What were the Putney Debates?

Answer 1

== == The Putney Debates are a documentation of the discussion between members of the England Army, they are trying to comprehend what England's constitution originally meant and if there needs to be a change in the constitution. The soldiers want to be able to vote and they are being denied this right in the beginning. General Henry Ireton begins of by saying that every man that lives there should be equally considered and should have an equal voice in the election of the representers. They felt everyone person should have one vote and different areas should not be represented more than other areas. Petty, stated those that have not lost their birthright should have the right to vote. because even the poorest man in England has a great life to live. Rainborough felt that a man is only under the rule of a government because of his given consent so even the poorest man deserves to live as well the greatest man. Ireton felt that only people that have a fixed interest in the Kingdom should be able to vote because they are looking out for the whole Kingdom. He felt foreigners should not have the right to suffrage because they were not born in England so they should not be able to help decide the affairs of England because they do not have enough interest vested in the country, and they may get up and leave tomorrow. Furthermore, he says those that own the land and are included in the trade should have the power to vote because they comprehend the local interests. However, it is pointed out that all men have reason and they are to execute that reason and participate in government matters, the government should benefit all men. Rainborough felt as though the rich were oppressing the poor and they were permitted to do this because they were the ones making and implementing the laws. He questions what he fought for. He does not even have the power to choose who his governor will be, he feels as if he has no voice. Captain Edward Sexby feels deceived because when he was going to fight for England he was not aware only men who had fixed estates in the Kingdom had power in the Kingdom. He felt the poor had a birthright just like the rich, to own an estate and have power within the Kingdom. He feels as though instead of fighting for rights they have fought to be enslaved by the rich. There is a fear that if the poor were permitted to vote they would vote for there to be no property considering they did not have any. Ireton feels as though the government is being progressive because they have laid a foundation of liberty for the parliament by setting a limit on how long people can be in power and he feels that they should work towards distributing election more equally but only to men that have an interest in the Kingdom. Apprentices, slaves, and people that take alms should be excluded because they depend on the will of another man and therefore will be scared to displease them. Their vote would be influenced by other men and would not be their own decision.