Essay 2 - To what extent did republican rule provide stable government, 1649-60

Paragraph 1 - Point 1

Republican regime delivered military achievements that provided short-term stability and functional government

Paragraph 1 - Evidence 1

Cromwell crushed Leveller threats and Second Civil War quickly - army provided security and supressed royalist opposition effectively

Paragraph 1 - Judgement 1

Military dominance kept the regime alive - without the army’s effectiveness, royalist restoration would have come earlier

However, military success created dependence on the army rather than genine legitimate political stability

Paragraph 1 - Evidence 2

The Instrument of Govt. 1653 - 1st written constitution, created the Protectorate and produced 84 ordinances

Paragraph 1 - Judgement 2

Showed the republic could govern and produce legislative output

However, power still depended entirely on military backing rather than genuine consent - the constitution appeared stable but was propped up by force throughout

Paragraph 1 - Evidence 3

The Major-Generals 1655-56 improved local security and supressed royalism effectively

Paragraph 1 - Judgement 3

Short-term control was real and effective - regime demonstrated it can project power across England’s 11 districts

However, The Major-Generals were unpopular and looked like a military dictatorship - security came at the expense of political stability

Paragraph 1 - Link

Short-term achievements existed - but they consistently undermined the legitimacy that stable govt. requires

Paragraph 2 - Point 2

Republican regime was structurally illegitimate from the start - lacked support, failed to deliver reform and was financially crippled throughout

Paragraph 2 - Evidence 1

Radical religious groups like Levellers, Ranters, Quakers increased instability and govt. responded w repression rather than tolerance (Blasphemy Act 1650)

Paragraph 2 - Judgement 1

A govt. that immediately represses its own supporters has no base - Rump’s new system lacked the legitimacy to unite the country

Although some repression of radical groups was necessary to maintain order, repression over tolerance alienated groups who did support them

Paragraph 2 - Evidence 2

Revenue shortfall reached £700,000 by 1653 - wars with Ireland, Scotland and Holland drained finances

Paragraph 2 - Judgement 2

Financial instability made every other problem worse and made the regime permamently vulnerable

Although wars were partly inherited, the regimes inability to solve the finance problems undermined any claim to stable govt.

Paragraph 2 - Evidence 3

The Hale Commission 1651 proposed legal reform but recommendations were rejected - Acts passsed fell from 149 in 1649 to 51 in 1652

Paragraph 2 - Judgement 3

Reform was the regimes central promise and central failure - destroyed credibility

However, deep ideological divisions in parliament made reform difficult, but the failure to bridge those divisions showed the regime lacked the political skill stable govts. require

Paragraph 2 - Link

Structural instability more prominent than short-term stability - but total dependence on Cromwell personally made collapse inevitable after 1658

Paragraph 3 - Point 3

Whatever stability existed was entirely dependent on Cromwell - making the regime’s collapse inevitable after his death

Paragraph 3 - Evidence 1

Humble Petition and Advice 1657 offered Cromwell the crown and gave parliament power over the army - the best chance for lasting settlement

Paragraph 3 - Judgement 1

Cromwell refused due to army opposition, blocking the one realistic path to stability

However, Cromwell’s refusal showed commitment to the republic - but prioritising army approval over settlement confirmed that military dominance trumped stable govt. throughout

Paragraph 3 - Evidence 2

Cromwell dies 1658 - Richard Cromwell succeeded but lacked military respect and political experience - army forced out Richard in 1659 - political system collapsed

Paragraph 3 - Judgement 2

The regime collapsed within a year of Cromwell’s death - proved what passed for stability was personal rather than institutional

Paragraph 3 - Evidence 3

General Monck’s restoration of Parliament in 1660 led directly to the Restoration - Charles II’s Declaration of Breda made restoration acceptable by promising cooperation w parliament and religious toleration

Paragraph 3 - Judgement 3

The country returned to monarchy not because Charles II was strong, but because the republican govt. exhausted every alternative - stability was never achieved, only delayed until a monarchical restoration

Paragraph 3 - Link

Republican rule provided functional govt. in patches such as military successs and short-term security and some legislation - but never achieved real stability as it lacked legitimacy from the start, failed to deliver reform and was financially crippled and depended on 1 man - the republic died with Cromwell