Unit 1C - Britain, 1625-1701: conflict, revolution and settlement
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Essay Unit 1C - Britain, : conflict, revolution and settlement
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Unit 1C - Britain, 1625-1701: conflict, revolution and settlement
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Essay on to what extent was military involvement in politics responsible for unstable government in England in the years 1646-53. Includes the New Model Army and Cromwell.
Unit 1C - Britain, 1625-1701: conflict, revolution and settlement
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To what extent was military involvement in politics responsible for unstable government in
England in the years 1646-53
Military involvement in politics played an important role in being responsible for unstable
government, particularly in the years 1646-9 whilst Oliver Cromwell held the larger responsibility
in 1649-53 for his failure to maintain social order. Whilst less significant, one must also consider
the influence of other factors that brought about unstable government in England, including
Charles I’s contribution to regicide in 1649, internal divisions between king and parliament in
1646-9 and weak government in 1649-53.
Firstly, it can be argued that the New Model Army held the biggest responsibility for an unstable
government in the years 1646-8 with its increasing influence in politics. Ever since the
Presbyterians’ attempt to disband the army in the spring of 1647, the army became heavily
politicized and engaged with constitutional issues. Although one may argue that the
Presbyterians were responsible for almost forcing the NMA to be involved in politics, this could
only be argued as the initial case. The NMA were the ones fundamentally responsible, who got
fully engaged and eager to seize the initiative in the settlement negotiations by issuing the
Heads of the Proposals (July 1647) and trying to reach a settlement with the king. Moreover, on
June 2 1647, the NMA, led by Cornet Joyce, seized the king from his parliamentary guards and
placed him in the protective custody of the Army at Newmarket. One may argue that Cromwell
was responsible for this as met Cornet Joyce four days before Joyce seized the king and after
he did, he wrote to Cromwell asking for instructions, suggesting that Cromwell was behind the
move. However, even if Cromwell encouraged the move, the NMA held the ultimate
responsibility and it only became significant with the military involvement’s actions to bring about
change in England’s political climate. This therefore meant that parliament could no longer
negotiate with Charles without the Army’s approval and proved that because of their
involvement in politics, it made the chances of reaching a settlement even harder, hence being
most responsible for unstable government in England. Another reason why a settlement was so
difficult was due to the further internal divisions that emerged within the army in 1647-8. The
army became increasingly influenced by the Levellers, in which they published the Agreement
of the People (October 1647) followed by the Putney debates. Divisions were formed within the
army between the Leveller inspired rant of file of the army and the officers of the army. The
formation of additional parties in the NMA meant that more groups needed to be satisfied and
the prospects of a national settlement became further away than ever before since the end of
the civil war. This further contributed to an already highly charged political environment and its
publication of radical ideas, therefore with the NMA generating further divisions proved they
were to a great extent responsible for unstable government. Internal divisions also developed
between king and parliament with their failed attempts of settlement. If there was a united
parliament from the start, a settlement would probably have been achieved within the first 12
months. It was due to the fact that parliament was so divided with the Presbyterians and
Independents that encouraged Charles to reject proposals and put off the idea of a settlement.
An example of this was the Propositions of Newcastle in July 1646 and because parliament
remained divided on key issues, the independents and presbyterians weren’t entirely happy with
the terms so neither side would be too unhappy if it didn’t work. This encouraged Charles I to
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