Brief introduction to The Levellers

1. The Levellers
Damian Lavender
HI-397-A

2. Who
Political Radicals initially associated with…
– John Lilburne
– Richard Overton
– William Walwyn
The term ‘Levellers’ was given to them by their enemies. The name was
to link them to the Diggers who called themselves the ‘true levellers’.
The Diggers were an even more extreme left-wing who wanted the
abolition of property rights and equality of wealth.

3. What
Leveller leaders attempted to bring about political reform, working within the
confines of the existing social order. On the Leveller agenda was the reform of law,
free trade and religious tolerance. They also had constitutional demands that put
the People as sovereign over the government rather than the King or Parliament.
Also wanted individual rights guaranteed under a written constitution. The written
culmination of these thoughts were put in the Leveller Manifesto, Agreement of
The People. It was proposed to in the House of Commons on January 20th 1649
but was postponed and never again reviewed.

4. Where
• The power of Levellers was in their ability to
mobilize popular support among the
peasantry. They held massive protests, some
estimates say they could amass 15,000 people
in a matter of hours. Had a huge following in
and around London.
• Putney Church debates
– Thomas Rainsborough vs Henry Ireton

5. Why
• Petitions and crowds. Power in numbers.
• The access to ‘universal’ rights were appealing
to the masses.

6. When
• Between the First and Second Civil War (1645-
48)
• Organized Movement ended in 1649
• Many of the political radicals joined other
organizations and were executed by
Cromwell’s Protectorate

7. Citation
Plant, David. "An Agreement of the People.” BCW Project. British
CommonWealth and Protectorate 1638-1660, 10 Mar. 2014.
Web. 19 Jan. 2015. <http://bcw-project.org/church-and-
state/second-civil-war/agreement-of-the-people>.
Plant, David. “The Levellers.” BCW Project. British CommonWealth and
Protectorate 1638-1660, 10 Mar. 2014. Web. 19 Jan. 2015.
<http://bcw-project.org/church-and- state/second-civil-
war/agreement-of-the-people>.
German, Lindsey, and John Rees. "'The Head and Fountain of
Rebellion'" A People's History of London. London: Verso, 2012. 49-
67. Print.