STUART MONARCHY
PROJECT
OLIVER CROMWELL &
THE
COMMONWEALTH
Naaz Tung
Gabbi Jackson
Paragraphs
A. Cromwell’s Relationship with Parliament
Oliver Cromwell’s career began with his military prowess, however his role as Lord
Protectorate is what makes him such an influential Briton. Even though Cromwell
began his career in Parliament he was on notoriously negative terms with the
Parliament he was meant to share power with. In fact, Cromwell’s relationship with the
First Parliament ended in 1655 with him forcibly disbanding the legislative body.
Cromwell was constantly frustrated with the need of the Parliament for lengthy
deliberation, and by the fact that they frequently failed to see eye-to-eye on what
reforms were needed. Therefore it is no surprise that for most of 1655 and the beginning
of 1656, Cromwell governed without a parliament. To Cromwell’s credit, he did begin
his Reformation movements in Parliament but his impatience with the time Parliament
took to debate his agenda caused him to close the doors of Parliament. Despite his
affinity to power, Cromwell refused to make the Lord Protectorate a hereditary position,
and after his death another power vacuum existed in England due to this decision.
Cromwell displayed the need for a strong Parliament by easily disregarding the
Parliament that existed at the time, as well as the need for a strong monarch by
leaving behind a power vacuum because of his opposition to a succession of the
Lord Protectorate title.

B. Cromwell’s Relationship with Religions and the Reactions it Evoked Among Members of
Parliament and the People of England.
Cromwell is noted to have experienced a religious crisis, and thus became a radical Puritan. At this point
he adopted the idea that he would be guided to carry out God’s purpose. Therefore, his attitude towards
Catholics was abhorrently strict. Whilst Cromwell was politically motivated to suppress the Catholics in
Ireland, the fervor with which he took upon this task can be explained by his religious opinion. Cromwell was
passionately opposed to the Catholic Church, which he saw as denying the primacy of the Bible in favor of
papal and clerical authority, and which he blamed for suspected tyranny and persecution of Protestants in
Europe. Therefore the campaign Cromwell carried out against Irish Catholics was especially brutal, and has
been compared to a genocide because civilians were harmed as well. In contrast, Cromwell adopted a
different policy towards another religious group. In 1656, Cromwell created a commission to analyze the
petition of Menasseh ben Israel, a Jewish leader who asked that the Jews be permitted to live and worship in
freedom in England. There was no official judgment, but Jews were able to return to England. After 350
years. Cromwell identified them as the creators of wealth for the country. Whilst Cromwell looked to
Parliament to set an example as a godly group, Parliament was far more concerned with creating a lasting
political entity. This angered Cromwell and therefore he never got along with his parliaments. While
Cromwell was trying to take strides in religious affairs, Parliament was not too concerned. The English
people as a whole were reverent of the power Cromwell restored to the Protestant faith by whatever means
necessary. However, when Cromwell allowed Jews back into England, the people were not pleased. The Jews
were labeled as “infidels” and “perpetual enemies of the English crown” and faced widespread prejudice. In
my opinion, the growth of the Protestant faith, alienation of Catholicism, and reluctant acceptance of
Jews was a way to showcase the massive power one person wielded and naturally that led to the
conclusion that there should be a balance of powers-thus a constitutional monarchy.

Timeline
King Charles I
execution
August , 1657
The New Model
Army reinstalls
Independent MPS
in London.
Cromwell supports
their clashes with
Parliament.
JanuaryApril, 1648
Revolts in
Kent, Essex,
and Wales
over high
costs of
maintaining a
war in the
midst of poor
weather, high
wheat prices,
and heavy
taxation.
Putney Debates
*January 1649
King Charles I
is found guilty
of treason and
sentences to
death. He is
beheaded on
the 30th.
1645
*October, 1657
The Putney Debates
begin over the issue of a
new Constitution.
Cromwell, Ireton,
factions of the New
Model Army and the
Levellers attend.
1650
January 1648
Parliament
passes the Vote
of No Addresses,
which breaks off
communication
with the King.
May 1649
England
officially
declared a
Commonwealth.
September
Parliament fails to negotiate
with King Charles, causing
Cromwell and Ireton to lose
trust in him.
Cromwell dissolving
Protectorate Parliament
April 1653
Cromwell, now the
most powerful man in
Britain, forcibly
dissolves Protectorate
Parliament.
*March 1657
Cromwell is presented
with the Humble
Petition and Advice
from civilian supporters.
1655
*December 1653
General John Lambert
presents the Instrument
of Government to be
England’s new
Constitution. On the 16th,
Cromwell becomes Lord
Protector.
Revolts in Kent,
Essex, and
Wales
1660
*May 1659
Richard
Cromwell
resigns as Lord
Protector,
marking the end
of the
Protectorate. The
next year, King
Charles II is
restored to the
throne in order
to prevent Civil
War.
*Annotation on
next slide
Annotations
The Putney Debates were held from October 28 to November 9, 1649. Both soldiers of the New Model Army and civilian
Levellers met to discuss a new Constitution for England. Soldiers argued for greater democracy and for the voices of the "common
people" to be heard. Levellers argued for universal male suffrage, biennial parliaments, and a reorganization of parliamentary
constitution with authority in the House of Commons instead of the House of Lords. They also believed in "native rights of
freedom of conscience, freedom from impressment into the armed forces and equality before the law. Though most of their
arguments were ignored during the debates, the Levellers paved the way for many civil liberties that would come later.
On January 27, 1649, King Charles I was found guilty of treason and sentenced to death. Oliver Cromwell was one of the 59
members of Parliament to sign his death warrant. Three days later, Charles was beheaded. This event is significant because
England officially becomes a Republic upon Charles’s death. It represents Parliament’s victory in the English Civil War that began
in 1642.
On December 12th, 1653, General John Lambert dissolved the Barebones Parliament amidst quarrels. He presents a new
Constitution, the Instrument of Government under the belief that sovereignty should be placed in "a single person and a
parliament." The Instrument of Government was adopted by the Council of Officers. Cromwell was given the executive title,
Lord Protector for Life. This was important to England becoming a Constitutional monarchy because the Instrument of
Government was England’s first written Constitution.
In March 1657, the Humble Petition and Advice was drawn by some of Cromwell's civilian supporters. It was a Constitutional
document that offered him the Crown and reduced the power of the Council. Though Crowell rejects the Crown, he accepts
the rest. The Humble Petition and Advice became England’s second Constitution. It shows Englishmen’s yearning for a
Constitutional monarchy.
On May 24, 1659 Richard Cromwell resigns, marking the end of the Protectorate. Without Oliver Cromwell, the Republic soon
becomes on the verge of another Civil War. In order to prevent this from happening, the monarchy is restored and Charles II
becomes King. Though the Protectorate is over, the ideals it instilled about sovereignty and civil liberties are not forgotten.
Works Cited
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“Oliver Cromwell (1599 - 1658).” BBC History. BBC, n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.
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Plant, David. “Cromwell's Protectorate, 1653-58.” BCW Project. BCW Project, n.d.
Web. 20 Oct. 2013.
Plant, David. “Humble Petition and Advice.” BCW Project. BCW Project, n.d. Web. 20
Oct. 2013.
Plant, David. “The Instrument of Government.” BCW Project. BCW Project, n.d. Web.
20 Oct. 2013.
“Welcome to The Oliver Cromwell Website.” The Oliver Cromwell Website. The
Cromwell Association, n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.