-In the year 1653 the rump parliament was dissolved because Cromwell thought that they were not doing what was asked of them. He asked them to try and pass reforms to make England a godlier place and to give Protestants freedom to worship as they wished. He also wanted them to organise elections for a new parliament so that voters could choose who they wanted in parliament.
Barebones Parliament – 1653
Later in 1653 came the Barebones parliament. This was one that did not last very long. (It was dissolved after 6 months) because of the proposed extreme measures. 140 people were chosen for the barebones parliament and nearly all were English.
Protectorate – 1653
1. Most of the power belonged to Cromwell.
2. It was a constitution which devised in late 1653
3. Parliament granted Cromwell £200,000 each year and he would have to ask if he needed more.
4. Cromwell ruled with the aid of a council. This council was chosen by parliament members who met every 3 years to approve of new laws.
5. The parliament members were chosen by those people who paid taxes to it.
6. One major weakness in the constitution was that Cromwell could dismiss the parliament at anytime.
Major generals or sword rule
England was divided into eleven districts and each one had a major general in charge of it. The major generals were all strict puritans and they were there to keep law and order and to collect taxes. Many people were made unhappy and when he was told that 9 out of 10 people would be annoyed by this rule, he replied that if he disarmed the 9 people and put a sword in the 10th’s man hand then that would solve the problem. This is a tyrannical way of ruling because Cromwell could just get rid of any member of parliament or want to and what he means by disarming the 9 people is that anybody who does not agree will be defeated by him. The major generals were eventually sacked in 1657 because there were too many funds needed to keep the system in place.