...Oliver Cromwell was a strict Puritan, and played really important roles, not only in the civil war, but even in the government. He came from a gentry’s family, and when he was young, after having a good education at Cambridge, toke part of the Short and the long parliaments. Even if being a puritan, Cromwell supported the idea of militarism. In fact, during the first Civil War, having a strong commanding voice, and a huge military ability, Cromwell was authorized by the parliament to start his military career by razing a regiment to help the roundheads to fight the royal forces. The Ironsides, Cromwell’s own regiment, actually distinguished at the battle of Marston Moor and in many other minor engagements. In 1644 he was appointed second to Sir Thomas Fairfax, and was also authorized by Parliament to reorganize a new army which became a “New Model Army” in which Cromwell spread his puritan’s ideas. In fact he said to his soldiers: “I think that who prays best will fight best. Anyways, his new army had a great success by defeating the king in the First Civil War and the Scottish and Irish royalists in the second one. After taking over Ireland and Scotland, Cromwell, initiated a policy of systematic dispossession of the conquered lands by giving them to new puritan owners. In 1650 he also invaded Schootland and defeated all the royalist forces at Dunbar. When the second civil war ended, Cromwell realized that he had a lot of power. He was in fact controlling the army that controlled...
Words: 507 - Pages: 3
...The English Revolution was a period of armed conflict and political turmoil between 1642 and 1660. This included the execution of the Charles 1st, the rise of the Commonwealth followed by the Protectorate under Cromwell and then the eventual restoration of the Monarchy. Richardson is correct to state that the events that occurred were “inherently controversial… momentous and far reaching” which are still debated today. This debate rages on whether these events can constitute a Revolution. It is dependent on what definition of the word Revolution is enacted. Historians such as Jeff Goodwin provide interpretations of what it means to have a Revolution, which shall be further explored, however what ultimately accounts is how the events and interpretations of the time fit into these interpretations. Ultimately there are two ways to look at Revolution, firstly there is the struggle or initial violent uprisings of the populous against the established state. The other way of looking at a revolution is to also examine the more long term changes or effects in the mind-set of the contemporise. In other words the changes in the way men think. Richardson pushes the idea of the initial struggle constituting a Revolution whereas others such as Hill believe that the long-term effects are more significant. Both arguments both valid against differing definitions of Revolution. Similarities between the French and English Revolutions will also provide a stark comparison of the English situation...
Words: 3214 - Pages: 13
...“Monarchy returned mot because of its own strengths but because of the weaknesses of the regimes it replaced.” Assess the validity of this view with reference to the years 1658 to 1660 Following the death of Oliver Cromwell England needed a ruler that could gain support of the army, who, since the execution of Charles I in 1649 had been the most influential groups in the country. The successor of Oliver was his son, Richard who seemingly did not possess the characteristics of his late father. The key to control of the country and the regimes following those of Oliver lay in whether a leader had the military prowess similar to that of Oliver. Furthermore the issue of whether monarchy came to power as a result of its own powers or due to the failures of various regimes that preceded it is only answered by taking into consideration the weaknesses of the regimes and the strengths of the monarchy. Following the death of Oliver Cromwell, Richard Cromwell became Lord Protector under the terms of the Humble Petition and Advice. Unlike his father Richard found it difficult to keep a balance with the remands of the army, religious radicals and traditionalists. Due to the amount of power held by the army, the power of the Protector was dependent upon the army. The lower ranks of the army resented the fact that Richard was not a soldier; on the other hand the higher ranks supported such a leader mainly because they could easily manipulate him and use him to voice their views. It is...
Words: 1288 - Pages: 6
...“The World Turned Upside Down” by Christopher Hill reveals the unsung heroes during the English Revolution and their radical thinking that did not seem so radical after all. These ideas that Hill mentions throughout his book are radical ideas of the lower class groups such as; The Ranters, Levellers, Quakers, and Diggers. This Marxist Historian presents the “lunacy” of these groups during the 17th century. During this time those groups were referred to as lunatics, but may have well been saner than the society which rejected them, as Hill says, “If we dismiss such ideas because they seem irrational to us, we may be depriving ourselves of valuable insights into society.” (pg ___) Hill is interested in such radical thinking not only because they influence societies, but because they reveal the societies which gave rise to them. He tries to acknowledge to the reader not to be ignorant of what the common people thought. Hill discovers religious movements in England abundant with the ideas and themes that would eventually give birth to secular radical ideologies like materialism, secularism, and communism. He also is far more empathetic and understanding to those revolutionaries who introduced economic ideas of national communism. If you do not have the slightest interest in history this book is not for you. This book is not something a beginner reader would read, your average reader would struggle with his extensive vocabulary and lack of prior knowledge of the English Civil wars...
Words: 1058 - Pages: 5
...the people of England had never experienced. This left many people frightened due to the extreme change, however, some embraced their freedom and began doing in what they believed in, such as forming new religious groups/cults, something they had been unable to do in the past. Many historians believe that this period was very important in British history as for the first time a monarchy was not in charge and a ‘revolution’ had taken place. In this essay I will explain why Britain underwent a revolution. Firstly, the most important change was the absence of the monarchy. After Charles I’s execution, there was no monarchy and Cromwell and the army took control over England. Also, the Rump parliament had been dismissed when Cromwell had enough of their control. This left poor stability in England, as without a leader, people didn’t know who to listen to. Cromwell became Lord Protector and didn’t rule like a usual monarch. Firstly, he rejected the crown as he didn’t believe in monarchies, Jews (which had been expelled in the 1200’s) were allowed back into England and finally, although a strict Puritan, he was tolerant to many new groups and the beliefs of others e.g. the Quakers. This showed how much Britain itself had changed, people believed in what they wanted and ordinary people felt free united republic, showing there was no real revolution as it ended so quickly. Also, there was still persecution and hatred towards different beliefs. The Diggers, who believed that all land was...
Words: 348 - Pages: 2
...Introduction Two politically divided, but close friends, Rob and Dan, made a visit to the museum close by. Upon examining one of the exhibits, both friends were drawn to one painting in particular that depicted a bald eagle being strangled by its own claws. The conservative, Rob cried out “Look at this poor bird killing himself! Must be from all of these Democrats trying to take away our economic freedom!” Dan, the Democrat, counter advocated “This eagle must symbolize America’s destruction of nature and beauty because of all the right-winged negligence!” Immediately after, a stranger to Rob and Dan walked by the same picture and proclaimed “Political government gridlock sure is strangling the nation to death.” As my story above has demonstrated, art can be interpreted and viewed in many different ways, depending on who is examining the artwork. Many observers of art, like Dan and Rob, debate the meaning that it portrays based on their own perspectives and frames of mind. When it comes to the art of rhetoric, many scholars in the field of persuasive speaking debate on which model for persuasion is most effective in modern day society. Aristotle’s Rhetoric is the most commonly found and taught version of persuasive speaking (Griffin et al., 2015). However, his work has come under scrutiny from those who don’t appreciate the broad and ironically ambiguous definitions and concepts that Aristotle provides. These unshakable critics are looking for scientific-based evidence within...
Words: 3385 - Pages: 14
...Puritan and Powhatan Dilemmas In the story of John Winthrop by Edmund Morgan and Pocahontas by Camilla Townsend, the word dilemma is thrust at the center and is the driving force for these biographies. Using the word dilemma suggests there is a conflict and one must make decisions and/or choose a particular side. This most certainly is the case for both John Winthrop’s Puritans and Powhatan. Edmund Morgan uses the title The Puritan Dilemma because the whole idea of the Puritans establishing themselves in America is itself a dilemma. Dilemma is used in Camilla Townsend’s title Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma because the situation that Pocahontas’s people, the Powhatan, are forced into is very much so a dilemma. The word was chosen with a purpose and the reasons for why both authors use dilemma in their biography titles is explored individually and then compared. The dilemma of John Winthrop and the Puritans is depicted throughout the biography. It is clear that the dilemma they faced was surrounded by their religious views. Winthrop and the Puritans embraced religion so much as to move to New England and create the “kind of society that God demanded of all His servants but that none had yet given Him (Morgan, 42).” Morgan puts a lot of effort to show the reader that the Puritan view of religion was plagued with the idea and question of what responsibility does a religious person owe to society. Morgan argues that this question and dilemma that Winthrop and the...
Words: 1480 - Pages: 6
...John Milton (1608-74) Biographical notes Born into a strict Protestant family in London, Milton received an excellent education which he completed at Cambridge University. After Cambridge he dismissed a career in the Church, shocked by the corruption he saw there, and decided to concentrate on writing and studying the classics. In 1638 he travelled to France and Italy to further enhance his education and culture but returned to England after just over a year when he heard of the outbreak of the Civil War. Milton was a passionate Puritan and saw in Oliver Cromwell, leader of the Parliamentarians, not only a figure intent on suppressing Catholicism once and for all, but also one who would challenge the monarchy's belief in its divine right to rule. He was so supportive of Cromwell's cause that he gladly took office for him as Secretary for Foreign Tongues for the Commonwealth after the Parliamentarian victory. Following the Restoration, however, having been publicly on the side of the Parliamentarians during the war, he was in danger of prosecution. He was in fact imprisoned for a short period but was eventually granted a full pardon. By this time his eyesight had already begun to fail him and by 1652 he became completely blind and could continue writing only with the help of secretaries. This makes the completion of his greatest works, Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained, in these later years, even more extraordinary. In his final years he was cared for by his daughters...
Words: 953 - Pages: 4
...The Power of Employee Engagement As individuals we seek the things that make us happy in our lives. Society today seems to push our focus and desires from one thing to another, constantly giving the majority of people something to work for. Whether the incentive is promotion, raise, vacation, or even a paycheck, managers are always trying to make employee’s time in the workplace worthwhile. Well what if there was no incentive? What if employees just wanted to work for the best interest of the company? This is where the successful businesses set themselves apart from others. This human resource approach of getting to know your employees and what empowers them is an essential part in becoming an exceptional organization and employee engagement is the a major cause of their success. Employee engagement is defined as the property of the relationship between an organization and its employees. In any organization, the ones that strive the most are believed to have an extraordinary level of employee engagement. An employee who is fully vested into the company and is enthusiastic about working for it will result in a more positive contribution for the organizations credibility and success. When it comes to being a manager, coach, teacher or any figure with authority, one must identify the reason behind it. Many times we see individuals who are masters of their craft but aren’t fully engaged into the organization’s core values. According to the Gallup Business Journal, a...
Words: 1746 - Pages: 7
...John Milton was born on December 9, 1608 in London, England. His father, John Milton, was a scrivener which is a clerk, scribe, or notary. He was also a music enthusiast, which was an interest that he passed on to his son. In fact, music was one of Milton's few comforts in his old age, when he reached total blindness. Milton admired his mother, Sara Jeffrey, whom he praised as "a woman of purest reputation, celebrated throughout the neighborhood for her acts of charity." Milton had one older sister, Anne, and a younger brother, Christopher. Milton enjoyed the life he has with his siblings. He often said he like being the middle child. Due to the fact that his parents gave him special attention and cared an extreme amount about...
Words: 541 - Pages: 3
...Oliver Cromwell: First Lord Protector of the Commonwealth Oliver Cromwell, a well-educated, strict Puritan, and eventual temporary ruler of Great Britain, was born by his parents Elizabeth and Robert Cromwell in 1599. Born of a growing group of Puritans from Huntingdon, Cromwell was born into a time in which his gentry began to seek and demand large changes from the Church of England. His early education came from that of Doctor Thomas Beard, a family friend and very knowledgeable Puritan clergyman. At age 18, he left Huntington to attend law school in London, at Sydney Sussex College. It was only a year later, his father had passed away and Cromwell had abandoned his studies in London to return home where he had to take responsibility for his family and its’ estate. By 1620, Oliver married the daughter of a London merchant, Elizabeth Bourchier and eventually led to a family of nine children that still resided in his hometown of Huntington. Eight years later, he was elected as the representative of Huntington to the Parliament, sponsored by the Montagu family. However, just one year later, Parliament was dissolved by King Charles I, who thought the criticisms made by the members of Parliament were a threat his role as king. This resulted in Cromwell Prior to an epiphany induced by illness and depression in the late 1620’s, Oliver had never been particularly been devoted the Puritan way of life. However, after these visions, his faith had forever renewed, changed, and focused...
Words: 635 - Pages: 3
...Case Study Counter urbanisation in St Ives, Cambridgeshire St Ives is a small town in Cambridgeshire, about 200km north of London. It lies on the A1123, 8km east of Huntingdon and 25km north-west of Cambridge, just off the A14 trunk road. The town is close to both the A1 trunk road and the main east coast railway line. Regular trains to London make the area accessible. St Ives is a picturesque town on the Great Ouse. It has a narrow six-arched bridge with a central chapel that was built in the 15th Century. The town has connections with Oliver Cromwell and his statue stands in the market place. There are also splendid buildings, including the Corn Exchange and All Saints Church. The building styles contribute to the character of the place and add to the attraction of living there. The surrounding rural area is mainly farmland. However, in recent years there have been many housing developments on the periphery (edge) of the town. A substantial number of exclusive apartments have also been built in the heart of the town, particularly on the south bank of the Great Ouse. Changing population and prosperity The population structure of the town is changing. One section of the community is ageing, but another is becoming more youthful. A large proportion of the working population is now employed outside of town. There has been an influx of commuters from in and around London. Housing in the area is affordable and there has been a boom in demand for property. People in...
Words: 669 - Pages: 3
...her as James I. the relationship between the monarch and his people and the relationship between England and Scotland would be sources of friction throughout his reign. After James died in 1625 and was succeeded by Charles I, tensions persisted and intensified. Charles attempted to rule without summoning Parliament at all between 1629 and 1638. By 1642 England was up in arms, in a civil war between the king’s forces and armies loyal to the house of Commons. The conflict ended with Charles’s defeat and beheading in 1649. Although in the early 1650s the monarchy as an institution seemed as dead as the man who had last worn the crown, an adequate replacement proved difficult to devise. Executive power devolved upon a Lord Protector, Oliver Cromwell, former general of the parliamentary forces, who wielded power nearly as autocratically as Charles had done. Yet without an institutionally sanctioned method of transferring power upon Cromwell’s death in 1658, the attempt to fashion a commonwealth without a hereditary monarch eventually failed. In 1660 Parliament invited the eldest son of the old king home from exile. He succeeded to the throne as King Charles II. From a literary point of view, 1603 can seem a particularly capricious dividing line because at the accession of James I so many writers happened to be in midcareer (Shakespeare, Donne etcetera). The restoration of Charles II, with which this section ends, is likewise a more significant political than literary milestone:...
Words: 308 - Pages: 2
...Execution of Charles I Illegal, that (in my opinion) would be the best way to describe the process leading to Charles’ execution. Then again aren’t some of the best political movements illegal to begin with? There is the argument, should they have executed the King only to have a new king in the future, unlike France when the King was overthrown that was the end of royalty. Instead they took most of the monarch’s rights and put a new king on the throne (England seems to follow some sort of middle way in the end). The first procedure of the execution was a trial. There were 286 Members of Parliament, out of those 286, 240 thought Charles should have been given another chance. When Parliament was to meet for discussion those 240 were stopped by Oliver Cromwell’s troupes from entering Parliament. This left 46 Members of Parliament to decide what to do with Charles and by 26 to 20 votes, it was decided that Charles should be put on trial. Then 135 top judges and lawyers were chosen to try him. Due to the fact that 260 out of the 286 Members of Parliament disagreed with the trial this was the first ‘illegal’ part of the trial. On Saturday 20 January, 1649 Charles was brought to court by armed soldiers. This was the first day of the trial, yet only 67 out of the 135 appointed judges turned up. Charles was charged as being a tyrant, traitor and murderer. Charles was also charged for all the murder, burning, raping, damage and desolation caused during the wars against Parliament. He was also...
Words: 1127 - Pages: 5
...Commonwealth lasted from the 1649-1653 and was made up of the Rump and the Nominated Assembly. At the time there were many issues that needed reform such as religious, legal, electoral, taxation and the constitution. It is fair to say that the Commonwealth did fail because of their lack of reforms to some extent; however this was not for lack of trying. The Rump did fail to reform, but the Nominated Assembly trued to reform but was dissolved by its own members before it could. However this was not the main reason why eh Commonwealth failed seeing as they were unpopular and seen as illegitimate. The failure of the two branches of the Commonwealth was confirmed in the Rump when Cromwell walked into Parliament in April 1653 and ejected the Rump. The failure of the Nominated Assembly was confirmed when Cromwell accepted the resignation of the moderates and became Lord Protector in 1653. It is fair to say that the Commonwealth failed due to lack of reform as shown by the Rump. Here there was no legal reform as the Hale Commission was ignored and furthermore, 20% of the Rump were lawyers by profession and therefore weren’t willing to offer their services for free. Furthermore, there was no religious toleration as shown by the reintroduction of a form of censorship with the Blasphemy and Adultery Acts; in 1650 this shows the Commonwealth’s preference of tradition and conservatism and therefore unlikelihood to favour reform in general. It also seemed that there was no electoral reform...
Words: 796 - Pages: 4
