The Rebellion of 1641, and the impact that Oliver Cromwell had on this uprising, is well documented and presented in this essay. The Rebellion of 1641 is multi-dimensional and the author does a good job putting the entire event in perspective. The historical background given, provides the reader with a foundation from which to understand the context of the rebellion. The information is accurate and well organized, allowing someone who is unfamiliar with the topic to gain an appreciation for the events that occurred.
There are however a few important facts that I believe need to be added in this paper. Cromwell played an enormous role in squashing the rebellion. I don't think his role or background was well enough defined. It should be noted that Cromwell was not a learned scholar or military tactician. Rather, he was born into a common family and with little education, became involved in the army after a conversion experience at the age of 27 when he became a religious zealot. Cromwell was a man of few words, but when he spoke he spoke with incredible confidence and great authority. He quickly gained the respect of his town and was sent to Parliament as their representative. He immediately became a dynamic leader within the Independent Party. This background leads gives important insight into how Cromwell became such a great battle field leader.
Another important facet to add to this essay is the type of army, and fighting techniques used by Cromwell, in order to make him victorious in Ireland. Cromwell used techniques which hadn't been seen since ancient Israel. Through Cromwell's strict discipline, he was able to create a unique fighting unit, composed of field-hardened farmers, which preached, prayed, paid fines for profanity and drunkenness, and even sang Psalms of David as they marched into battle. This abnormal group of soldiers is worth mentioning, especially since in this time period, every vice imaginable characterized soldiers and mercenaries. This characterization of Cromwell's troops is an indication of his religious zeal.
Cromwell's religious beliefs were strong and need to be more fully explained. The Revolution of 1641 was a struggle between several different classes and religion played a major role in drawing sides. Cromwell maintained a large degree of religious toleration within the Protestant faith, and even with the Roman Catholics. However, he stood firmly for a national church without bishops. He worked extremely hard for reform of morals and improved education standards. He genuinely strove to make England and its provinces Christian nations.
Finally, the far-reaching impact that Cromwell's domination over the Irish revolutionaries had on the future of Ireland and the rest of the world needs to be developed further. The effects that Cromwell had on Ireland were described briefly, but with a sympathetic bias towards the Irish. It cannot be forgotten that the Puritan understanding of government which Cromwell brought to the forefront of politics at this time, was the foundation for the American colonial government.
This essay focused more on the actual Rebellion of 1641 then the Cromwellian occupation of Ireland. The section which describes the rebellion is done well, it is the part on Cromwell which needs to be expanded. Overall, the essay was done very well. It is difficult to condense such a multi-faceted rebellion, in a country as complex as Ireland, into few short pages, but the author did a great job in providing a broad stroke sketch of the Revolution of 1641.