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On January 1649, [[Charles I]] was executed and on 6 and 7 February the House of Lords and the monarchy were abolished. On 19 Mai 1649, England became a Commonwealth or Free State. Now, the administartion lay in the hands of the Privy Council with its fourty members. The executive power was lead by [[Oliver Cromwell]]. Whereas before lawtexts mentioned the king, they now spoke of the "Keepers of the Liberties of England" (Heiner 1993: 182). But the republic remained a republic without republicans.<br> | On January 1649, [[Charles I]] was executed and on 6 and 7 February the House of Lords and the monarchy were abolished. On 19 Mai 1649, England became a Commonwealth or Free State. Now, the administartion lay in the hands of the Privy Council with its fourty members. The executive power was lead by [[Oliver Cromwell]]. Whereas before lawtexts mentioned the king, they now spoke of the "Keepers of the Liberties of England" (Heiner 1993: 182). But the republic remained a republic without republicans.<br> | ||
on 20 April 1653, the core of the Parliament was dissolved and on 15 December Cromwell was declared the Lord Protector. The following year, England, Ireland, and Scotland were united. | on 20 April 1653, the core of the Parliament was dissolved and on 15 December Cromwell was declared the Lord Protector. The following year, England, Ireland, and Scotland were united. | ||
On 3 September 1658 Oliver Cromwell died | On 3 September 1658 Oliver Cromwell died and his son Richard Cromwell could not keep his function up as he lacked the support of the army. The generals Fleetwood and Lambert forced him to abdicate and summoned the core of the Parliament again. As it tried to cut down the army, it was dissolved again. Finally, as everything else failed the monarchy was restored in 1660 and Charles II became king, the House of Commons and the House of Lords as well as the State church were reestablished. | ||
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===Ireland and Scotland=== | ===Ireland and Scotland=== | ||
The republic had a standing army of fourtyfourthousand men and thus posessed the greatest military power at that time, which it directed towards Ireland. Ireland's position was the total opposition towards England. Several incidents in Ireland where | The republic had a standing army of fourtyfourthousand men and thus posessed the greatest military power at that time, which it directed towards Ireland. Ireland's position was the total opposition towards England. Several incidents in Ireland (e.g. in Drogheda and Wexford) where many civilists were killed stirred up the hatred against England even more. | ||
Then, Cromwell directed his power towards Scotland. After he and his troops were defeated in England, Charles II fled to France and Scotland lost its independence for nine years. | Then, Cromwell directed his power towards Scotland. He triumphed in Dunbar and Edinburgh. After he and his troops were defeated in England, Charles II fled to France and Scotland lost its independence for nine years. | ||
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===Relifion=== | |||
In religious matters, a relative pluralism occured: the parrishes were left to decide how their mass should be like. Thus, the rule of Uniformity of the 16. century lapsed. There was not obligatory mass on sunday, but on the other hand the decicion of what to do on sundays was restricted by strict rules that forbid every kind of amusement. | |||
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Revision as of 20:43, 21 July 2009
Time between 1649 and 1660 when England was a republic.
What happened
On January 1649, Charles I was executed and on 6 and 7 February the House of Lords and the monarchy were abolished. On 19 Mai 1649, England became a Commonwealth or Free State. Now, the administartion lay in the hands of the Privy Council with its fourty members. The executive power was lead by Oliver Cromwell. Whereas before lawtexts mentioned the king, they now spoke of the "Keepers of the Liberties of England" (Heiner 1993: 182). But the republic remained a republic without republicans.
on 20 April 1653, the core of the Parliament was dissolved and on 15 December Cromwell was declared the Lord Protector. The following year, England, Ireland, and Scotland were united.
On 3 September 1658 Oliver Cromwell died and his son Richard Cromwell could not keep his function up as he lacked the support of the army. The generals Fleetwood and Lambert forced him to abdicate and summoned the core of the Parliament again. As it tried to cut down the army, it was dissolved again. Finally, as everything else failed the monarchy was restored in 1660 and Charles II became king, the House of Commons and the House of Lords as well as the State church were reestablished.
Aims
The first aim was to secure the power and the second to expand it. This lead to a more active foreign policy. Leveller groups were dissolved and rebellions in Ireland and Scotland were defeated.
But the military power did not help to consolidate the new system as the public did not stand behind it. And furthermore the core of the Parliament was represented by a minority. Some parts of the country were not represented at all. But it not really matter who was on top as long as the result was still a finacial burden.
Ireland and Scotland
The republic had a standing army of fourtyfourthousand men and thus posessed the greatest military power at that time, which it directed towards Ireland. Ireland's position was the total opposition towards England. Several incidents in Ireland (e.g. in Drogheda and Wexford) where many civilists were killed stirred up the hatred against England even more. Then, Cromwell directed his power towards Scotland. He triumphed in Dunbar and Edinburgh. After he and his troops were defeated in England, Charles II fled to France and Scotland lost its independence for nine years.
Relifion
In religious matters, a relative pluralism occured: the parrishes were left to decide how their mass should be like. Thus, the rule of Uniformity of the 16. century lapsed. There was not obligatory mass on sunday, but on the other hand the decicion of what to do on sundays was restricted by strict rules that forbid every kind of amusement.
Why did it fail
The republic did not fail because of powerful opposer but mainly because it lacked the acceptance of the political nation.
Sources
- Haan, Heiner; Niedhart, Gottfried. Geschichte Englands vom 16. bis zum 18. Jahrhundert. München: C.H.Beck, 1993.
- Maurer, Michael. Kleine Geschichte Englands. Stuttgart: Reclam, 1997.