‘A military dictator’. Assess the validity of this description of Oliver Cromwell as
Lord Protector. [25]
Yes, he was a military dictator No, in fact he wasn’t
• Protectorate was staffed and headed by • Religious toleration: Cromwell also wanted
the military - When Cromwell dissolved an extension on religious tolleration.
the Rump in April 1653, it shows that the
Protectorate was formed with the use of
military force, to a certain extent. (Can
also be said for the dissolution of the NA
on the 12th of December 1653)
• Penruddock Rising 1655: This was a rising • Instrument of Gov articles: Article 7 of the
in Wiltshire in 1655 by John Penruddock. It instrument of Government said that the
was an attempt to show that the Sealed Parliament should beet at least once every
Knot’s aim of overthrowing the republic third year
was still alive. -> It failed however • Article 8 said it was now illegal to dissolve
because of the speed at which Cromwell’s a parliament without that parliaments
government moved to put it town. approval
Penruddock and the other leading • Article 11 said that if the protector failed
conspirators were tried and executed. -> to call parliament, then the commissioner
VIOLENT ACTIONS of the great seal could automatically call
for general elections to replace him.
• Major Generals: Lambert split the country • Little impact of the M.Gens: The major
into 11 sections and assigned a leading generals had a little impact: they were
member of the NMA to be the Major sent to regions to work with the pre-
General in charge of that area existing systems and they were only
• Response of people: The Political nation active for a few months at the end of
were concerned with the role of the 1655.
military in their society.-> The gentry in
society felt threatened by the Major
Generals because they had removed
conservative en from the local
government so that their rule would be
more effective.There were also high levels
of taxation which the political nation were
not happy with and they were concerned
that the increase in taxes to keep the
army would be permanent.
• John Berry - He was a major General in • Make life safer: Cromwell’s first set of
charge of what is now Wales, he focused instructions to the major generals was for
more on further reformation of the nation. them to suppress any rebellions and also
• Many of the other Major Generals sought to arrest any robbers, thieves,
to enforce godliness in their regions highwaymen etc so that the roads were
through the shutting down of alehouses, safer for travellers - they even offered a
brothels and gambling houses. £10 reward for any info leading to an
arrest.
• The NMA was linked with religious • No alternative: even though Cromwell’s
radicalism -> the army prevented the main aim was the godly reformation, the
persecution of radicals, which led to fears financial constraints he was having to
among the conservative members of the work under and also his need for healing
political nation. (Is this actually relevant to and settling led Cromwell to have no
the question? - ASK MISS L) choice but to use the Army.
Cromwell’s main aim during his rule as Lord • Reformers: Major Gen. Edward Whalley:
Lord Protector. [25]
Yes, he was a military dictator No, in fact he wasn’t
• Protectorate was staffed and headed by • Religious toleration: Cromwell also wanted
the military - When Cromwell dissolved an extension on religious tolleration.
the Rump in April 1653, it shows that the
Protectorate was formed with the use of
military force, to a certain extent. (Can
also be said for the dissolution of the NA
on the 12th of December 1653)
• Penruddock Rising 1655: This was a rising • Instrument of Gov articles: Article 7 of the
in Wiltshire in 1655 by John Penruddock. It instrument of Government said that the
was an attempt to show that the Sealed Parliament should beet at least once every
Knot’s aim of overthrowing the republic third year
was still alive. -> It failed however • Article 8 said it was now illegal to dissolve
because of the speed at which Cromwell’s a parliament without that parliaments
government moved to put it town. approval
Penruddock and the other leading • Article 11 said that if the protector failed
conspirators were tried and executed. -> to call parliament, then the commissioner
VIOLENT ACTIONS of the great seal could automatically call
for general elections to replace him.
• Major Generals: Lambert split the country • Little impact of the M.Gens: The major
into 11 sections and assigned a leading generals had a little impact: they were
member of the NMA to be the Major sent to regions to work with the pre-
General in charge of that area existing systems and they were only
• Response of people: The Political nation active for a few months at the end of
were concerned with the role of the 1655.
military in their society.-> The gentry in
society felt threatened by the Major
Generals because they had removed
conservative en from the local
government so that their rule would be
more effective.There were also high levels
of taxation which the political nation were
not happy with and they were concerned
that the increase in taxes to keep the
army would be permanent.
• John Berry - He was a major General in • Make life safer: Cromwell’s first set of
charge of what is now Wales, he focused instructions to the major generals was for
more on further reformation of the nation. them to suppress any rebellions and also
• Many of the other Major Generals sought to arrest any robbers, thieves,
to enforce godliness in their regions highwaymen etc so that the roads were
through the shutting down of alehouses, safer for travellers - they even offered a
brothels and gambling houses. £10 reward for any info leading to an
arrest.
• The NMA was linked with religious • No alternative: even though Cromwell’s
radicalism -> the army prevented the main aim was the godly reformation, the
persecution of radicals, which led to fears financial constraints he was having to
among the conservative members of the work under and also his need for healing
political nation. (Is this actually relevant to and settling led Cromwell to have no
the question? - ASK MISS L) choice but to use the Army.
Cromwell’s main aim during his rule as Lord • Reformers: Major Gen. Edward Whalley:
