In the years 1649-1678 Charles II was a more successful ruler than Cromwell.
Constitutional settlement + support from political nation
Cromwell successes:
● (Rump) abolished the monarchy and House of Lords 1649.
● Instrument of Government 1653 - Established the protectorate/first written constitution.
● Imprisonment of radical John Biddle 1654 - showed parliament’s desire to crack down on
radical dissent.
● Cromwell rejected kingship - accepted a revised Humble Petition and Advice 1657 which
allowed him to choose the next protector
● Some Major Generals were moderate and relatively popular - attempting to improve the
life of the poor.
Cromwell Failures:
★ The acceptance of the Humble Petition and advice 1657 - Cromwell was ‘king in all but
name’ reflected the failure to establish a republican form of government
★ Cromwell’s position was unclear - moved between supporting religious radicals and
moderates.
★ Failure shown by the restoration 1660
Charles II successes :
● 1641 legislation was upheld - abolition of star chamber, maintenance of the triennial act.
● Restored with significant powers - foreign policy, appointing advisers and prorogue
parliament.
● Charles II and his advisers (Danby and Clarendon) were willing to cooperate with the
political nation.
● Fear of civil war allowed Charles II to defeat the whigs in the exclusion crisis.
Charles II failures:
★ The Whigs had clear support throughout the exclusion crisis - london mob and
pamphleteering.
★ Divisions between crown and country appeared throughout Charles II reign - Whig v
Tory
Judgement: Both Cromwell and Charles II faced political opposition throughout their reign,
however Charles II was more successful at establishing a stable constitution with help from his
advisors. The restoration settlement set the basis of a constitutional monarchy for years to
follow.
Raising finances
Cromwell successes:
● The Commonwealth was able to raise a significant amount of revenue through taxation -
excise and assessments.
Cromwell Failures:
★ The English paid ten times as much tax as they did in the 1630’s - politically unpopular.
★ Cost of maintenance of the army was expensive and undermined support for the
commonwealth.
Charles II successes:
● Danby’s influence - grew crown revenue from £870k to £1million in 8 years
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller florencegrant0903. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £8.16. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.