Countries that are ruled by kings and queens Reading Focus

Eventually Rump Parliament charged king with treason, put him on trial

• Trial and Execution

• Eventually Rump Parliament charged king with treason, put him on trial
• During trial, Charles defended self with great eloquence, refused to even recognize Parliament’s authority to try him
• In the end, Charles sentenced to death for treason
• January 30, 1649, publicly beheaded in front of own palace
• To some he was martyr; to others tyrant who got what he deserved

• Commonwealth
• England’s government changed completely for the next 11 years
• House of Commons abolished House of Lords, outlawed monarchy
• Became commonwealth, government based on common good of all people

• Foreign Issues
• Cromwell also had to deal with foreign issues
• Led military expeditions to Scotland, Ireland
• Economic policies led to war with Dutch over trade; also warred on Spain

• Lord Protector
• 1653, Cromwell given title Lord Protector of England, Scotland, Ireland
• Skilled leader, but demanded complete obedience
• Clamped down on social life, closed theaters, limited other entertainment

• England under Cromwell

• In Leviathan, Hobbes described humans as being naturally selfish, fearful
• Hobbes argued that people needed all-powerful monarch to tell them how to live
• Views sparked controversy when England trying to find balance in government

• Leviathan

• Cromwell, the king’s death, war troubled many English people
• One was Thomas Hobbes, Royalist who fled to France during Cromwell’s rule
• Hobbes wrote classic work of political science, Leviathan

• Questions of Rule

• A Defender of Absolutism

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