Act of Classes facts for kids
The Act of Classes was an important law passed in Scotland on January 23, 1649. It was created by the Parliament of Scotland, which is like their government. This act was likely written by Lord Warriston, a key member of the Kirk Party. He and the Marquess of Argyll strongly supported this new law.
The Act of Classes stopped people called Royalists from holding important jobs in the government or army. Royalists were people who supported the King. It also banned those who had supported something called the Engagement. Even though many people disagreed, this law was eventually removed on August 13, 1650.
What Was the Act of Classes?
This law stopped Royalists from holding any public office. Public office means important jobs in the government or military. The law was written very broadly. It banned not only those who fought with or supported Royalists, like Marquess of Montrose.
It also banned people who had supported the Engagement. The Engagement was a political agreement that had lost its power. This was especially true after the Engager's army lost the Battle of Preston (1648). The Act of Classes also included people who did not strongly speak out against the Engagement. It even banned anyone who was not considered to have a "good character."
Why Was the Act of Classes Removed?
The decision to remove the Act of Classes in 1651 caused a big disagreement. This split happened among the Scottish clergy, who were church leaders. There were two main groups:
- Resolutioners: These were people who supported the decision to remove the Act. An example was James Sharp.
- Protesters: These were people who strongly believed in the original, strict rules of the Covenant. Examples include Patrick Gillespie and James Guthrie.
This time, known as the Commonwealth, was full of arguments between these two groups. The arguments were very bitter. The Scottish assembly, which was a meeting of church leaders, was stopped in 1653 by Cromwell's soldiers. It was not allowed to meet again during his time as Protector.
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