Commonwealth of England Facts & Worksheets

• The New Model Army and several Parliamentarians believed that Charles I should be punished. The king was moved to London. In December 1648, Parliamentarians who were hostile to the New Model Army were prevented from entering the House of Commons, and a court for the trial and sentence of Charles I was subsequently created. Charles I was found guilty of high treason and was beheaded on a scaffold in front of the Banqueting House of the Palace of Whitehall on 30 January 1649.

Establishment and the early years of the republic 

• The Rump Parliament, which was the remnants of the Parliament convened in 1640, was responsible for passing a number of acts that created the legal foundation for the republic. Following the execution of Charles I, the House of Commons abolished the monarch and the House of Lords. The Rump selected the members of the Council of State, which replaced the Privy Council. England “and of all the Dominions and territories thereunto belonging” were proclaimed to be under the governance of a “Commonwealth”.
• The Rump relied heavily on the assistance of the New Model Army, with which it had a difficult relationship.
• The first two years of the Commonwealth saw the Rump challenged by economic depression and threatened by invasion from Scotland and Ireland. 
• Disagreements among factions of the Rump also emerged, as some favoured a republic while others preferred preserving some type of monarchical government.
• The majority of traditional ruling classes in England considered the Rump an illegal government.
• The Rump also faced resentment from the gentry due to restrictive laws and high taxes, which primarily funded the army, as well as from the ruling classes due to limited reforms. 
• By 1653, Cromwell and the Army had completely eradicated the invasion threats from Scotland and Ireland. This fortified Cromwell’s control over England.
• In spite of its unpopularity, the Rump served as a link to the old constitution and aided in stabilising England following the largest upheaval in its history. France and Spain had acknowledged England’s new government.
• In April 1653, Cromwell forced the dissolution of the Rump. This was followed by a period in which Cromwell and the Army ruled alone.
• A nominated assembly replaced the Rump in July, which Cromwell thought was a temporary legislative body that would institute reforms and draw up a constitution for the Commonwealth. 
• This assembly was given the nickname Barebone’s Parliament. The majority of its members were lesser gentry and were well-educated. However, only a few had previous parliamentary experience.
• Barebone’s Parliament was split over key issues and was opposed by many. Conflict over the question of tithes and infighting took place in December, ending in the dissolution of the Barebone’s Parliament. 

Creation of The Protectorate and the end of republican rule

• Three days after Barebone’s Parliament dissolved itself, a new constitution known as the Instrument of Government was adopted by the Council of State, leading to the establishment of The Protectorate. This made Cromwell Lord Protector for life and responsible for “the chief magistracy and the administration of government”. Cromwell now had similar roles and powers as the king had under the monarchy. In April 1654, Scotland was united into one Commonwealth with England under the terms of the Tender of Union. 
• Cromwell and the Council of State, which now resembled the king’s old Privy Council, spent the first several months of the Protectorate preparing for its first Parliament. 

First Protectorate Parliament

• The first Parliament of the Protectorate convened in September 1654. Cromwell and his councillors had drawn up a list of 84 bills to present to Parliament for ratification. 
• The Members of Parliament, however, held different political interests, with the majority of them unwilling to accept Cromwell’s programme of constitutional reform. 
• Having failed to obtain the passage of his bills, Cromwell decided to dissolve the Parliament in January 1655 as soon as it was allowed under the terms of the Instrument of Government.

Second Protectorate Parliament

• Following his failure to legislate his policies through the first Parliament, Cromwell resorted to setting up a system of direct military rule of England in August 1655. This period became known as the Rule of the Major-Generals.
• During this period, England and Wales were divided into ten military districts, each governed by a Major-General who was granted extensive powers, including supervising militia forces, collecting taxes and enforcing the peace. 
• These Major-Generals, who were integral to both national security and to Cromwell’s moral crusade, grew highly unpopular due to their policies that restricted what they perceived as ungodly conduct.
• In September 1656, the second Parliament convened, during which the Major-Generals sought to give Cromwell’s rule legitimacy. 

The Militia Bill was brought up for debate. It would provide financial backing for the work of the Major-Generals. This was voted down by Parliament for fear of a permanent military state. As a result, the rule of the Major-Generals in the counties eventually ended in January 1657.

The Humble Petition and Advice was passed in May 1657. It reserved Parliament a three-year fixed term and the sole right of taxation. It also, made the position of the Lord Protector hereditary.

• In January 1658, Parliament allowed previously excluded MPs to take their seats. The return of Catholics and Royalists meant that Parliament became far less compliant to Cromwell. Cromwell soon dissolved Parliament.