerical authority, and which he blamed for suspected tyranny and persecution of Protestants in Europe. Therefore the campaign Cromwell carried out against Irish Catholics was especially brutal, and has been compared to a genocide because civilians were harmed as well. In contrast, Cromwell adopted a different policy towards another religious group. In 1656, Cromwell created a commission to analyze the petition of Menasseh ben Israel, a Jewish leader who asked that the Jews be permitted to live and worship in freedom in England. There was no official judgment, but Jews were able to return to England. After 350 years. Cromwell identified them as the creators of wealth for the country. Whilst Cromwell looked to Parliament to set an example as a godly group, Parliament was far more concerned with creating a lasting political entity. This angered Cromwell and therefore he never got along with his parliaments. While Cromwell was trying to take strides in religious affairs, Parliament was not too concerned. The English people as a whole were reverent of the power Cromwell restored to the Protestant faith by whatever means necessary. However, when Cromwell allowed Jews back into England, the people were not pleased. The Jews were labeled as “infidels” and “perpetual enemies of the English crown” and faced widespread prejudice. In my opinion, the growth of the Protestant faith, alienation of Catholicism, and reluctant acceptance of Jews was a way to showcase the massive power one person wielded and naturally that led to the conclusion that there should be a balance of powers-thus a constitutional monarchy.

1645 1650 1655 1660

August , 1657The New Model Army reinstalls

Independent MPS in London.

Cromwell supports their clashes with

Parliament.

*October, 1657The Putney Debates

begin over the issue of a new Constitution. Cromwell, Ireton,

factions of the New Model Army and the

Levellers attend.

January 1648Parliament

passes the Vote of No Addresses, which breaks off communication with the King.

January-April, 1648Revolts in

Kent, Essex, and Wales over high costs of

maintaining a war in the

midst of poor weather, high wheat prices,

and heavy taxation.

SeptemberParliament fails to negotiate with King Charles, causing Cromwell and Ireton to lose

trust in him.

*January 1649King Charles I is found guilty of treason and sentences to death. He is beheaded on

the 30th.

May 1649England officially declared a

Commonwealth.

April 1653Cromwell, now the

most powerful man in Britain, forcibly

dissolves Protectorate Parliament.

*December 1653General John Lambert presents the Instrument

of Government to be England’s new

Constitution. On the 16th, Cromwell becomes Lord

Protector.

*March 1657Cromwell is presented

with the Humble Petition and Advice

from civilian supporters.

*May 1659Richard

Cromwell resigns as Lord

Protector, marking the end

of the Protectorate. The next year, King

Charles II is restored to the throne in order to prevent Civil

War.

Cromwell dissolving Protectorate Parliament

King Charles I execution

Revolts in Kent, Essex, and Wales

Putney Debates

Timeline

*Annotation on next slide

The Putney Debates were held from October 28 to November 9, 1649. Both soldiers of the New Model Army and civilian Levellers met to discuss a new Constitution for England. Soldiers argued for greater democracy and for the voices of the "common

people" to be heard. Levellers argued for universal male suffrage, biennial parliaments, and a reorganization of parliamentary constitution with authority in the House of Commons instead of the House of Lords. They also believed in "native rights of freedom of conscience, freedom from impressment into the armed forces and equality before the law. Though most of their arguments were

ignored during the debates, the Levellers paved the way for many civil liberties that would come later.

On January 27, 1649, King Charles I was found guilty of treason and sentenced to death. Oliver Cromwell was one of the 59 members of Parliament to sign his death warrant. Three days later, Charles was beheaded. This event is significant because England officially becomes a Republic upon Charles’s death. It represents Parliament’s victory in the English Civil War that began in 1642.

On December 12th, 1653, General John Lambert dissolved the Barebones Parliament amidst quarrels. He presents a new Constitution, the Instrument of Government under the belief that sovereignty should be placed in "a single person and a

parliament." The Instrument of Government was adopted by the Council of Officers. Cromwell was given the executive title, Lord Protector for Life. This was important to England becoming a Constitutional monarchy because the Instrument of

Government was England’s first written Constitution.

In March 1657, the Humble Petition and Advice was drawn by some of Cromwell's civilian supporters. It was a Constitutional document that offered him the Crown and reduced the power of the Council. Though Crowell rejects the Crown, he accepts

the rest. The Humble Petition and Advice became England’s second Constitution. It shows Englishmen’s yearning for a Constitutional monarchy.

On May 24, 1659 Richard Cromwell resigns, marking the end of the Protectorate. Without Oliver Cromwell, the Republic soon becomes on the verge of another Civil War. In order to prevent this from happening, the monarchy is restored and Charles II becomes King. Though the Protectorate is over, the ideals it instilled about sovereignty and civil liberties are not forgotten.

Annotations

Works Cited

“King Charles I Executed for Treason.” History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2013.

“Oliver Cromwell - Timeline.” History’s Heroes? East of England Broadband Network, n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2013.

“Oliver Cromwell (1599 - 1658).” BBC History. BBC, n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.

“Oliver Cromwell.” SparkNotes. SparkNotes, n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.

Plant, David. “Cromwell's Protectorate, 1653-58.” BCW Project. BCW Project, n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2013.

Plant, David. “Humble Petition and Advice.” BCW Project. BCW Project, n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2013.

Plant, David. “The Instrument of Government.” BCW Project. BCW Project, n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2013.

“Welcome to The Oliver Cromwell Website.” The Oliver Cromwell Website. The Cromwell Association, n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.