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The period between Charles I's surrender in 1646 and his execution in January 1649 saw the most radical constitutional upheaval in English history. The king was tried and executed by his own subjects; the monarchy and House of Lords were abolished; and England was declared a republic. This lesson examines the political crisis, the Putney Debates, Pride's Purge, and the regicide — analysing the historiographical debates about whether the revolution was driven by ideological conviction or political necessity.
After Charles's surrender to the Scots in May 1646, the key question was: on what terms would the king be restored?
| Proposal | From | Key Terms |
|---|---|---|
| Newcastle Propositions | Parliament (1646) | Parliamentary control of the militia for 20 years; Presbyterian Church settlement; punishment of leading Royalists |
| Heads of the Proposals | The Army (1647) | More generous to the king: biennial Parliaments, religious toleration for all Protestants, limited royal authority over the militia |
| Agreement of the People | The Levellers (1647) | Radical democratic programme: manhood suffrage, equal constituencies, annual Parliaments, sovereignty of the people |
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