1649-1653

Question 1

Rump’s early legislation

Answer 1

February and March 1649
Abolition of Monarchy
Abolition of the House of Lords
Creation of a Council of State
Declaration that England was a Commonwealth

Question 2

Details of Cromwell in Scotland

Answer 2

Charles II proclaimed King in Scotland
September 1650 victory at Dunbar
3rd of September 1651 victory at Worcester
Charles II into exile
Scotland now under Rump's authority

Question 3

Religious Policy of the Rump

Answer 3

Act against Blasphemy, August 1650
Repealed laws requiring Sunday worship in the Anglican Church
No real intention for major reform

Question 4

Legal Policy of the Rump

Answer 4

More lenient methods for punishing debtors
Authorisation of the use of English in the courts
Reluctant to make many reforms
50 MPs were from the legal profession
Largest group among those who actually attended

Question 5

Finances of the Rump

Answer 5

Raised a lot of money through taxation and sale of Crown lands
Dutch War cost it a lot of money
Restricted domestically because of this

Question 6

Sitting hours of the Rump

Answer 6

60-70 active members out of a possible 211
Only 10 acts passed in 1653
Only 12 committees established in 1653

Question 7

The dissolution of the Rump

Answer 7

Due to inactivity?
Due to the missing bill?
Similar to Charles’ dissolution of Parliament previously
Army too distracted by Ireland and Scotland previously

Question 8

Cromwell in Ireland

Answer 8

Massacres of Drogheda and Wexford
1649
“To hell or to Connaught”

Question 9

February 1649 - May 1649

Answer 9

February 1649 - Abolition of HofL and the monarchy
Levellers arrested
March 1649 - Cromwell asked to go to Ireland
April 1649 - Diggers in Surrey
May 1649 - England declared a Republic

Question 10

August 1649 - September 1651

Answer 10

August 1649 - Cromwell starts campaign in Ireland
October 1649 - Wexford 
September 1649 - Drogheda
January 1650 - Rump's Engagement
September 1650 - Battle at Dunbar
September 1651 - Victory at Worcester

Question 11

October 1651 - April 1653

Answer 11

October 1651 - Navigation Act
May 1652 - Anglo-Dutch Wars begin
November 1652 - Dutch victory
April 1653 - Cromwell expels the Rump
                    New Council of State is appointed

Question 12

July 1653 - December 1653

Answer 12

July 1653 - Nominated Assembly meets for the first time
August 1653 - Civil marriages legalised
December 1653 - Nominated Assembly resigns its powers to Cromwell
Instrument of Government
Cromwell installed as Lord Protector