Britain: the republic 1649-60

• Charles II immediately declared King in Scotland

  1649
• The rump declared

  1. They had sole legislative authority

  2. Abolished the House of Lords and the monarchy

  3. England declared to be a 'Commonwealth and free state'
• Failure of radical groups

  • Toleration Act 1650 - those that did not take part in regular religious services were penalised
  • Declared that the collection of tithes would continue in 1652 – radical members would have to pay for the upkeep of a church they would not attend
  • Blasphemy Act 1650 – aimed at restricting religious radical sects
  • Printed materials censored to limit radical pamphlets
  • An Act was passed to make the Sabbath a Holy day
  • Adultery Act 1950 – made adultery punishable by death
• Royalists defeated by army in Scotland and Ireland
• Why did the Rump fail to provide stability

  • Shortfall of tax revenue by £700,000 in 1653
  • Monthly assessment raised to £90,000
  • 125 Acts made in Parliament in 1649 which lowered to 51 Acts in 1652
  • Greater gentry and nobility refused to co-operate which left a number of lesser gentry in charge
  • Rump rejected the Hales' Commission in late 1652
• Nominated Assembly 1653


  1. Made up of men from various churches and radical groups

  2. Included men from Wales, Scotland, Ireland and England – first to represent all of Britain

  3. They continued the war with the Dutch – attempted to secure trade routes

  4. Introduced legal measures to help debtors and introduced regulations for the treatment of lunatics

  5. Allowed civil marriage officiated by JP's
• Why did the Nominated Assembly fail

  • Mainly consisted of lesser gentry
  • The Council of Officers in the Army added many names – Cromwell and other senior officers
  • Clear split between radical 'saints' (Nicholas Barebone) and conservative members
  • Propertied members were unhappy with the suggestion that tithes should be abolished as they relied on them for financial wellbeing
• Instrument of Government


  • One chamber of Parliament which was offered by General Lambert
  • Supreme Authority rests in Parliament
  • Gives England a Head of State and frames the future of England
  • However, concentrated too much power in 1 person
• First Protectorate parliament 1653-55


  1. Wanted to create a 'reformation of manners' by improving moral behaviour (created 84 ordinances to do so) - bearbaiting and cock fighting banned/ restricting drunkenness and blasphemy/ postal services improved/ maintenance of roads prioritised/ infrastructure improved

  2. Cromwell favoured the military which made the Mp's feel excluded from power

  3. Cromwell dissolved parliament in 1655
• Major Generals 1655-56


  1. Penruddock's Rising 1655 – showed greater control of provinces was needed

  2. Cromwell imposed military rule – divided country into 11 parts under the command of Major Generals

  3. Estate tax increased by 10% for royalists

  4. 200 ale houses closed in Lancashire

  5. Traditional entertainments (stage plays and horse racing) suppressed in Lincolnshire

  6. Replacements of local elites by outsiders was unpopular

  7. The low social standing of the Major Generals caused resentment of the gentry under their control
• Second Protectorate Parliament 1656-58


  1. Held in the summer of 1656

  2. Excluded 100 known opponents of one-man rule who sat in the first Protectorate

  3. Passed social reform acts

  4. Aimed to improve the efficiency of poor relief

  5. Provided more employment
• Humble Petition and advice 1657


  1. Wanted to replace the second protectorate

  2. Cromwell realises a new constitution is needed
• Restoration of the monarchy

  1. Cromwell offered the crown

  2. Lords and Commons were to govern with the Protectorate

  3. Regular elections were to take place and people were to be given complete religious freedoms
• Collapse 1658-60


  1. 1658 – Cromwell dies and his son takes over (had no experience of warfare)

  2. Council of Officers forced him to resign in 1659 and the Rump took over which the army closed down by force in October 1659

  3. Long Parliament restored – reversed Pride's Purge then voted to dissolve itself which led to the elections of the Convention parliament

  4. Monarchy restored