Data Bases • Custom Term Papers • Free Term Papers • Free Research Papers • Free Essays • Free Book Reports • Plagiarism? Links • Top 100 Term Paper Sites • Top 25 Essay Sites • Top 50 Essay Sites • Search 97,000 Papers @ DirectEssays.com • Search 101,000 Papers @ ExampleEssays.com • Search 90,000 Papers @ MegaEssays.com Free Essays • Term Paper Sites • Chuck III's Free Essays • Free College Essays • TermPaperSites.com • My Term Papers • Get Free Essays • Essay World • Planet Papers	Search Lots of Essays Back to Subjects - European History Rump Parliament Rump Parliament EXAMINE THE CLAIM THAT THE RUMP PARLIAMENT HAD NO ACHIEVEMENTS TO ITS NAME That the Rump Parliament had absolutely no achievements at all to its name is a strong statement. As a governing body setup by the remnants of Pride’s Purge, the MP’s that remained were all wanted there originally, indeed by the very man that would eventually dissolve them – Oliver Cromwell. So something had certainly led Cromwell to become increasingly disillusioned with the Parliament he in sense created. This essay will examine these reasons and just what achievements the Rump succeeded in. In needs to be understood just why the Rump were there at all. For what purpose had they been created in the first place? They would surely have a set goal that had not been met by previous parliaments. In essence, they were under the control of the army, but far from complete control. Pride’s purge in December 1648 had done far from guarantee the loyalties of Parliament, but instead served only to raise suspicion against the army, through its use of force against them. In spite of this fear of the army, the rump was very dependent upon them for protection both internal and external. Army mutineers led by Levellers uprisings were soon put down by Cromwell, reducing the political threats towards the Parliament. The rump had been left there to make a change. To create a social and legislative reform. The very reasons that had led to a decade of civil war and political dithering half-heartedness were still evident in the Rump however. As soon as the Rump came to power its most obvious threats came from problems abroad. The regime of the commonwealth – created by the new constitution from an act created in May of 1649 – became strongly contested in England’s colonies, due to the disgust at the execution of a country’s monarch. The Rump ordered the construction of 77 new warships and issued conscription of thousands of sailors into the navy. There has certainly been no invasion of England since, so is the defence of a nation not an achievement for the Rump? They had seen a threat and dealt with it swiftly and efficiently. The actual members of the Rump too need to be examined. They had been left by Pride’s Purge from the parliament which stood without election since 1641. Considering that people would not enter Parliament until at least their thirties, and that the average life-span was approximately forty-five, it can be inferred that a number of members were close to the end of their lives. These people may not have always had Parliamentary matters on their minds, having to brave still harsh conditions, some did not even attend. The Rump faced stern opposition from domestic enemies also. It was attacked by extremists who wanted the revolution taken a great deal further, and also by Presbyterians and Royalists who wanted Charles II brought to the throne. This claim was well supported as popular memory of his father’s execution remained sour in the mouths of contemporaries who saw him as a martyr. The Rump did delve into social reform as they had been required to do so. They made every effort to rid the country of extremists and dangerous sects, arresting leveller leaders and putting down cults such as the Ranters. Acts were passed against adultery and blasphemy. It can be argued however that these can hardly be labelled as achievements. Laws against blasphemy were very difficult to enforce, and are such acts worthy of months in Parliament? Disputably the Rump’s biggest threat came from within the United Kingdom. There had been rebellion in Ireland for almost ten years and the Scots had continuously invaded England in the civil wars, both could provide a strong base for Charles II to establish a foothold. Cromwell was sent to stop the rebellion in Ireland in March 1649, not arriving until August. This delay may well have been due to his desire to remain in the country for as long as possible, casting a watchful eye over Parliament. Cromwell returned in May of the following year, having put pay to the Irish resistance. It is very interesting to note that Cromwell delayed his venture to Ireland until such a time as he desired, the very time that Parliament had ceased for that year, and did not return only until it sat again in May 1650 – though this was primarily to face a new threat in Scotland. Cromwell seems to have held a strong distrust of the Rump he had created. It is because of this reason that it can be inferred that the Rump parliament was not the instrument of choice for Cromwell, that maybe he had no other alternative but to leave the Rump parliament in control. If he had believed them to be capable then he would surely have allowed them to govern more independently. While Cromwell was away in the North battling with the armies of Charles II, the Rump did little. They made an amendment to the Uniformity and Recusancy Act in September of 1650, which did not enforce attendance at the national church, but this did not go far enough to satisfy the army. The rump appeared to be more interested in issuing restrictive legislature - such as the aforementioned adultery and blasphemy acts – rather than creating law and social reform. It also failed to pay the army, perhaps the biggest strain on the nation since the outbreak of the civil wars. The rump did have certain achievements which have been highlighted in this essay. The reason they have been labelled a failure is due only to the fact that did not achieve enough. Cromwell had left them there to create reform, and the political utopia he felt was necessary for England. They had failed in this goal, being so caught up in trying to please different parties, they had fell blind to their true goal, that of restoring national stability. Bibliography: Word Count: 997
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