Stuart Britain - 1649-53 The Commonwealth

Question 1

Republic Established

Answer 1

C1 gone Jan 49
Feb 49 MPs escluded by Pride given chance to return (100-140 do)
Mar 49 Monarchy and HofL abolished
May 49 Rump = Commonwealth
41 make Council of State - 1st Council 34 MPs, 5 Peers - OC not Ireton
Only 19 took Engagement

Question 2

Enemies Within and Without: Intro

Answer 2

Moderate Oath of Engagement to identify enemies
Army not reliable - problems with back pay
1649 Apr-May army mutinites in London, Oxfordshire crushed
Arrears only paid 1650

Question 3

Enemies Within and Without: Levellers

Answer 3

Hopes for revised Agreement of People - Levellers angered
Lilburne Feb 49 ‘England’s new chains discovered
Overton, Lilburne in tower - 3rd ver of Agreement of People May 49
Levellers dissapear after Lilburne and 3 others released by taking engagement

Question 4

Enemies Within and Without: Irish

Answer 4

Revolt 1641 - summer 49 OC/Ireton 20,000 troops to Ireland - 3000 massacred at Drogheda (sep) and 2000 Wexford (Oct)

Question 5

Enemies Within and Without: Scots

Answer 5

Scots proclaim CII King Feb 49
CII Scotland June 1650
OC force 15000 to Sct, Sep 1650 victory at Dunbar 3000 Scots killed only 20 English
Scots invade Eng 1651 - defeated at Worcester - CII to continent
Late 1651 - Eng control over isles

Question 6

Rump’s New Legislation

Answer 6

Godly reform - act for propagation of the Gospel, Act for Better Observation of the Lords Day, Act for suppressing the Detestable Sins
Toleration Act 1650 - abolished need for people to attend church as long as they go to some form of religious service
Act for the Relief of Poor Debtors Sep 49
Dec 51 - Hale Commission to discuss issue of law reform

Question 7

Legislation: Growing Opposition

Answer 7

Army angry - religious legislation controls radicals rather than reforms, toleration act not far enough, Hale commission reccomendations not implemented
Less legislation - 125 acts 1649 to 51 acts 1652

Question 8

Legislation: Taxes Up

Answer 8

Wars require high taxes
Dec 52 - Monthly assessment £90,000 to £120,000
Popular resentment v regime
£700,000 shorfall of revenue 1653

Question 9

Foreign Policy: the Dutch

Answer 9

Navigation Act 1651 - non English ships could enter english ports only if they carried goods from their own country
War 1652-4 - Clash of fleets starts 2 year war

Question 10

The Dissolution of the Rump

Answer 10

Apr 53 - OC and 30 soldiers enter HofC and shut it down as Rump was discussing bill to dissolve themselves Nov 53 and hold elections

Question 11

Nominated Assembly: Approach

Answer 11

Apr Lord General OC nominated new council of state just 10 men, 7 military 3 civilian
Nominated assembly of 140 godly men
Jul 1653 - OC gives no guidance, just wants godly reform - in reality there were very few radicals
Only reforms = civil marriages, relief of impoverished debtors etc

Question 12

Nominated Assembly: the End

Answer 12

late 1653 30 laws passed and many more bills prepared
radical minority scare moderate majority Dec - overturn a committe report in favour of retaining tithes - moderates vote to return power to OC rather than follow radical ideas