The End Of The Commonwealth Essay Research — страница 2

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free, and subdued any threat from France, Spain and Italy. Cromwell made Great Britain a feared and respected power throughout the world (DAV 149). However, Cromwell s government was in no way running smoothly. Cromwell constantly fought with parliament he had no more skills in running an assembly than the Stuarts did. At the same time Cromwell was involved with many wars making high taxation a necessity, leaving many people unhappy under his rule. He became more of a military dictator than a leader of a commonwealth. When he finally summoned Parliament again in 1656, he found that everyone wanted to return to the old constitutional rule of king, lords, and commons, but they were still not ready to accept another Stuart. Nevertheless, Cromwell refused to be the next king. Then on

September 3, 1658, he died, leaving as successor his son (Rempel 1). On the same day his father died, Richard Cromwell was proclaimed Lord Protector of the nation. His position angered the military officers of the council. In order to raise money and settle such some differences, Richard was forced to bring back the Parliament in January 1659. Anarchy followed along with arguments between the nobles and the military. This in turn resulted in an army council breaking away which took Richard into their power and forced him to get rid of the Rump Parliament. This army council then agreed with the Long Parliament that Richard should be dismissed. Richard then submitted to their decision on May 25, 1659. Many of the nobility, middle class tradesmen and army were disgusted with rule by

force, while the generals didn t think it was possible to unite behind a single policy. General Monck then became the chief of the push to restore the monarchy. He marched his troops to London in support of the Rump, took over and reinstated Parliament for the third time. Monck entered London in February 1660 and opened the doors of Parliament in the following April to those members that were let go ten years earlier. The House of Commons set up the Council of State which authorized the invitation of Charles II to take the crown. A Stuart was once again on the throne with the English Commonwealth over (Britannia). In my personal opinion the English Commonwealth could never survive without Cromwell. He was the base of the entire system, he helped start the whole thing and he was

the only person that could truly run it properly. Because of his God given abilities and his Christian background people trusted him, especially his troops. He could lead and he was born to do it. His son however was not quite the leader his father was. So many people were against the Commonwealth with a weak leader like Richard at the helm it was bound to fall quickly. The Commonwealth was a new era for England, an era ruled by Oliver Cromwell, a great man with an even greater ability to lead. He was not a perfect ruler though, and because of this the Commonwealth didn t last past his death, even though he passed on his position to his son. His son just did not have the abilities that his father possessed. He could not lead. Along with Cromwell s death went the death of the

English Commonwealth.