Interpretations of Cromwell's actions at Drogheda - Explain how Cromwell's actions at Drogheda have been interpreted (viewed) in different ways.

AS and A Level History

Waseem Shafiq 4/30/2007

Interpretations of Cromwell’s actions at

Drogheda

Explain how Cromwell’s actions at Drogheda

have been interpreted (viewed) in different ways. Explain

why Cromwell’s actions at Drogheda have been

interpreted (viewed) in different ways.

In 1649, Cromwell arrived in Ireland. He entered the town to fight. 3, 000 people were killed in that fight. Many innocent children, women and priest died. Cromwell killed and won.

In the following paragraph I will be talking about what sources A-D say and weather they are reliable or not. These sources re for Cromwell. Source A, this source is a picture, this picture shows Irish Catholics killing protestants on a bridge over a river, on the river you can see, dead protestants floating at the top and at the side of the river you can see priest holding crosses. This picture was printed in London by an English protestant in 1641. This source is unreliable because it is printed by an English protestant in 1641. this source is unreliable because it is painted by an English protestant and they just wanted to make things look worse than they all ready were, plus how did they know they were in England and the battle took place in Ireland, if there was some contact going on between Ireland and England how do you that the person from Ireland is telling the truth. Source B says, Cromwell asked them to surrender but there was no answer. This source is unreliable because it was written by Cromwell to parliament and all Cromwell wanted to do is impress parliament. Source C says, Cromwell had killed many of them then he thought that the rest will surrender, then there will be no more killing. This source is unreliable because again it is a letter from Cromwell to parliament and Cromwell wanted to impress parliament. Source D says, Cromwell was write there was no more fighting, all the other towns surrendered. This source is reliable because it is written by a modern historian and is likely to know what he/she is talking about. Modern Historians do lots of research from books, internet, etc.

This is a preview of the whole essay

In the following paragraph I will be talking about what sources E-H say and whether they are reliable or not. These sources are against Cromwell. Source E says, the Irish had done something wrong to the lives of poor Protestants. He is persuaded that it is the righteous judgement of god upon the barbarous wretches. This source is unreliable because, Cromwell thinks he is god, because in the text he says “I am persuaded that this is a righteous judgement of god upon the barbarous wretches.” Now he is carrying out the job of god so he thinks he is god. This source is written by Cromwell to parliament and all he wanted to is impress parliament. Source F says, Cromwell is prejudice because 3, 000 Protestants were killed in Ireland and he blamed all of the Irish Catholics. This source is reliable because it is written by someone who is adopted from a modern Irish historian and he/she is likely to know what he/she is talking about. Source G says, Cromwell broke the rules of war, even though the town surrendered he still attacked. This source is unreliable because it is written by a friend and advisor to Charles II and Cromwell killed Charles I at the end of the civil war. So Charles II would not like him so obviously Charles friend won’t like him, so he would lie Source H says, Cromwell failed, he still killed 2, 000 more people, so he was wrong by saying in source C that, killing these 1, 000 people, this will prevent me from killing more in other towns. This source is reliable because it is written by a modern Irish historian and is likely to know what he/she is talking about, because the do plenty of research before hand.

Source B and source G disagree about what happened at Drogheda. Source B was written by Cromwell but source G was written by a friend of Charles II. They would not agree because Cromwell killed Charles I at the end of the Civil war. So Charles I wouldn’t like him, and if Charles II didn’t like him then obviously Charles friend wouldn’t like him.

I would find sources D,F and H.