User blog:ChrisL123/Isolationist England

''He was a ruthless monarch. He was responsible for the religious prosecution of thousands of non-Protestant Britons. He brought us into an age of un-splended isolationism, xenophobia and autocracy. He had severed the union of the nations of England, Scotland and Ireland, and the loss of our colonial possessions. His name? Oliver Cromwell.

Note that the above quote is fictional.

I’ve recently looked into the English Civil War, between the Royalists and the “Roundheads”. They had helped overthrow, who was hated for the marriage of a French Catholic princess, abolition of the Parliament, attempt to raise taxes without Parliament request, etc. , a Roundhead, had helped in the assassination of Charles I, and eventually became Lord Protector of the Isles.

Now I have a seemingly simple POD: Cromwell growing up by Protestant parents (like OTL), but having them be xenophobic in nature. When it comes to the Civil War, since he would oppose the marriage of a Catholic and trying to influence Catholicism in Britain, he would join the Roundheads in trying to defeat the Royalists, like OTL. The only difference being, once he dissolves the Long Parliament and Barebones Parliament, he makes himself the autocratic/totalitarian monarch, and is able to impose his xenophobia by issuing a religious prosecution of Catholics, Jews, etc. In order to better maintain Protestantism in the nation, he would make stricter laws on immigration, and slowly become more and more isolationist, similar to that of. Because of the conflict of interest in Ireland and maybe Scotland, the two would break apart of England, becoming their own sovereign nations.

I figure it would be a nice twist, almost like how Napoleon fought for republicanism and eventually lead the country as an emperor. What would happen later on is, as Cromwell dies, his lineage will continue through his son, who would also be taught his xenophobic ways along with the use of the army, and be able to better maintain the nation. As for the colonies, I figured that it would be a safe haven for English refugees, and would soon declare their own independence.

Of course, this autocratic way of ruling the nation would never last, and some sort of England Meiji Restoration would happen, but not before France and Spain are able to claim most of North America, leaving the English with a shattered nation and no hopes of major colonial efforts.

I can’t start anything without much further research, but that’s what I’ve thought of thus far. Thoughts? Opinions? ChrisL123 (talk) 06:47, August 17, 2012 (UTC)