The Republic

• When did The Rump re-assemble and declare itself the sole legislative authority?

  4th January 1649
• What did The Rump elect to govern in its name?

  A Council of State
• When was Charles executed?

  27th January 1649
• When was Monarchy and the House of Lords formally abolished?

  March 1649
• When did England declare itself a Commonwealth?

  May 1649
• When was Charles II proclaimed King in Scotland?

  February 1649
• What was the Hale Commission?

  It investigated reforms for the legal system, set up in 1651 and met three times a week for a year but no reforms were adopted.
• How many acts of Parliament decreased from 1649 to 1652?

  From 125 Acts in 1649 to 51 Acts in 1652
• What was the shortfall in revenue caused by the wars with Ireland and Scotland?

  £700,000
• What was the Monthly Assessment?

  A tax modeled after ship money which was originally collected in areas held by Parliament in the civil war.
• How much did the Monthly Assessment raise?

  £90,000 to pay for construction of warships
• When was The Rump forcibly dissolved by Cromwell?

  April 1653
• What was the catalyst for the dissolvement of The Rump?

  MPs decided to hold new elections which Cromwell feared would make the new Parliament more conservative.
• What was formed in 1653 as a replacement for The Rump?

  Nominated Assembly
• What was the Nominated Assembly?

  140 MPs nominated by the Council of States, many of whom were conservative.
• What are examples of reforms passed by the Nominated Assembly?

  • Legal measures to help debtors
  • Registers for births, marriages, and deaths established
  • Humane treatment of the insane
• When was Civil marriages legalized and why was it largely ignored?

  1653; it was largely ignored because it favored church services and also meant that men and women were equal in marriage.
• When did the Nominated Assembly vote to dissolve itself and why?

  December 1653; they believed it was arguing within itself too much.
• How long after the Nominated Assembly’s dissolvement was the Instrument of Government formed?

  3 days after
• Who was made Lord Protector?

  Cromwell
• What else made up the Protectorate?

  • A Council of State of 21 members
  • A single Parliament of 460 MPs (elected every 3 years by voters of at least £200 of Personal Property)
• What reforms were passed by the First Protectorate Parliament (1654-55)?

  • Banned bear-baiting and cock fighting
  • Laws passed prohibiting blasphemy and drunkenness
  • Improved postal services
  • Maintenance of roads prioritized
• Why did MPs feel excluded during Cromwell's rule?

  They felt that Cromwell favored his military associates.
• When did Cromwell dissolve the First Protectorate Parliament?

  January 1655
• What occurred in Spring 1655 that led to a ‘military dictatorship’?

  Penruddock’s uprising - A royalist uprising in Wiltshire.
• When was the Rule of the Major Generals?

  1655-56
• How many districts was the country divided into during the Rule of the Major Generals?

  11 under the command of a major general
• What was the main aim of the Rule of the Major Generals?

  To carry out national reform, e.g., close taverns and brothels, punish adultery, blasphemy, and drunkenness.
• What are examples of Major Generals carrying out reforms?

  • Lancashire: Worsley closed down 200 alehouses
  • Lincolnshire: Whalley suppressed stage plays and horse racing
• What tax was created in 1655 and what did it mean?

  Decimation tax - a 10% tax on the estates of Royalists.
• What was presented to Cromwell in March 1657?

  The Humble Petition and Advice
• What did the Humble Petition and Advice say?

  It offered Cromwell the Crown, which would mean government by King, Lords and Commons, hereditary succession, Parliament to control the army, regular elections, and limited religious tolerance.
• Why did Cromwell reject the Humble Petition and Advice?

  He wanted to remain in control of the New Model Army and was an advocate for religious toleration.
• What did Cromwell agree instead of accepting the Crown?

  He would remain Lord Protector until he died and would choose his successor.
• Who became Lord Protector after Cromwell’s death in September 1658?

  His son, Richard, who had little political experience and no connections with the New Model Army.
• When was Richard removed from office by the New Model Army?

  1659
• Who restored order after the period of chaos?

  General George Monk.
• When were elections held for the Convention Parliament?

  April 1660
• When was Charles II welcomed to return from exile?

  29th May 1660