How significant were religious divisions to political instability in the years 1640-1660.
Threat to Charles’ constitutional power caused first civil war;
★ Growth of radicalism in parliament - pym
★ Triennial Act 1641 - Charles must call parliament every 3 years
★ Militia Bill 1642 - Parliament’s right to appoint army generals.
★ Execution of Earl of Strafford 1641 + Army Plot accused Strafford of planning to use Irish catholic
troops.
Religious divisions causing the first civil war ;
● Irish rebellion 1641 - catholics v protestants.
● Divisions between radical puritans and conservative anglicans formed the sides of the civil war.
● Puritans in parliament (Pym and Cromwell) pushing for reforms that frustrated Charles
● ‘Root and Branch petition 1640’
● 10 propositions (ended catholic influence on charles sons)
● Iconoclasm 1640
● Prynne Burton and Bastwick.
● Ultimately Charles’ imposition of Laudianism in the 1630’s caused this.
Other factors during civil war:
★ Heads of proposals and Newcastle Propositions 1646/1647 - political demands that Charles
would not agree to - 20 years of parliamentary control of army, called every 2 years.
★ Failure to reach settlement due to growing political demands from independents - Levellers ,
Diggers vs Army radicals. Putney Debates 1647.
Religious divisions during civil wars;
● After scots captured Charles 1646 - Newcastle propositions and Heads of proposals demand
religious reform.
● English revolution 1646-49 driven by millenarians like Ireton
● Failure to reach settlement caused by religious differences between Charles, New Model
independents and parliamentarians.
Other factors for division under cromwell
★ Rule of the Major Generals 1655 ( each county governed by a general) - disliked by the public,
fear of a military dictatorship. Increased tax and removal of local government.
★ 1658-59 Bad Harvests
★ Fear of anarchy and growing conservative support for the restoration as it would restore order.
★ Battles against Scottish Royalists - Dunbar 1650, Worcester 1651
Religious divisions under cromwell
● Godly reformation - led to major generals and dissolution of rump
● Dissolved the Rump ‘’You have as much religion as my horse’’
● Religious radicalism created instability across the Rump, Nominated and Protectorate
parliaments - Blasphemy Act 1650, Nayler 1657
● Royalists
● Battles against Irish Catholics- 1649-50 Drogheda and Wexford.
Religious division was a significant source of political instability during 1640-1660.
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