Restoration Of The Monarcht Flashcards
(7 cards)
Richards failures
When Cromwell died he nominated his son Richard as lord protector and two years later it collapsed as:
Richard didn’t have his father’s personality or drive to rule the country.
Oliver never involved him with politics so he had little experience or support and army generals like lambert planned to use him as a puppet to rule themselves. Parliament would not cooperate with Richard Cromwell and he retired to his lands in may 1659.
Parliament and the army couldn’t work together
The rump Parliament was restored in May 1659 but by October lambert dismissed the MPs and replaced them with an army dominated committee of public safety.
The army was also divided as Scottish commander Monck refused to accept lamberts actions and supported parliament he had the backing of many troops and by December lambert backed down and the rump was reinstated.
The government clearly needed a king like figure
Cromwell had worked for the army and Parliament but no one else seemed to fit the role. And the nation feared more conflict so a restoration seemed like the best way forward.
So Parliament began to negotiate with Charles II and was offered the declaration of Breda and in April 1660 he returned as king to cheering crowds.
Remarkable turnaround
Unpopularity of regicides
Desire for stability
Unpopularity of the republic
Role of Monck
Actions of Charles II in sitting back
Fear of radicals
Restoration settlement:
The declaration of Breda stated that power would be shared between parliament and Charles and religious freedom would be maintained and avoiding another personal rule.
Charles could appoint his own advisers
Concessions made by Charles I were kept in place
King commanded army but relied on parliaments funds
Parliament had to be called every 3 theee years but he didn’t have to hold new elections
Had to raise revenues from crown lands
Strict Church of England with compulsory attendance
Puritanism discouraged
Common book of prayer reimposed
Anti catholic laws enforced
Popular sports and theatre was reintroduced
Revenge
Charles promised he wouldn’t avenge his fathers death and many Parliament supporters were pardoned.
However Charles did take some revenge for his fathers death as the j bodies of Cromwell and ireton were dug up and hung and cromwells head was placed on a spike. The remaining regicides 13 killed 19 imprisoned others pardoned.
How popular was the restoration
Is solved many problems but others remained and taxes were used as a bargaining tool again and Charles finances were insufficient causing religious tensions to grow especially with the re-emergence of Catholicism.
