Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Politicisation of the New Model Army
- Created in early 1645 to make the war effort more effective
- Commanded by Thomas Fairfax with Cromwell
as lieutenant general
- Army was abused by leader of the Political
Presbyterians - Denzil Holles - through the so-called
'Declaration of Dislike'.
- Said that army petitioners were, 'enemies to the state
and disturbers of the public peace'.
- To NMA and Political Indeps. it seemed like the
Political Presbs. were attempting to build a
rival army.
- Angry because they were owed £3 million
and faced disbandment before this was
payed.
- Possibility of being charged with
offences committed during war as
Parliament hadn't passed an
indemnity act.
- Gentles has argued that these
material grievances were key in
pushing the army towards
direct political action.
- NMA's entry into politics
had a significant impact
on settlement.
- Became central to all that
followed until the Restoration
(1660)
- Influence of Levellers and Diggers
- The Levellers were a London based group seeking political,
economic and social reform
- Led by John Lilburne
- Leveller movement developed because of
the economic distress caused by the civil
war
- The Diggers (True Levellers) were
another response to the effects of
the civil war,
- Kishlansky argued, 'the Digger movement appeared more ominous
than it actually was'.
- The ideas and actions of the Diggers were a challenge to
the society and politics of the time but their influence
was limited.