by Emily Ross
Hey, history lovers!
Welcome back to "Why Wars Happened," your weekly podcast for understanding the chaotic and often dramatic events that led to war throughout history.
Grab your favorite drink, settle in, and let’s get into it!
Ok. Now the goods.
Contents
Picking Up Where We Left Off
So, last episode, we left you hanging with the Virginia government flexing its muscles, making sure their autonomy was here to stay. Then, boom! It’s 1658, and Oliver Cromwell, the not-at-all-kind-of-a-king, bites the dust. And get this—his son, Richard Cromwell, steps in, but spoiler alert: he’s not exactly a winner. The poor guy was such a flop that the English army arrested him. Yep, nine months in, he's out! And England? It’s a hot mess, my friends.
England in Disarray
For a whole year, England was in a state of utter chaos. Parliament didn’t know if it was coming or going, and the military was equally clueless. Who's in charge? Who's solving problems? Heck, who’s answering the phone? Nobody knew! But did this bother the Virginians? Nah. They were doing their own thing, thanks to years of being ghosted by Oliver Cromwell.
Colonists’ Loyalty Despite Chaos
Here’s the kicker: even though Virginians were basically self-sufficient and miles away from the drama in England, they still considered themselves loyal English subjects. But let’s be real, they were anxious about who'd become their ultimate leader. Would it be another Parliament? The old king’s kid? Someone totally new? Despite having a golden opportunity to go solo, they hung tight to the motherland.
Governor Matthews Dies & Berkeley’s Return
Right when things were getting spicy, Governor Matthews kicks the bucket. So, the Virginia Assembly declares itself the Supreme Power until England gets its act together. But wait, they didn’t want this power trip to last forever. They needed a leader. Enter Governor Berkeley, the OG king’s man. Respected, loved, and thoroughly loyal, he was their guy.
Challenges for Berkeley
In a plot twist worthy of a Netflix drama, Berkeley hesitated to retake his old job, worried about how the king would perceive it. But, after a lot of sweet-talking from the Assembly, he finally agreed in 1660. Berkeley was back, baby! And the people? They were pumped, ready to march confidently into what they thought would be a bright future.
The King’s Return and the Navigation Acts
King Charles II was back on the throne, and thanks to Berkeley’s undying loyalty, he was quite pleased. But, remember those pesky Navigation Acts from a decade ago? Yeah, they were supposed to make sure all trade went through England, but everyone ignored them. That is, until Charles II decided to tighten the reins, much to the colonists’ future dismay.
And that’s a wrap for today! Thanks for listening.
Next week, we’ll see how King Charles II’s policies muddied the waters further and deepened the colonial woes.
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