English Revolution :: European Europe History

English RevolutionThe history of the English Revolution from 1649 to 1660 can be briefly told. Cromwells shooting of the Levellers at Burford made a restoration of monarchy and lords ultimately inevitable, for the breach of big bourgeoisie and gentry with the popular forces meant that their government could only be maintained either by an army (which in the long ran proved crushingly expensive as well as difficult to control) or by a compromise with the surviving representatives of the old order. besides first there were still tasks to be done. (1) There was the conquest of Ireland, the expropriation of its landowners and peasantry - the first big triumph of English imperialism and the first big defeat of English democracy. For the superficial bourgeoisie of the Army, despite the warnings of many of the Leveller leaders, allowed themselves to be distracted from establishing their own liberties in England and, deluded by religious slogans, to destroy those of the Irish. Many of them set up as arrive proprietors in Ireland. (The Leveller revolt of 1649 had been occasioned by the refusal of many of the rank and file to leave for Ireland, for that meant violating their Engagement of 1647 not to divide until the liberties of England were secure.) (2) There was the conquest of Scotland, necessary to prevent a restoration of the old order thence Scotland was opened up to English traders by political union. (3) A forward commercial policy was undertaken with the Navigation feign of 1651, the basis of Englands commercial prosperity in the next century. This aimed at winning the carrying trade of Europe for English ships, and at excluding all rivals from trade with Englands colonies. It led to a war with the Dutch, who had monopolised the carrying trade of the world in the first half of the seventeenth century. For in that period the royal policy had frustrated all attempts of the bourgeoisie to pierce the resources of England into an effective struggle for this tra de. In this war, thanks to Blakes fleet and the economic strength the Republican Government was able to mobilise, England was victorious. (4) An imperialist policy needed the strong dark blue which Charles had failed to build up, and under Blake the Commonwealth began to rule the waves to some purpose war in alliance with France against Spain brought Jamaica and Dunkirk to England. (5) The