Directory of Independents Resources
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During the Civil Wars, the Puritan MPs of the Long Parliament were split broadly into two camps: the Independents and the Presbyterians. The division was primarily along religious lines, but was also reflected in differing political policies. The Independents supported "liberty of conscience", or freedom of religion (at least for non-Catholics). They encouraged the various sects which rejected state-regulated worship in favour of autonomous congregations of believers. This brought them into dispute with the Presbyterians, who preferred a more rigid, state-controlled church. The Independents were also more inclined to favour legal and political reform and moves towards greater democracy. Towards the end of the First Civil War, political differences between the factions became apparent. The Independents favoured confrontation with the King and an outright military victory, rather than the negotiated settlement sought by the Presbyterians. Oliver Cromwell was regarded as the champion of the Independents, and the New Model Army was active in ousting Presbyterian sympathisers from Parliament in Pride's Purge in December 1648. Ironically, the Independents' desire for toleration and democratic reform led them to rely increasingly on the support of the Army to advance their policies.
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