Interregnum (England) facts for kids

The Interregnum was a special time in English history. It happened between 1649 and 1660. During this period, England did not have a king or queen. Instead, the country was run by different types of republican governments. This means the people in charge were elected or chosen, not born into power.

This period began after Charles I was executed in 1649. It ended when his son, Charles II, returned to London in 1660. This return is known as the Restoration.

How England Was Ruled (Politics)

The way England was governed during this time was mostly decided by the senior officers of the New Model Army. These officers were called the Grandees. They, along with their supporters, allowed different republican governments to form.

From 1649 to 1653, a group called the Council of State held the main power. Laws were made by the Rump Parliament.

In 1653, the Grandees of the Army, led by Oliver Cromwell, decided to change things. They removed the Rump Parliament. In its place, they set up a new group called the Nominated Assembly. People sometimes called it the Parliament of Saints or Barebone's Parliament. This new parliament had 140 members from England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland.

However, this new parliament was also hard to work with. So, after only five months, members who supported the Grandees ended it. This happened on December 12, 1653.

A new set of rules, called the Instrument of Government, was adopted a few days later. On December 16, 1653, Oliver Cromwell became the Lord Protector. This was a very powerful role, like a president. It was a job for life, but it was not passed down through families.

The Instrument of Government also created a new parliament. Its members were chosen from new areas, which often favored wealthy landowners. This parliament had to meet every three years for at least five months. During this time, Roman Catholics and anyone involved in the Irish Rebellion lost their right to vote.

In January 1655, Cromwell closed the first Protectorate Parliament. This led to a time when military leaders, called Major Generals, ruled the country.

In 1657, the Instrument of Government was replaced. England got its second and last written set of rules, called the Humble Petition and Advice. But Oliver Cromwell died the next year. His son, Richard, took over as Lord Protector. However, Richard was not strong enough to lead. Different political groups fought for power.

The Protectorate ended in May 1659. The Grandees brought back the Rump Parliament. This parliament set up a Committee of Safety to replace Richard's Council of State. This led to a time of very unstable government.

Things finally settled down in February 1660. General George Monck, who was the English military leader in Scotland, marched his troops to London. He helped bring back the monarchy. This is when Charles II became king again.

Daily Life During the Interregnum

After the Parliamentarians won the Civil War, their beliefs became very important. Most of them were Puritans. Puritans believed in a very strict and simple way of life. They wanted to stop what they saw as bad habits from the time of the kings.

For example, holidays like Christmas and Easter were not celebrated. Fun activities like going to the theatre and gambling were also banned. However, some types of art, like opera, were encouraged if they were seen as "virtuous." Many people think Oliver Cromwell was behind all these changes. But actually, the Commonwealth Parliament started them. When Cromwell gained power, he even made some rules a bit less strict.

Jewish People in England

In 1655, a Jewish leader named Rabbi Menasseh Ben Israel met with Oliver Cromwell. They talked about allowing Jewish people to live in England again. Cromwell did not agree to all of Ben Israel's requests. But he did allow Jewish synagogues (places of worship) and burial grounds to open.

Jewish people still could not practice their faith openly in England. Many people in England did not like Jewish people. So, Cromwell's decision was not popular with everyone. Life for Jews in England did get better because they could not be punished for worshipping. But they still faced discrimination.

Radical and Conservative Groups

During the English Civil War, the usual rules of society broke down. This allowed many new political groups to form. Parliament had even created a powerful new group, the New Model Army. All these groups had their own ideas for how the new government should work.

Levellers

The Levellers were led by John Lilburne. They were popular in London and among soldiers. In 1649, they wrote something called the Agreement of the People. They asked for a parliament that truly represented people and met every two years. They also wanted fairer laws for everyone and religious freedom. They wanted a more democratic society. However, their ideas for voting did not include women or the very poorest people.

The Levellers thought the Rump Parliament was not much better than the monarchy it replaced. They showed their unhappiness through protests, pamphlets, and even army rebellions. While they were not a huge threat, their actions worried the government. A law was passed against them in 1649.

Diggers

The Diggers were led by Gerrard Winstanley. They wanted an even more equal society than the Levellers. They believed in sharing land and having complete equality for men and women in law and education. Their ideas were similar to later ideas of communism and anarchism. There were only a few Diggers, and they faced strong opposition, even from the Levellers.

Religious Groups

During this time, people had more freedom to choose their religion. Many independent churches grew. Some main groups were the Baptists, who believed in adult baptism. The Ranters believed that sin did not exist for "chosen ones." The Fifth Monarchy Men believed they should prepare for God's kingdom on Earth by setting up a "government of saints." They did not like any "earthly" governments.

Even with more tolerance, the upper classes did not like extreme religious groups. They saw them as a danger to social order and property. Catholics were also not included in the religious tolerance given to other groups.

Conservatives

Conservative people were still very powerful. They held most of the positions in both the central government and local government. The Rump Parliament needed the support of the traditional ruling class to survive. So, it often opposed radical ideas. In local areas, the traditional wealthy landowners had a lot of influence.

See also

In Spanish: Interregno inglés para niños