The Levellers

The levellers were a radical group which grew out of conflicts of the first English Civil War with ideas that appear radical even to some modern day political groups. The Levellers also preached a message of religious toleration and concern for the poor and the destitute. Their program of anti-establishment reforms included:

• the abolition of the Monarchy, House of Lords;
• separation of Church and State;
• universal suffrage for most Englishmen;
• public elections for office;
• the House of Commons as the only constitutional elected law of the land;
• including various land, legal and tax reforms, etc.
• A government answerable to the People with guaranteed rights and liberities for the same.

The movement had its early beginning with a small group of radicals: John Lilburne (c1614-57), an early friend of Oliver Cromwell, a former Army officer, and public dissident; Richard Overton (fl.1642-63) a supporter of Mortalism; and William Walwyn a rational humanist. These radicals preached a new doctrine of social democracy. The publication A Remonstrance of many Thousand Citizens (1646) by Richard Overton established the movement.

The Levellers came to prominence after its backing of the New Model Army's demands for their back pay in 1647. The leaders also gained supported among the New Model Army Council also known as the ”Agitators”. A draft constitution was drawn up in October 1647 at Putney Church by the Levellers for consideration by the the Army Council. The Leveller's manifesto Agreement of the the People (1647), and subsequent editions of 1648 and 1649 outlined their new democratic constitution for a new English nation. Primary to this was the universal suffrage for “free born” Englishmen.

The Putney Debates (1647-48) in the General Council of the Army pitted Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658) and Henry Ireton (1611-1651) against each other, and everyone else on the otherside including the Levellers. This major political and philosophical debate produced no final decisions for the Levellers.

The Levellers were the first social democrats in English history. Their message was too radical for the traditional ruling classes of power and property. Their leadership were paper warriors, not men of physical action themselves. Many of the Levellers reforms and principles would not see fruit for over two hundred years and there are some who would claim that we still haven't got what the Levellers wanted even after almost 360 years...

For some of the primary sources as zipped rtf documents. For a longer version including more leveller sources as a zipped rtf document.