The Trial of Oliver Cromwell for War Crimes

Oliver Cromwell was a Puritan parliamentarian, a military commander and the driving force behind the English Civil War. He has been both lauded and vilified by many historians primarily for his military subjugation of Ireland. In two notable sieges, Drogheda and Wexford, he allegedly allowed his men to massacre surrendering Royalist and Irish soldiers along with civilians and even Catholic priests. Now Cromwell must face the International Criminal Court of History to determine whether he should be indicted for “war crimes.” You and your students will assume the roles of judges, attorneys, witnesses and the defendant to determine whether there is enough evidence to support his alleged crimes. Additional materials will include post-activity discussion questions, extension activities, relevant documents, a time-line, glossary and list of sources.