Putney Debates of 1647

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• published: 20 Jun 2013
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In 1647 after several years of civil-war the army(soldiers) forced a debate on how England would be ruled in the future. Previously the only people allowed to vote in elections for parliament were those who owned land (had interest) or had an annual income of 20 lb's. After the Second English Civil War 1648-1649(there were three of them) three huge armies that had come to the parliaments rescue in the fight against the king were waiting to be disarmed. But before they were disarmed they demanded some shit change. They wanted the King gone and the Lords too, and they wanted every person declared a citizen regardless of their property ownership or wealth with the right to vote. They knew that they were at their strongest from a negotiating point of view and they knew that once they disarmed and returned their weapons they would get shit on yet again. I didn't know all that when I first listened to this the other the other day, but I did notice that in the "conversations" the "parliamentarians" seem to be very open. So open to the new ideas that it surprised me! After researching for a day or so I can see why now, they were scared shitless of losing everything. I read this in the "wiki" and it all fell into place, one for the good guys : ) "The betrayal by Charles caused Parliament to debate whether to return the King to power at all. Those who still supported Charles' place on the throne tried once more to negotiate with him. Furious that Parliament continued to countenance Charles as a ruler, the Army marched on Parliament and conducted "Pride's Purge" (named after the commanding officer of the operation, Thomas Pride) in December 1648. Troops arrested 45 Members of Parliament and kept 146 out of the chamber. They allowed only 75 Members in, and then only at the Army's bidding. This Rump Parliament received orders to set up, in the name of the people of England, a High Court of Justice for the trial of Charles I for treason. At the end of the trial the 59 Commissioners (judges) found Charles I guilty of high treason, as a "tyrant, traitor, murderer and public enemy". His beheading took place on a scaffold in front of the Banqueting House of the Palace of Whitehall on 30 January 1649. Damn! call me sentimental but I do love a happy ending : )