AQA A-level History, Stuart Britain : Section 3 : From Republic to restored and limited Monarchy 1649-78

Rump Parliament

Had to establish a govt to replace Charles
Ireland royalist strong hold and Charles II immediately declared king in Scotland Feb 1649
Rump now tasked itself removing last vestiges of royalism from england
- rump declared it has sole legislative authority
- it elected a Council of State -> acted as govt council
- March 1649, monarchy and HoL abolished
- In May england declared to be 'commonwealth and free state' governed by single chamber parliament

Third civil war and foreign policy

No foreign monarchies recognised legitimacy of rump after it executed charles
Navy boldened by construction of 20 new warship
Navy provided much needed support for Cromwell expedition to Ireland and third civil war against royalist Scot's

Ireland

Cromwell & 20,000 men landed in Ireland Aug 1648 -> suppress catholic royalist sympathisers
Rebellious forces controlled Ireland since uprising in 1641
Cromwell expected swift victory but only achieved success after he stormed Drogheda and Wexford -> killing thousands of defenders after they surrendered
Justified massacre by referring to it as divine providence

Scotland

Cromwell returned to England 1650 to conquer scotland -> Ireton in charge of Irish campaign
Scots cut ties with English after charles execution
Army assembled to invade england after charles II declared king & made peace with Covenanters
Fairfax reluctant to march to scotland and strike first
Cromwell appointed commander in chief and third civil war began

2 major battles in Scotland 1650-51

Sept 1650:
Marched to scotland 15,000 men, Cromwell defeated Scot's at Dunbar
3rd Sept 1651:
Charles led army south year later, hoping to gain support -> defeated by Cromwell at Worcester

Charles escaped continent, spent years in exile in france before restoration in 1660
Rump now in control of all parts of british Isles

The Dutch

United provinces -> Protestant state and one of few to recognise the Rump
Passing of navigation act 1651 resulted in anger from Dutch.
They received revenue from transatlantic trade & inability to use English ports -> impacted finances

Anglo Dutch war

First Anglo Dutch war 1652-54 began when Dutch ship refused to salute english
War continued for a year after rump dissolved and was finally ended when Cromwell signed treaty of Westminster 1654 -> hoping to forge alliance

Failure of radical groups

Radical groups expected religious toleration but gained very little
A number of acts regarding religious toleration passed by the rump

Toleration act 1650

Removed requirement for people to attend church as long as took part in a religious service each week
Those not taking part in regular religious services penalised

Tithes

Nothing done to remove tithes and April 1652 rump declared they should continue -> members of radical groups expected to pay towards upkeep of church parish they would never attend

Blasphemy Act 1650

Aimed at restricting radical religious groups who could be subject to serve penalties

Quakers

Result of rumps actions
Spread rapidly in the north under George Fox

Censorship

Censorship of printed material introduced in order to limit radical pamphlets
- govt newspaper brought in to defend actions of the rump

Successes of the Rump Parliament

- law that required compulsory attendance at church was repealed in toleration act creating measure of religious freedom
- Navigation Act 1651 -> good imported to england and territories had to be carried on english ship -> designed to remove dutch monopoly on freight trade across Northern Europe & North America
- army successful in defeating royalists in Ireland & Scotland
- army successful in suppressing threats from levellers -> a mutiny at Burford in may 1649 which resulted in several of their leaders being shot

Failures of the Rump Parliament

- need to maintain large standing army -> shortfall in tax revenue & resorted to sale of crown lands due to not having the political nation to rely on -> shortfall was £700,000
- greater gentry and nobility refused to cooperate with regime
- rate of reform slowed with time -> 1649, 125 acts passed, reducing to 51 acts in 1652
- as time passed rump appeared more selfish and corrupt -> failed to dissolve itself despite promises to do so

Impact of Rump Parliament

Proposed reforms to law couldn't be agreed upon & necessity to maintain large standing army meant that rump was destined to fail
Army became dissatisfied with slow pace of reform and eventually Cromwell closed rump down by force in April 1653

After Rump Parliament

After dissolving rump, cromwell advised by fifth monarchists to ask various church's and radical groups to nominate an assembly of devout men in order to create a godly society.
Parliament of Saints created -> short lived but passed number of reforms s

Successes of Parliament of Saints

- members attempted to secure trade routes by continuing war with dutch
- legal measures to help debtors introduced
- civil marriages allowed
- assembly included members from wales, scotland and Ireland making it first parliament to represent all of Britain

Failure of Parliament of Saints

- common nickname 'barebones parliament' came from one of more radical members -> majority of members lesser gentry who were conservative by nature not interested in reform
- the 140 members not just selected by independent churches. -> Council of Officers in the army added several names including senior generals
- clear split between radical 'saints' and conservative members. propertied members unhappy at suggestion that assembly abolished tithes, key to their financial wellbeing

Instrument of Government

Parliament of Saints assembled July 1563 -> less than 6 months
Major General John Lambert produced instrument of govt -> new constitution
- modelled on heads of proposal issued by ireton & constitutional basis of Cromwell power
- executive authority vested in Cromwell as lord protector with council of state of 21 members
- single chamber parliament acted as legislative branch of govt
- 460 members
- Parliaments elected every 3 years by male voter & £200 of personal pro poetry
- Cromwell remain head of NMA
- Cromwell death = new protector elected by council of state
- Presbyterian church state but freedom of worship granted to all except catholics

First Protectorate Parliament

1654
Cromwell wanted to enact 'reformation of manners' by improving moral behaviour
Some initial successes:
- 84 ordinances issued pertaining to moral behaviour & improving local infrastructure
- bear baiting & cock fighting banned
- maintenance of roads prioritised
- Laws passed to prohibit blasphemy & drunkenness
Cromwell faced problems in rump
Number of republicans MP's felt excluded from power as result of preference for military associates refused to recognise the Instrument of Government
Cromwell dissolved Parliament Jan 1655

Major Generals

1655-56
Cromwell relied on support of military in order to maintain himself in power
Last years of protectorate marked by threat of royalism & imposition of military govt

Penruddock's rising

Spring 1655
Royalist rising led by John Penruddock
Broke out in Wiltshire & easily defeated
Cromwell decided it showed that greater control of provinces needed

Military govt

Cromwell imposed centralised military rule over entire country -> divided into 11 districts, under command of major general
Responsible for local govt & security
Encouraged to reform manners across social spectrum
Assisted in task by a new militia -> paid for by a 10 % on estates of royalists

Major Generals reasons for failure

Effectiveness mixed:
Lancashire: Worsley closed 200 ale houses
Lincolnshire: Whaley suppressed traditional entertainments including stage plays & horse races
Other neglected many of duty's
- replacement of local elites by outsiders imposed by govt unpopular
- low social standing of major generals cause resentment from gentry

Second Protectorate Parliament

Elections held summer 1656
Council of state excluded 100 known opponents of one-man rule
More compliant parliament passed social reform acts aimed at improving efficiency of poor relief & providing more employment

Humble Petition & Advice

Rule of major generals unpopular -> Cromwell need to compromise and accept idea new constitution
HP&A new constitutional document offered to Cromwell:
- govt by king ( changed to lord protector when C refused crown)
- lords & commons to govern with protector
- provision for hereditary succession
- parliament to control army & officers of state to be approved by parliament
- regular elections & limited religious toleration
By offering Cromwell the crown -> MP's attempting to restore a system where powers & privileges of leader established and known rather than experimental

Why did Cromwell decline the crown?

Referred to as King in all but Name:
- concerned how army would react to him being given the crown by civilian parliament
- number of commanders in army made it clear they wouldn't support Cromwell if he took the crown - if accepted he would be besting more power in them than in the army -> always served to protect interest
- may have been genuinely concerned that accepting the crown not part of gods plan for him

The problem of succession

Cromwell accepted need for clear succession.
Instrument of govt made provisions for elective succession & Major General Lambert would be voted as successor & further military rule not desired by parliament
Shortly before his death Cromwell declared Richard his son should become Lord Protector
- Richard inexperienced and bypassed more qualified by younger brother Henry

Political vacuum after Cromwell death

Richard summoned brief third protectorate parliament in Jan 1659
Richard civilian & no experience of warfare
Unacceptable to council of officers, forced him to resign later in 1659 & recalled the rump
Newly restored rump appeared to have learned nothing from its earlier failures & ruling minority began disintegrating rapidly
Oct army closed it down by force

General Monck

Leader of army in Scotland
Former royalist but worked closely with Cromwell
Fearful country sliding toward military rule assembled army to bring rump to power again

Return of the Long Parliament

Army sent north under lambert to counter threat of Monck but other members of army reinstated rump
Lambert lost support & sent to the tower
Monck entered England Jan 1660
Against wishes of rump -> Monck moved to reverse Prides Purge
March, restored long parliament voted too dissolve itself -> elections for convention parliament

Convention parliament & restoration

Newly elected parliament = royalists & excluded many of republicans who had been involved in govt since charles I execution
Accepted that monarchy should have been restored
Monck began secret negotiations with charles II
Charles sent the declaration of Breda -> own proposals for a settlement & MP's agreed

Why have charles restored?

- rejection of republicans govt of 1650's was inevitable after return to one person rule under Cromwell
- fear of another civil war in context of political uncertainty of 1659
- number of radical religious groups alarmed political nation in late 1650's -> in 1659 = 60,000 Quakers
- republic had collapsed essential to men with property that a stable govt be restored
- declaration of Breda made charles look a good option -> offered religious toleration & payment of arrears to army

The Restoration Settlement (1660-64)
Political

- convention parliament dissolved in Dec 1660 -> new elections held 1661
- fifth monarchist thomas veneer attempted uprising = fears of radical groups and elections produced a massive royalist majority = cavalier parliament
Parliament majority Anglican and suspicious of Catholics and dissenters

The restoration settlement (1660-64)
New political settlement included the following:

1. Prerogative courts abolished
2. 1641 triennial act renewed -> didn't include mechanism to enforce calling of parliament every 3 years = Charles can resort to personal rule if he wanted to
3. Parliament ensured they controlled militia although militia act 1661 stated that the king alone was in supreme overall command of armed forces
4. Privy council remained most important organ of govt -> Charles doubled its size to make room for different factions
5. Licensing act reintroduced censorship of printed material

The restoration settlement (1660-64)
Religion

Convention parliament rejected Presbyterian structure that existed under republic and restored Anglian church
1661 met to discuss long term religious settlement
Election of cavalier parliament = Anglicanism dominated
4 acts of Clarendon code reflected nature of this settlement

The restoration settlement (1660 - 64)
Financial

Prerogative courts abolished, many of the taxes charles I relied on -> impossible to now enforce
Financial settlement:
- parliament approved regular income of £1.2 million a year from customs duties and excise taxes
- Hearth Tax -> fireplaces, levied in 1662 and disappointing as only 1/3 of the expected revenue of £250,000 was collected

The emergence of parties

Division emerged between court and country
Members of political nation (Parliament) -> suspicious of Charles links to catholic powers = Arminian's formed country faction against courts interests
2 factions more defined from early 1670's
Country:
- charles II pro-french policies damaging to nation
- attempts to provide toleration to both catholics and dissenters were dangerous
Court:
- pro-Anglican & pro-Dutch
- concentrated on building a support base of MP's who would be prepared to support the crown

Clarendon Code

Cavalier Parliament = Anglican
Members wanted to restore CofE to former status
1661-65 4 acts passed became known Clarendon code:
1. Corporation Act 1661 : restricted non anglicans from sitting on borough corporations
2. Act of Uniformity 1662: parish priests should accept book of common prayer, 1008 ministers unable to conform -> expelled
3. Conventicle Act 1664: restricted dissenters from meeting in groups outside CofE
4. Five Mile Act: forbade ministers expelled under act of uniformity going within 5 miles of former parishes

Declaration of Indulgence

1662 -> charles attempted to suspend Act of Uniformity and issued Declaration of Indulgence
This would have allowed both dissenters and Catholics to worship with relative freedom -> resisted by bishops in HoL and MPs

2nd Anglo-Dutch War & Treaty of Dover

Charles pro-french policy = England fight 2nd Anglo dutch war 1665-67
Ended in disaster -> dutch able to break chain blocked Medway river & destroy 13 english ships
Charles signed Treaty of Dover with french in 1670
Public unaware clause stated charles announce own conversion to Catholicism in exchange for french subsides -> free charles II from his dependency on parliament
2nd pact with Louis XIV 1675 -> more money to chalres, first payment 1681 at £100,000 = personal rule last 4 years of reign

Second Declaration of Indulgence & Test Act

1672 -> Parliament not in session = charles issued another declaration of indulgence
As long as parliament not sitting indulgence could be maintained -> Charles facing major financial problems
Had to suspend payments to creditors -> stop of the Exchequer
Joined 3rd Anglo Dutch war (1672-74)
Charles turned to parliament for funds
In exchange MP's insisted posing of test act in place of indulgence = forced holder fo public's office to deny key catholic doctrines

Persecution

1669 clear uniformity act failed = persecution by authorities
- refused to take oath of allegiance to crown & CofE = arrested and imprisoned
- 1662 Quaker Act = Quakers get severe penalties if refused to take oath of allegiance -> not allowed to because of faith = made vulnerable met in silence
- 1,800 minister ejected, 1,000 left church summer 1662 -> meetings in private houses despite danger of arrest under conventicle act
- corporations act = influence of dissenters, reduced on borough corporations
- 1670 2nd conventicle act harsher than 1st

Success for dissenters

Some dissenting ministers benefited from associations with wealthy merchants or landowners -> offered payments for preaching
- little enthusiasm for Clarendon Code & acts not enforced consistently
- 1667 1st conventicle act expired -> flurry of activity by dissenters
- Charles issued declaration of indulgence 1672 = freedom for dissenter to not attend church & number of licences given to congregations -> withdrawn 1673

Why did dissenters survive years persecution?

Those who left church -> both voluntarily and because of ejection -> committed to principles
Dissenter received sympathy & many authorities half hearted with persecution
Uniformity defined on narrow basis -> number people classified as dissenter increased & not isolated

The Cabal

After restoration -> renewed concern with threat of catholic influence
1666, Great Fire of London sparked rumours of catholic agents & spread of plague allowed Chalres to blame cheif advisor -> replaced 1667 with Cabal -> name from 5 ministers involved, 2 of members catholic

Impact of james conversion

1668 Charles' brother Duke of York converted to catholism
James conversion made plain when he refused to take Anglican communion -> resigned the office of Lord Admiral his conversion was in no doubt
Prospect of catholic heir was in forefront of MP's minds -> Whig faction work to remove him from succession

Conflicts with Parliament over Catholicism

Declaration of Indulgence 1672 -> permitted catholics to worship in private
Hostile reactions in parliament:
1. Catholic sympathises of charles & brother apparent
2. Parliament concerned charles willingness to dispense war -> action echoed in catholic monarchs
After 1672 fear both catholicism and absolutism -> Charles seem as attempting to emulate Louis XIV
James daughter married Protestant in 1677 -> james wed catholic mary of Modena
As charles had no legitimate children -> likelihood james succeed his brother

Charles II & continental Catholicism

1667, Louis XIV invaded Spanish Netherlands & attacked dutch -> awareness in england catholic france was biggest threat country faced
English diplomats negotiated a triple alliance with Protestant Sweden and united provinces -> charles making arrangements for treaty of Dover through sister who was married to french kings brother
Charles favoured pro french policy:
1. Mother was french and spent time at french court during exile
2. Sister Henrietta married into french royal family -> fav sibling
3. Looked to france example to follow in fields of art, culture and philosophy

Relations with Louis XIV

Treaty of Dover 1670 & later arrangement to find Charles if necessary in 1675 & another arrangement made in 1677
This time louis offered more money and backed by a treaty in 1678 which charles agreed to disband his army of 30,000 men for further funds