The Nominated Assembly 1653

• How was the Nominated Assembly formed?


  After the dissolution of the Rump, Cromwell was advised by Colonel Thomas Harrisson to ask various churches and radical groups to nominate an Assembly.
• After the dissolution of the Rump, Cromwellwas advices by Major General John Lambert to introduce a new constitution.
• Who made up the Nominated Assembly and what were their views?


  One third of the members were men of sufficient status.

  Two thirds had been JPs for more than 3 years.

  A dozen out of a total of 144 were fifth monarchies.

  Many were moderate reformers.
• What were the achievements of the Nominated Assembly?


  1. They passed over 30 acts.
  2. They established a new council of state.
  3. They took up the work of the Hale commissions.
  4. Progress was made in uniting Scotland and Ireland with Wales and England and in modifying by control of church livings.
• When and how did the Nominated Assembly end?


  On 12 December the moderates met in the absence of the radicals and voted to dissolve themselves handing power back to Cromwell.
• Why did the Nominated Assembly fail?


  That Assembly began to tread on dangerous grounds since an attack on tithes was seen as an attack on property itself. On 10 December, the radicals succeeded in pushing through a vote against tithes.
• What happened after the Nominated Assembly was dissolved?

  Oliver Cromwell took on the advice of John Lambert to design a new constitution to bring stability.