Politics 1642-1660

Front 1

Important dates

Back 1

1642: outbreak of First Civil War

1647: outbreak of Second Civil War

1649: (30th Jan) execution of Charles I

1649-53: Rump Parliament

1653-1659: Protectorate

Front 2

Why kill the king?

Back 2

• too much trouble if he lived
  
• 'man of blood' after Second World War
• fear of him becoming a martyr if he lived
• king dies well: Eikon Basilike

Front 3

Did people intend to kill the king?

Back 3

• most likely not
  
• conviction that it was necessary after Putney Debates
  
• many issues over legality of trial
• Pride's Purge: majority of MPs didn't want to (Rump was radical in nature)
• not republicans: just searching for good government, and Charles' rule was not viable

Front 4

Public political participation

Back 4

• greater public engagement in political matters
• greater engagement and use of print culture
• who empowers the public?
• do people engage with politics only to the extent to which parliament will allow them to?
• public becoming more powerful and more important

Front 5

Lack of settlement: Rump Parliament

Back 5

• faced opposition from conservative opinion and radical critics alike
• reluctantly introduced some political changes
• failed to bring about godly reformation
• passed severe measures against nonconformity (enforced observance of Sabbath and repression of nonconformists)
• dissolved by angry Cromwell in 1653
• more preferable than army rule

Front 6

Lack of settlement: Barebones Parliament

Back 6

• hand-picked by Cromwell
• focused on uncontroversial reforms resolving imperfections in machinery of government, the Church and the law
• alienation of moderate opinion from regime with increasing fear of social radicalisation by organised sects within the parliament
• moderates met while radicals were at a prayer meeting and voted to dissolve themselves

Front 7

Lack of settlement: Cromwellian Protectorate

Back 7

• ideological schizophrenia (Blair Worden): desired both settlement and social justice
• placed his commitment to godly reformation above a constitutional settlement
• parts of Instrument of Government (1653) opposed authority to enact ordinances when parliament was not in session
• no precedent for IoG
• Major Generals: 1656; sparked opposition and not very successful
• dissolved parl in 1655
• growing differences between LP and MPs due to conservative fears that religious diversity would lead to radical social change
• Humble Petition and Advice 1657, offer of crown rejected

Front 8

Lack of settlement: May 1659-May 1660

Back 8

• senior army officers were a key reason for eventual failure of protectorate, not just inadequacy of Richard Cromwell
• army had freedom to engage in political activity
• forced RC to resign in April 1652
• none of these regimes guaranteed political stability: for many people, only the return of the monarchy would bring order back to the country

Front 9

Parliamentary legitimacy

Back 9

• factions evident throughout the period
• argued that government represented the people and their interests and wellbeing; as Charles had put his own private interests before the public interest, parliament had been justified in its rebellion (argued in 1643 and Ireton's Remonstrance in 1648)
• Charles' negotiations with the Irish were used to put parliament on the religious moral high ground; fear of Irish Catholic invasion was genuine and depleted legitimacy of the king
• forced assertion of legitimacy i.e. Pride's Purge

Front 10

Charles' legitimacy

Back 10

• great belief in his own divine right
• head of church as well as of state; therefore to rebel against his orthodoxy was to commit treason and rebel against god
• much of the controversy originated from religious issues

Front 11

Constitution: Monarchy

Back 11

• royal prerogative and power of veto
• could appoint advisors to Privy Council so affairs were usually transacted in private with unsworn councillors
• parliaments dissolved by veto
• king possessed direct control over military, foreign policy and expenditure and could imprison without trial
• control over state and church
• 19 Propositions ask king for more direct parliamentary powers over matters of state like councillors, finances, education of king's children etc.

Front 12

Constitution: Protectorate

Back 12

• Instrument of Government
• Cromwell could administer army w/ permission of government
• Parliament had to sit for a minimum of 5 months at a time and was regulated every 3 years
• little government intervention at local level
• councils had a more prominent role
• abolition of House of Lords and monarchy

Front 13

Religion: Monarchy

Back 13

• influence of Laudianism (free will/salvation)
• Henrietta Maria
• Catholic threat in Civil War

Front 14

Religion: Protectorate

Back 14

• driven by religious zeal to create godly reformation
• belief in providence

Front 15

Finance: Monarchy

Back 15

• bankrupt in 1640
  
• reopening of parliament for more money
• forced loans and feudal dues revived
• Ship Money
• monopolies

Front 16

Finance: Protectorate

Back 16

• better regulation of poor law
• outdoor relief
• pauper children apprenticed
• provisions made in work houses
• hospitals for aged and infirm
• road maintenance
• criminal juridiction
• control of wages
• however still massively indebted at end of reign