Politics
General facts
General life
Legacy
Various forms of republican government
1649 - 1660
A time of political experiments, when the UK was a republic
1649 - 1653 Council of State & Rurp Parliament
Important figures
Oliver Cromwell, lived 1599 - 1658, English general and statesman, Lord Protetor of the British Isles and simultaneously head of state & head of government of the republic commonwealth. A very controversial figure, often refferred to as a regicidal dictator, a military dictator and a hero of liberty
Richard Cromwell inherited Oliver Cromwell's power, failed to maintain his power
Charles I, lived 1600 - 1649, King of England until his execution. His death in 1649 started the Interregnum period
Charles II, lived 1630 - 1685. His crowning in 1660 ended the Interregnum period
1653 Nominated Assembly
1653 - 1657 The Instrument of Government
1657 - 1659 Humble Petition and Advice
Political groups
(1659 - 1660 Committee of Safety)
Levellers - drew their main support from London and the army, in favour of a democratic society; proposed franchise did not extend to women or the lower classes
Diggers - equal society, communal ownership of land, absolute equality of both genders in law and education
Religious sects
Conservatives - dominant in both central and local government, opposed radical ideas
Puritan views - austere lifestyle: minimalistic approach towards life
Holidays
No work or going anywhere other than the church on Sundays
Suppression of Christian holidays such as Christmas and Easter
No longer allowed to be celebrated as festivals
No celebratory meals
Ban of social gatherings
Theatres
Gambling
Inspiration for many other places in the world such as American colonies and France
Inspiration for new religious sects such as Anabaptists and Quakers