Commonwealth and protectorate (unfinished) Flashcards
Religious issues 1649
Political issues 1649
There had not been a majority within the country
Achievements of the Rump
Number of Acts passed by the Rump parliament would fall from 125 in 1649 -> 44 in 1652
More lenient punishment for debtors
Rump would raise a substantial amount of revenue through taxation of goods, land taxes, sale of crown land and church property
However Rump would fail to raise sufficient revenue to meet it’s expenditure
Provided relatively stable government
Would protect their own monopolies
Dismissal of the Rump
Rump Parliament was conservative - 70 were lawyers, they aimed to establish a form of stability. It aimed to please everyone
This was not wanted by the army, who had desired more significant change and for the Rump to dissolve itself
Army wanted radical reform whereas parliament did not
Cromwell would dissolve the Rump parliament by a troop of musketeers
Implementation of the Barebones parliament
Cromwell would decide that for the Barebones parliament they would be Godly men
140 chosen, 119 had served as Jps + 4/5 were gentry
Would aim to sit for just over a year to November 1654 at most
Would then pass power to another nominated body
Reform would concentrate on religion, law and property
Barebones parliament action
Divisions between moderates and radicals - moderates would generally prevail
Religion - Assembly voted 56 to 54 to abolish tithes
Law - there would be some reform but nothing major
Property - radicals wanted less concern, whereas moderates were more concerned about property rights
End of Barebones Parliament
Moderates couldn’t agree on the form of government so they dissolved themselves in December
Did not have any major reform really and were criticised for incompetency
Instrument of Government
Cromwell as lord Protector
Major Generals
Cromwell in Ireland
Death of Cromwell
