CW2: Social Divisions and Settlement Flashcards
How were the Leveller’s formed?
Spring 1647 - independent congregations in London appeared, petitioned plmt for political, economic, and social reform e.g. civil liberties, religious toleration, penal/law reform, and the abolition of tithes and monopolies
What were the negative connotations of ‘Leveller’?
Coined by their enemies to suggest they favoured the abolition of property rights and the equalisation of wealth
Lilburne and others disliked this term and denied any association with the ‘levelling tendency’
How did the Leveller’s exercise political influence?
Led by Lilburne, imprisoned by bishops 1638, royalists 1643, Lords in 1645 and Commons in 1647 - due to refusal to compromise on his beliefs
Used petitions and pamphlets to gain support as were not an organised party with a consistent set of policies - showed how political activity had expanded beyond PN
How did the Leveller’s try to convert the rank and file?
Focussed on converting rank and file in autumn 1647 to influence a post-war settlement - agitators appeared in 5 cavalry regiments in Oct 1647
Played on fears of a bad deal (‘Heads’) and denounced Ireton and Cromwell
How did the Levellers establish their presence in NMA?
‘Case of the Army Truly Stated’ accused Cromwell and Ireton of betraying the soldiers in ‘Heads’ negotiations with Charles and plmt
What did ‘Case of the Army Truly Stated’ propose?
Radical new constitution, stressing plmt sovereignty yet direct accountability to the people and purged of its ‘corrupted members’ - presented to Fairfax 18th Oct 1647
Why were the Putney Debates held?
To discuss written Leveller manifesto ‘Agreement of the People’ which proposed a more radical settlement in OCt 1647 - plmt sovereignty, MPs elected proportionally to constituent population, dissolution of LP in Sept 1648, biennial plmt, freedom of religion, universal suffrage for all men over 21, abolition of Lords
What were the 2 sides at the Putney Debates and was anything achieved?
Grandees attempted to curb proposal, Ireton was particularly alarmed by the idea of universal suffrage
Only officer to side with Levellers was Colonel Rainsborough: ‘the poorest he that is in England hath a life to live as the greatest he’
No compromise was reached - shows how far the CW had changed England
Why was there a Leveller inspired mutiny?
15th Nov - around 1/6th of the army revolted against continued Heads negotiations and leadership
Undermined Heads’ legitimacy, suggesting rank and file would not accept it and placed pressure on leadership to offer more radical terms
Brutally crushed and CWII saw unity return - Leveller influence was significantly diminished and were kept in check at the Whitehall Debates
What did the Whitehall Debates aim to resolve?
Levellers met with GCA to debate ‘Agreement’ in context of royal trial/execution
Produced 2nd ‘Agreement’ which denounced the Rump - leaders were arrested in March 1649 for pamphleting against plmt
How significant was civilian power at this time?
1645-49 over 250 pamphlets were produced and 40,000 signed the Large Petition 1647 (enactment of Leveller reforms and release of Lilburne) - plus debates at Whitehall and Putney
