(23) Oliver Cromwell and the Protectorate Flashcards
(51 cards)
What role was handed to Cromwell?
Lord Protector
What were Cromwell’s aims?
‘Healing and Settling’
What was Cromwell like?
- internally, humble and harsh
- externally, confident
- religious zealot - belief in Providence
- commanded loyalty on a great scale
- ‘warts and all’
What was The Instrument of Government?
Britian’s first written constitution
Who wrote the Instrument of Government?
General Lambert
How was the Instrument of Government made up?
- A Lord Protectorate
- Council of State (21 members)
- A single body Parliament, 400 E&W and 30 each S&I
What areas did the settlement of the Instrument of Government tackle?
- liberty of worship for all (not Roman Catholics or extreme sectarians)
- electoral reform
- funding for navy and army
- annual budget £200,000
What did the electoral reforms entail?
It maintained a property qualification, but extended suffrage to middle classes
What was the funding for the navy and army set to?
10,000 cavalry horses and dragoons
20,000 foot and convenient number of ships
When was the First Protectorate Parliament?
Sept 1654 - Jan 1655
What was the failure of the First Protectorate?
- the parliament wanted executive power
- ‘Commonwealthsmen’ strongly opposed Cromwell’s dissolution of the Rump
- ‘Godly Reformation’ was not pursued
- electoral reform redistributed power away from towns
- no legislation enacted
Who were the Commonwealthsmen led by?
Sir Arthur Haslerig
What were the Four Fundamentals in September 1654?
- Government by a single person and parliament
- non-perpetuation of parliament against the will of the Protector
- Liberty of Conscience
- Control of militia by Protector, council and parliament
What was the aim of the Four Fundamentals?
To make the work of ‘healing and settling’ possible
What was the ruling body after the dissolution of the First Protectorate?
The rule by Major Generals
What were the two primary causes of the Military government?
- Penruddok’s uprising
- The Western Design
When was Penruddock’s Uprising?
March 1655
What occurred in Penruddock’s Uprising?
An attempted uprising in Wiltshire - held Salisbury for a few hours
What happened to Penruddock?
Executed in May 1655
What was the Western Design?
An alliance between France and England against Spain. In Dec 1654, a British Naval force sent to seize Hispaniola bt failed - Cromwell’s first defeat
What did Western Design demonstrate?
Reverse-providence
How was the Major General ruled?
11 districts in England, each MG supported by 500 soldiers
Why was the rule of Major Generals viewed as unnatural?
It went against the established social order
What was the Decimation tax?
A tax levied onto Royalist estates worth more than £100 pa, removing 10% of annual revenue
