Was the conservative nature of parliament the main reason for the failure of republican government in the years
1649-60?
Introduction
Failed to stabilise the political nation in the years 1649-60 and faced many problems.
Conserv. Nature was a contributing factor as they created divides between govn and parl.
Lack of consensus between the two groups meant no reform
HOWEVER root cause for problems = Oliver Cromwell. Lord Protector controlled political and military decisions
Lack of public support of the Republican government (social and religious decisions)
Although Parliament and the Army had an impact on the Republican government, Cromwell wielded more power
causing widespread discontent.
Royalist threat, lack of political stability, no agreements in Parliament, financial policies, leadership, public opinion
Criteria - root cause, long term, bigger impact, widespread impact, significant, cause and consequence, secondary
impact
Conservative Nature of Parliament
- Consequence - Wider support is needed to establish an effective government. Parliament and government
unable to co operate.
- Reform numbers declined: 1649 - 125 acts of parliament but 1652 -51
1. Ignored army and Hale Commission (1651,1652) = Cromwell dissolve them HOWEVER despite the opposition
to the army, Cromwell imposed the rule of Major Generals
2. Opposed religious reforms and imposed Blasphemy Act and Adultery Act (1650) = religious intolerance?
Parliament encroached on their given powers r
- HOWEVER religious disputes with 5th Monarchists. Cromwell enforced the Godly Reformation, supporting the
radical opposition and further alienating Parliament.
- Eval - The Rump and Barebones’ conservative nature prevented reform and change. Royalist leaning views,
prevented the development of a Republic. However, instead of encouraging co operation. Cromwell imposed
military. Cromwell is root cause - failed to react to the lack of upper gentry support and resolve the existing
issue.
Role of Cromwell
- leadership has wider impact failure as they control decisions
3. (Social) reforms = public discontent (widespread lack of support) - ‘Reformation of Manners’
4. (Political) 1657 - Humble Petition and Advice - given opportunity to stabilise nation by accepting the crown
(assert Parliaments control over taxation etc) Eval - Although opposition to the army was the reason for
Cromwell rejecting the Crown, it was Cromwell’s military personality which ultimately led to his decision to
reject the Crown and to focus solely on the needs of the Army, not the influence of the upper Conservative
gentry.
5. Cromwell’s appointment of son Richard was ill advised = instability from 1658-1660 (nepotism)
- Eval - Cromwell is the root cause for the failure of government because he failed to gain support from upper
gentry and social reforms prevented support from the public. As a result, Cromwell caused widespread
discontent and ,therefore, is a more significant reason for the failure of government between 1649-60.
Role of Army
- Army = used to repress royalism and popery HOWEVER secondary impact to Cromwell
6. Fear among PM - to be maintained = Decimation Tax (1655) - 10% on royalist land
- Cromwell used army to ensure parliament did not extend their powers and for royalist threat (idea of them
alienate conserv MPs) - Penruddock uprising (1655)
7. Fear among Public - imposed centralised military control and divided into 11 major districts - Major-Generals
- Country was run on power of the army not constitutional legitimacy
- Eval - The army worsened divides between radicals and the Conservatives within Parliament as well as their
upkeep costing the government public support, making them a contributing factor. However the most significant
factor is the role of Cromwell, because he ultimately made the decisions, as Lord Protecter(1650 Commander of
NMA) . He wielded more power and as a consequence is more significant in ensuring the failure of government.
Conclusion
Conserv. Nature was not main reason for failure of repub. govn. Despite their resistance to essential change and
reform, their views were worsened by radicals such as the army and religious groups. However, the army could not
be the root cause as it was a secondary impact and they were only significant and important to society because
Cromwell gave them power to do so. Without the strong Puritan military personality of Cromwell, the public would
not have had to endure religious persecution, restrictions on social activities and heavy taxation for the army.
Therefore, Cromwell = root cause of political instability and worsened the public’s support for his government.
Cromwell also cause widespread problems from social and religious affecting the public to political and financial
disagreements which affected the MPs.
