The Putney Debates of 1647

Arguments proposed by the Grandees in the simulated debate included justifications and further defense of the original Grandees’ arguments. The chief topics to focus on include the importance of immovable property and vested interests, the threat of anarchy from universal incorporation, and the essential definition of tacit consent. All aspects of these arguments set out to make the demands of the Levellers appear unobtainable at the time. When analyzing each topic, the drastic difference of the Levellers and Grandees are discovered, along with certain similarities that make both sides appear not so different in ideology. Most importantly, each argument was essential to democracy then, as they are in today’s modern society.

The Grandees most emphasized argument found form in the importance of owning land, relative to your interest and loyalty to England. Viewing immovable property as a definite way of displaying your patriotism was the only avenue one could take up in order to have a right to vote, and chose those that would ultimately govern them and represent their needs. In relation to democracy, the idea of possessing immovable property prevents those from outside a certain area intruding upon the established rights of the citizens. In order to have a functioning and effective democracy, leaders undoubtedly recognize the threat of foreign influences and possible corruption. Those very same influences may lead to the exploitation of the poorer class, allowing outsiders with sufficient resources to assimilate into British society. Therefore, making the possession of immovable property a requirement for political participation supports the Grandees’ motives in making a society that is not easily influenced by those with prope...

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...having it either ignored or taken away is unfathomable. The ability of the Grandees to not only dictate what consent is relevant, but to prohibit political participation as well exemplifies how far the ideal of democracy has come. However, when looking at what England had suffered through, the actions of the Grandees showed that hard times call for drastic measures.

The Putney debates undoubtedly had a profound effect on the development of democracy over the last few centuries. Closely examining the arguments of the Grandees and the Levellers place emphasis on how different factions can view democracy differently, and what some groups can do to limit the freedom of others. The topics of property in relation to interests, anarchy, and the idea of consent gave the Grandees an argument that most could agree with when taking into consideration the stakes at risk.