Oliver Cromwell's Commonwealth

Who was Oliver Cromwell?

Oliver Cromwell was a Puritan MP who fought for Parliament in the Civil War against Charles I. As he had been the leader of the New Model Army, he became Lord Protector (leader) of England in 1653, after Charles was executed in 1649.

Why was Oliver Cromwell significant?

The rule of Oliver Cromwell was significant in four ways:

• ❖ Cromwell brutally put down several rebellions while he was Lord Protector of England. These included the rebellion in Ireland and the Diggers' struggle for equality.
• ❖ He got rid of the Rump Parliament (those MPs left after 1649) entirely in 1653. This gave him total power as Lord Protector. This also meant he was seen as a hypocrite given his role in the Civil War, fighting for power for Parliament.
• ❖ Cromwell's strict Puritan views made him very unpopular - he closed theatres, banned Christmas, and refused to allow women to wear makeup.
• ❖ Famous figures have disagreed about Cromwell's legacy. Some, like the Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky, saw Cromwell as a heroic freedom fighter. Others, like Winston Churchill, saw him as a dictator.

When did Cromwell rule?

Cromwell took power as Lord Protector in 1653 and ruled until his death in 1658.