История. Общая история

Yevgeniy V. Dubchak

Financial Lyceum, Kyiv, Ukraine

OLIVER CROMWELL AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF DEMOCRACY

The most valuable achievement of human society is democracy. Ukrainian Republic has been choosing the democratic way of state development since August 24, 1991.

The subject of this work is researching the historical processes of leading to foundation of democratize. It reflects the main processes of human’s development. England is an example of traditionally first country, which proclaimed new revolution, caused changes in states of regulation.

Oliver Cromwell has been a very controversial figure in the history of the British Isles – a regicidal dictator to some historians (such as David Hume and Christopher Hill) and a hero of liberty to others (such as Thomas Carlyle and Samuel Rawson Gardiner). In Britain he was elected as one of the Top 10 Britons of all time in a 2002 BBC poll.^[1]

The period from 1603 to 1640 was the time of the personal monarchy of the Early Stuarts in English history. The growing desire of Parliament for independence, for sharing in the control of government was closely connected with the growth of Puritanism.

The accession in 1603 of the Stuart James I, who was also James VI of Scotland, united the thrones of England and Scotland. James I did a lot in order to unite Scotland and England during his reign, but was unsuccessful. In foreign affairs James shoved a tendency to establish peaceful relations with other countries. He brought the long war with Spain to a close, and avoided a temptation to take part in the Thirty Years’ War.

Charles I, the son of James I, started his reign with launching a new war against Spain with no logical reason and mainly due to the personal ambitions. Soon England drifted into the one more war with France which brought no positive effect for any of the confronting parts.

The chronic need for money of both James and his son, Charles I, which they attempted to meet by unusual and extralegal means; their espousal of the divine right of kings; their determination to enforce their high Anglican preferences in religion; and their use of royal courts such as Star Chamber, which were not bound by the common law, to persecute opponents, together produced a bitter conflict with Parliament that culminated (1642) in the English civil war.^[2]

Oliver Cromwell is the historical figure in ruins of absolutely Monarchy, English soldier and statesman who helped make England a republic and then ruled as lord protector from 1653 to 1658.^[3]

Cromwell was an active and committed officer in the parliamentary army.^[4] He was successful in a series of battles which helped to secure East Anglia and the East Midlands against the royalists. In 1645-1646, as second in command of the newly formed main parliamentary army, the New Model Army, Cromwell played a major role in parliament's victory in the Midlands, sealed by the battle of Naseby in June 1645, and in the south and south-west. When civil war flared up again in 1648 he commanded a large part of the New Model Army which first crushed rebellion in South Wales and then at Preston defeated a Scottish-royalist army of invasion. Cromwell first put down a Royalist uprising in south Wales and then marched north to deal with a pro-Royalist Scottish army (the Engagers) who had invaded England.

Cromwell believed that killing King Charles I was the only way to bring the civil wars to an end. And Charles was executed on January 30, 1649. This was the first time a monarch had ever been publicly executed in recorded history.^[5]

After the trial and execution of the King, Cromwell led major military campaigns to establish English control over Ireland (1649-50) and then Scotland (1650-51), culminating in the defeat of another Scottish-royalist army of invasion at Worcester (in September 1651). (In summer 1650,) before embarking for Scotland, Cromwell had been appointed lord general - that is, commander in chief - of all the parliamentary forces. He interpreted victories as indications of God's approval of his actions.

Cromwell's military standing gave him enhanced political power.^[6] In December 1653, he became head of state as Lord Protector, though he held that office under a written constitution which ensured that he would share political power with parliaments and a council. As Lord Protector for almost five years, until his death on 3 September 1658, Cromwell was able to mould policies and to fulfill some of his goals. He headed a tolerant, inclusive and largely civilian regime, which sought to restore order and stability at home and thus to win over much of the traditional political and social elite. Abroad, the army and navy were employed to promote England's interests in an expansive and largely successful foreign policy. 

Cromwell’s actions, letters and speeches in Parliament became a basis to create the first Parliament Monarchy.^[7]

After detail analyzing of the First English Revolution with its well-known personage – Oliver Cromwell, I would like to make some important conclusions.

First of all, Oliver Cromwell was the first political figure, who initiated appropriate political program, the main task of which was to destroy the Regime of Absolute Monarchy. He had dedicated the greater part of his life to the confrontation with Absolutism. And finally, Cromwell had demonstrated to that all regents should always take into consideration the majority opinion.

I would like to point out that Cromwell’s political activity was the necessary basis to the next changing of the Regime toward the Parliamentary Monarchy and Republic.

Cromwell’s life and fight can be considered as the vivid example for the development of Democracy though over the World.

Also I would like to say that such historical figures as Napoleon, Jorge Washington were the followers of Cromwell’s political ideas, especially in society democratization.

So, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, Parliamentary, the vote – all of these foundations are the heritage of Oliver Cromwell.

Zaporizka Sich, which was self-governing Ukrainian democratic formation, excited rebellion for independence of Ukraine from Rich Pospolita practically at the same time with English Revolution in 1648. Oliver Cromwell considered Bogdan Hmelnitskiy who was the rebellion leader as a fighter against counter-reformation.

Cromwell’s politics was aimed at not allowing catholic countries such as France, Spain and Austria to grand any support to Poland.

Since August 24, 1991 Ukraine has resumed following its way of independence and democracy by extensive introducing democratic liberties by Oliver Cromwell.

Literature:

1. www.bbc.co.uk.history.

2. Kenyon, John & Ohlmeyer, Jane (eds.) (2000). The Civil Wars: A Military History of England, Scotland, and Ireland 1638-1660 (Oxford University Press) .

3. www. olivercromwell.org.

4. Young, Peter and Holmes, Richard (2000). The English Civil War (Wordsworth).

5. Барг М. А. Кромвель и его время.- М.,- 1960.

6. Павлова Т. А. Кромвель. - М., -1980.

7. Барг М. А. Великая английская революция в портретах ее деятелей.- М., -1991.