3.1 The Consolidation of the Republic

Question 1

Establishment and Consolidation of the Republic

Question 2

February 1649

Answer 2

The Rump voted to abolish monarchy and the apparatus of monarchical government, formally creating a republic.

Question 3

May 1649

Answer 3

The Republic was formalised in acts to abolish the Monarchy and House of Lords.

Question 4

Engagement Act, 1650

Answer 4

On 2 January 1650 the Rump passed an Engagement Act by which all adult males had to declare loyalty to the Commonwealth.

Question 5

Treason Act 1650

Answer 5

The engagement Act was reinforced by a Treason Act passed in July 1650, which made it illegal to deny the authority of the regime.

Question 6

The Rump at war

Question 7

Argyll, leader of the Scottish Covenanters

Answer 7

Upon the execution of Charles I he had immediately declared Charles Stuart as Charles II of Scotland. He succeeded in persuading Charles to accept the Covenant in return for military aid to invade England. The Rump struck first.

Question 8

Campaign in Scotland

Answer 8

• Did not begin well for Cromwell.
• The Scots withdrew behind defensible positions.
• By September 1650 Cromwell’s force of 16,300 had been reduced to about 11,000.
• Cromwell retreated to Dunbar and planned to ship his army back to England.

Question 9

Dunbar

Answer 9

• Cromwell’s weakened force was pinned down by a Scottish army twice its size.
• On 3 September 1650 Cromwell defeated the Scottish army.
• Some 3000 Scots were killed and 10,000 captured.
• Cromwell regarded his victory as the hand of God.

Question 10

Underlying factors of the New Model Army’s victory

Answer 10

1. The religious motivation at the core of the NMA gave them the confidence to launch such an attack.
2. The English sea power ensured that, throughout his campaign, Cromwell’s forces could be resupplied.
3. England’s stronger economy meant that their army was better funded.

Question 11

InverKeithing

Answer 11

• In 1651 Lambert attacked the main Scottish army at Inverkeithing.
• Lambert killed 2000 Scots and took 1400 prisoners.
• Cromwell established English control in Perth.

Question 12

Campaigns in Ireland

Answer 12

• After the regicide some Irish supported Charles Stuart.
• Cromwell landed in Ireland in August 1649 with 10,000 parliamentary troops to impose English Protestant control.
• Cromwell’s campaign of 1649-50 involved a series of bloody sieges of Irish Catholics strongholds.

Question 13

Protestant English

Answer 13

• Most Protestant English wanted to punish the Catholics for their 1641 rebellion.
• Ireland would be made to pay for the bloodshed and also be exploited financially by the new regime.

Question 14

Cromwell’s aims

Answer 14

He was determined that his campaign in Ireland should be a swift destruction of the ability of the Irish Catholics to pose a serious threat to English authority so he could return to face the threat from Scotland of Charles Stuart and the Covenanters.

Question 15

Siege of Drogheda

Answer 15

• September 1649
• Cromwell’s troops killed priests and monks on sight and set light to a Catholic church sheltering some soldiers.
• Civilians as well as soldiers were massacred

Question 16

Siege of Wexford

Answer 16

• October 1649
• English parliamentarian troops broke into the town whilst the commander of the garrison tried to negotiate a surrender.
• Massacred soldiers and civilians.
• Much of the town was burned and the harbour destroyed.

Question 17

Henry Ireton

Answer 17

When Cromwell left for England in May 1650 to organise an invasion of Scotland he left his son-in-law to further impose English control on Ireland through commanding an army of occupation that remained in the country until 1660.

Question 18

Charles II’s aims

Answer 18

Charles was keen to invade England with the help of the Scottish Royalist forces of 20,000. His ultimate aim was to secure the English throne which required him to secure London.

Question 19

Obstacles faced by Charles’ invading force:

Answer 19

1. Desertions from the invading force meant that only 13,000 troops actually crossed the border.
2. The army of Scots attracted little support from the English.
3. Leslie, the Scottish general, appeared uncommitted to the invasion.
4. Charles secured no foreign aid for his invasion.

Question 20

Battle of Worcester 1651

Answer 20

• When Charles crossed the border he faced 4000 troops.
• The NMA generals harried their forces and steered it south, allowing Cromwell and the NMA to coordinate.
• When Charles’ troops refused to move on from Worcester they Royalists were heavily outnumbered.
• There was a long and bitter struggle around and in Worcester until Charles fled for the continent leaving his troops behind.
• 3000 Royalists were dead but only 200 of the NMA.

Question 21

Political consequence of the success of the NMA

Answer 21

• Secured the Rump from the immediate military threat to its survival.
• The control they exerted was able to prevent Charles from taking control of England.
• The army leaders had their belief that they were God’s instruments reinforced, and became determined to force the conservative Rump politicians to usher in reform.
• It was this that brought the underlying tension between Parliament and the army that led to Cromwell’s removal of the Rump.