English Puritans

In England, early development policy was pursued, i.e from the end of the 15th century the state favored the most technologically advanced industry with various monopoly rights and privileges. Many in the country could make advantage of that. But after some hundreds of years, a corrupt class of monopolists appeared, who faced enmity far into the upper middle class. This class was organized in the lower house of parliament and in the so-called Puritan movement – a religious movement that opposed all luxuries and flair and emphasized work and care but was persecuted by the official church.

In parallel, a battle was going on that consisted of landowners – both monopolistic and puritanical – seizing land that since time immemorial had been considered the common property of the villages. In village after village, small farmers and landless people organized to take back their land and / or use it anyway.

The battle became acute when the English king was inspired by the usual European royal military dictatorships and began to raise taxes on his own. After the Puritan bourgeoisie tried to use legal parliamentary means to stop him and were chased by royal bailiffs, after 1640 they began to organize armies to overthrow the king and organize a republic with themselves on the throne.

The revolutionaries were divided from the beginning. The Puritan bourgeoisie was completely at peace with taking power in the state and the church and allowing most things to continue as before – minus the various monopoly privileges. The artisans and peasants who manned their armies wanted more than that. They wanted to get rid of all ecclesiastical coercion, and the peasants wanted their village commons back.

As long as they both fought against the court and monopolists, they held together. But when these were defeated in 1647, the split became open. The politically savvy bourgeoisie had no difficulty in provoking a revolt which was quickly crushed, after which the disgruntled soldiers were allotted land in Ireland whose owners were hunted down in exile while wages were generally raised. The remaining discontent was channeled into religious sects.

After about ten years, the bourgeoisie made peace with the court circles on terms that were favorable to both parties. Parliament's control was secured, a numerous middle class with internationally uniquely advantageous conditions emerged, and the lower class was kept in check.

However, traditions from this revolutions went on to inspire the American revolt as well as the women's movement of the 19th century.

Reading
Brian Manning: The English people and the English revolution 1640-1649, Heineman 1976.