1650s: English Revolution

• CONSOLIDATION OF THE REPUBLIC

  • The revolutionary nature of the actions in 1644 alienated much of the political nation. The limited support of the revolution shaped the next years.


  There was still tension between the rump and NMA. The rump regarded itself at the legitimate power and in command of the army. It recognised the NMA had real power.
• PROBLEMS IN THE 1650S

  • Popular belief in monarchy
  • NMA were a “meritocratic” army which challenged the hierarchy of landlords being in control of armies. They were also full of religious radicals


  Historians argue that Cromwell was contradictory, he couldn’t be both a religious radical and social conservative 
• IMMEDIATE PROBLEMS

  • Independent sects seemed to threaten social hierarchy
  • Most larger landlords were Angelicin, they were not radical at all
  • Only 2-4% of the population belonged to independent sects
  • The majority still attended regular Anglican church services
  • Cromwell’s independency was not popular 

  People wanted to return to normalcy
• THE RUMP

  • Refers to the MPs who remained after the Pride’s purge


  Many viewed it as illegitimate because it was unrepresentative and only existed because of military coup

  • 4 JAN 1649: Declared themselves supreme power with authority to pass acts without parliament
• WHO WERE THE RUMPERS?

  • Estimated of about 270 members
  • Some were religious independents who did not want an established church
  • Small number sympathised with Levellers and were republicans
  • Most came from the gentry however there was more of lesser gentry and lawyers than previously


  25% were regicides
• WHERE DID POWER LIE?

  • The rump parliament and New Model Army had most of the power


  Cromwell therefore assumed power

  • The rump was more conservative while the army was more radical
• TENSIONS

  • There was a lack of planning behind the revolution
  • Many rump MPs wanted to ensure stability and calm fears
  • The commonwealth’s priority was to restore stability and return to normal, it was not worried about radical reforms


  Cromwell wanted to use the rump to show parliamentary nature of the regime over military regime of the army
• HOW DID THE RUMP TRY TO BROADEN THE APPEAL? 

  • Reaching out to former MPs who had been purged
  • Slow to innovate in religious reforms
  • Being conservative
  • Keeping army out of politics


  Delegating as little power as possible
• LOW LEVEL SUPPORT

  -The government faced threats from royalists and levellers. Although the army did not directly get involved in politics the new regime could not survive without them. This made it harder for the government to gain support from traditional ruling class
• WHY WERE THE RUMP INACTIVE?

  • They could not disband the army; Charles II was planning an invasion in Ireland which was the main concern
  • They declared in MAY 1649 that they would dissolve and make way for a new elected parliament. This was an empty promise. The army put pressure on them to do this, they responded with an alternative to have “top-up” elections. Cromwell’s opposition persuaded the Rump to shelve this plan


  The rump did not want reform because they were worried it would offend conservatives or cost taxpayers' money