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History at key stage 3    (Year 8)

Unit 8: The civil wars was England 'turned upside down' in the seventeenth century?
Section 7: Why do people interpret Cromwell in very different ways?

QCA

Objectives
Children should learn:
  • that Cromwell has been interpreted in very different ways
  • that interpretations of Cromwell are influenced by the background of the interpreter and the purpose of the interpretation
  • to reach substantiated conclusions through critical analysis of information

Activities

Outcomes
Children:
  • Pupils consider the different views of Cromwell that were common in the seventeenth century and the way this disagreement has continued to the present day.
  • Pupils consider the widespread nineteenth-century English view of Cromwell as a great reformer and man of principle. Contrast this with examples from modern Ireland of the view of Cromwell as an inhuman monster.
  • Pupils briefly research Cromwell's campaign in Ireland and the rules of warfare in the seventeenth century in order to answer the question Did Cromwell keep to the rules of warfare?
  • Give pupils a set of cards containing information about Cromwell's 'rule' as Lord Protector. Get them to sort these under the headings 'Protector' and 'Dictator' and ask them to reach a conclusion as to whether Cromwell was a protector of the people or a dictator.
  • explain how and why different interpretations of Cromwell have been produced
  • produce a structured interpretation of Cromwell's actions at Drogheda and Wexford
  • use information cards to reach a conclusion about the nature of Cromwell's 'rule' as Lord Protector

Points to note
  • Links could be made with unit 17 'Divided Ireland'.
  • Citizenship: pupils consider other people's viewpoints and have the chance to express and explain views that are not their own.
  • ICT: pupils could decide whether Cromwell deserves his reputation as a harsh dictator, using sources provided in a structured investigation on CD-ROM.

Sections in this unit

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This unit is divided into sections. Each section contains a sequence of activities with related objectives and outcomes. You can view this unit by moving through the sections or print/download the whole unit.
1. Why was 1649 a year of reckoning?
2. What do successful monarchs do? What did Charles I do?
3. How do historians disagree about the causes of the civil wars?
4. How did the civil wars divide families?
5. Why did Parliament win the civil wars?
6. Why did the winners of the civil wars argue among themselves?
7. Why do people interpret Cromwell in very different ways?
8. What happened at the Restoration?
9. Was 'the world turned upside down'?