why did the rump parliament fail 1649-1653
Topic Ideas
● Foreign threats (Scottish and Irish revolts) worsened divisions in Parliament.
● Disputes between the New Model Army and Parliament hindered lawmaking.
● Suppression of radical sects increased unpopularity and threatened the rump's authority.
● High taxes and decrease in acts passed made civilians favour the monarchy.
● Weakness within the rump due to limited active MPs contributed to failure.
Main Opinion
● The Rump parliament was dissolved by Cromwell in 1653 due to internal disputes
between the army and more conservative MPs
● The regicide left the world in a state of shock
● The commonwealth faced foreign and civil threat
● Growing support for the levellers and the call for more religious freedom in England
● The active members of the rump were mainly supporters of Cromwell due to prides
purge
● The uncertainty of the period led to the dissolution of the Rump Parliament
● Cromwell faced a very difficult task of trying to pass new laws and to keep the country
safe from invasion
● Cromwell was socially conservative
● Cromwell was originally a constitutional monarchist and did not plan for the execution of
Charles
● Cromwell was suddenly the ruler of a country that had just killed their own king and
endured years of civil war before that
● Cromwell was in a difficult position as there was no longer a strong social order
● The levellers, whom he had tried to suppress after the Putney debates, began to gain
popular support
● There was a threat from Catholics and monarchists in Scotland and Ireland
● Cromwell and Fairfax captured 300 mutineers at Burford in 1649
● 300 infantrymen declared they wouldn't serve in Ireland until the leveller demands were
met
● The 1650 Engagement made it law for all men to pledge loyalty to the republic, sparking
widespread objection
● Growing support for levellers shown by the popular support which got John Lilburne
acquitted from treason
● Scottish claimed Charles II as king in 1649
● Parliament had to raise the assessment to £13000 to pay for the army against Scotland
Internal power struggles within the Rump Parliament
Topic Ideas
● Foreign threats (Scottish and Irish revolts) worsened divisions in Parliament.
● Disputes between the New Model Army and Parliament hindered lawmaking.
● Suppression of radical sects increased unpopularity and threatened the rump's authority.
● High taxes and decrease in acts passed made civilians favour the monarchy.
● Weakness within the rump due to limited active MPs contributed to failure.
Main Opinion
● The Rump parliament was dissolved by Cromwell in 1653 due to internal disputes
between the army and more conservative MPs
● The regicide left the world in a state of shock
● The commonwealth faced foreign and civil threat
● Growing support for the levellers and the call for more religious freedom in England
● The active members of the rump were mainly supporters of Cromwell due to prides
purge
● The uncertainty of the period led to the dissolution of the Rump Parliament
● Cromwell faced a very difficult task of trying to pass new laws and to keep the country
safe from invasion
● Cromwell was socially conservative
● Cromwell was originally a constitutional monarchist and did not plan for the execution of
Charles
● Cromwell was suddenly the ruler of a country that had just killed their own king and
endured years of civil war before that
● Cromwell was in a difficult position as there was no longer a strong social order
● The levellers, whom he had tried to suppress after the Putney debates, began to gain
popular support
● There was a threat from Catholics and monarchists in Scotland and Ireland
● Cromwell and Fairfax captured 300 mutineers at Burford in 1649
● 300 infantrymen declared they wouldn't serve in Ireland until the leveller demands were
met
● The 1650 Engagement made it law for all men to pledge loyalty to the republic, sparking
widespread objection
● Growing support for levellers shown by the popular support which got John Lilburne
acquitted from treason
● Scottish claimed Charles II as king in 1649
● Parliament had to raise the assessment to £13000 to pay for the army against Scotland
Internal power struggles within the Rump Parliament
