Sunday, December 12, 2010

Make up Assignment

In your opinion, was Oliver Cromwell the right person to take over England after the death of Charles I?

Oliver Cromwell took over control in England with the death of Charles I. The English government was changed over the years of his reign more than ever. He changed it from a monarchy, to a republic, and then what can be considered another monarchy. Although Oliver Cromwell entered his reign with good intentions, he was too indecisive, and power hungry to be an effective ruler of England.
Before Cromwell took over in England, England was ruled by an absolute monarch, Charles I. Charles disbanded parliament, and took England into civil war, against the parliament. Both sides lost considerable amounts of money, and men. Charles was finally defeated, and was forced to surrender. He was put on trial after the first civil war, and executed, believing until the end that he was the king by God's will. Cromwell took over afterward and made England a republic.
Upon returning to England, Cromwell did not do things differently than Charles. He dissolved the newly established parliament that put Charles to death. He said that HE was the true parliament, and that they were not any kind of parliament. He established a new parliament supposed to do the job that Cromwell wanted, but he felt that it did not do its job, so he dissolved it the same year he created it.
He established a protectorate, which gave the power to the few high ranking officials. It was a handful of men hand picked by Cromwell, lord Protector. He ran things just like a monarchy. The Protectors made decisions, the people were upset about it. Cromwell was offered the crown, but refused. He was a king, without the title. Finally, the people were so upset, they had Cromwell tried, and executed.
Cromwell was not the right person for the job. He dissolved his own parliaments, and brought England back to where it was after he changed it for the better. He was too indecisive, he never could really decide what it was that he wanted for England. He kept changing it, then changing it back. He installed three different types of parliament, executed a king, and crossed the line with the entire country of England.

1 comment:

  1. "Although Oliver Cromwell entered his reign with good intentions, he was too indecisive, and power hungry to be an effective ruler of England."

    Let's be specific: what were Cromwell's good intentions? How did they differ from the monarchy and parliament that came before him? How was he indecisive? (Or was he too decisive and then forced to go back on things?)

    A more specific -- and nuanced -- thesis statement will help you build a more compelling argument.

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