8217;s first political action was to change the political shape of England. John Wroughton stresses in his text that Cromwell’s England was to become a commonwealth instead of a monarchy and quotes from an unknown peace of legislature that “From henceforth England shall be a free state...governed by the representatives of Parliament...without any King or House of Lords.” Specifically what resulted form this legislation was what was to be named the Rump parliament was formed. During his early years, Cromwell enacted two very important political changes. The first was his strong opposition to absolutism and part in death of Charles I. With this execution Cromwell brought in a government, which American contemporary John Adams stated was “infinitely more glorious and happy than that of his Stuart predecessor.” The second change, which was equally important, was enacting radical reforms throughout the army and creating the New Model Army, which would turn England into a strong military power on a global scale. “It was of course primarily as soldier and military organizer that Cromwell won the respect of his contemporaries,” and he continued as a soldier in service to the state for two more years. John Wroughton states “Cromwell the politician and Cromwell the solider seem indistinguishable.” This is why many historians have labeled Cromwell a dictator but the truth was that this new commonwealth a new and frightening idea to some people and the only means available to Cromwell to defend it was through aggression. Cromwell once stated that, “I did endeavor to discharge the duty of an honest man in those services, to god, his people’s interest, and of the commonwealth; when time was, a competent acceptation in the hearts of men, and some evidence thereof." This quotation shows that Cromwell felt that at times it was necessary at times for him to go above such...
