School of War Ep 213: Paul Lay on Cromwell and the English Civil War
Jul 8, 2025
In this discussion, Paul Lay, Senior Editor of Engelsberg Ideas and author of *Providence Lost*, unpacks the complex world of the English Civil War. He explores Cromwell's unexpected rise from minor gentry to military leader, detailing how this shaped the Commonwealth. Lay intriguingly connects Cromwell's governance to modern political figures like Margaret Thatcher, revealing the historical echoes in today's political landscape. He also examines anti-Catholic sentiment and how 17th-century English struggles influenced American political thought.
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Thirty Years' War Impact
- The Thirty Years' War devastated Europe, especially the German lands, with sectarian violence unmatched until WWI.
- England stayed mostly out of it under James I, who sought peace despite Protestant pressure to intervene.
Religious Imposition Sparks Wars
- Conflict ignited when Charles I tried to impose the Anglican prayer book on Presbyterian Scots, causing the Bishops' Wars.
- This worsened mistrust between Charles and aristocracy, setting stage for civil war over royal authority vs. Parliament.
Republicanism Was Marginal Then
- In the early 1640s, republicanism in England was a fringe view; debates focused on monarchy's power vs. Parliament.
- These English political debates deeply influenced later American revolutionary ideas and constitutional thought.
