4. The emergence of radical political + religious groups Flashcards
Who were the Levellers?
The Levellers were a radical political group, led by John Lilburne, who was a prolific pamphleteer. They believed in equality, religious toleration (only extended to Protestantism), and franchise. They had a large presence in the New Model Army which posed a threat for the social conservative Parliamentarians.
Who were the Agitators?
Elected representatives of regiments of New Model Army.
Why did the Army General Council agree to the Putney debates?
In 1647, Leveller influence over the army was growing stronger, shown in their ‘Case of the army truly stated’ which criticised Parliament for failing to address their complaints. In October they published their manifesto ‘The Agreement of the people,’ which led the Army General Council to agree to a meeting.
What happened at the Putney debates?
For a week, Leveller spokesmen Colonel Rainborough and the Agitator Sexby met with Cromwell and Ireton at a Parish Church in Putney. At the debates, the Levellers demanded religious freedom, annual parliaments, universal male suffrage but were met with a deadlock.
Who were the Diggers?
The Diggers were a radical political group who wanted to build a new community where people didn’t have to abide by the rules of landlords and where they could live equally. In 1649, led by Gerard Winstanley, people gathered at St. Georges hill and began to dig, plant crops and make a campsite on common land. They published their manifesto ‘The true Levellers standard advanced’.
How were the Diggers received?
The owner of the land that they seized in Cobham belonged to Lord of the Manor Francis Drake. He rounded up angry villagers into gangs and arranged violent raids on the Diggers.
Why was there a newfound emergence of radical religious groups?
The Civil War led to an influx of new radical religious groups due to:
.The breakdown in enforcement of religious conformity - the king wasn’t
able to enforce conformity using Church courts, visitations etc.
. Millenarianism - The sense that the end of the world was coming.
. The proliferation of printed material allowing new ideas to spread -
previously this would have been licensed (and therefore censored).
. The influence of the Scots and their presbyterianism.
Who were the Baptists?
A radical religious group who believed in adult baptisms as an expression of their oneness with Christ. They were a threat as they rejected the need for an organised Church and because they made up one in four of the population.
Who were the Ranters?
A small radical religious group that believed if a person was a member of the elect, then they could do no sin. This meant people were free to engage in adultery, fornication and profanity. Despite receiving an enormous amount of publicity, the Ranters only ever appeared in sources by their opposition, creating the theory that they were invented by Puritans to fear monger and shock the population to stop people from joining these new radical groups.
Who were the Quakers?
A radical religious group that believed that religion comes from the voice of God within. They got their name from how they would tremble when touched by the Holy Spirit. They were seen as a threat due to their numbers, having 35,000 believers by the 1660s, and because they believed that only God required their obedience not the Church or State. They were also seen as an aggressive group that would use force if threatened.
Who were the Muggletonians?
A small radical religious group made up of a select few who believed that they alone were saved. They weren’t seen as a threat as they didn’t try and seek converts and therefore remained a small sect.
Who were the 5th Monarchists?
A radical religious group made up of millenarians who wanted England to be governed by the rule of the godly, therefore making them a threat as they wanted to break down the established order of society. Their highest number in England was 10,000 so they weren’t a huge group.
