T3: Radical political and religious ides Flashcards
what allowed for radical political and religious ideas to emerge?
the Civil War and execution of CI, led to the collapse of censorship
what is the definition of a radical?
someone who believes something very different from the status quo
what fuelled radical beliefs?
- sense of living through momentous events (collapse of monarchy) - convinced some that the coming of Christ was imminent
- many ideas promoted by Puritan sects
who were the most important political radical group in the 17th century?
the Levellers
from when were the Levellers active?
1645
what were 4 key beliefs of the Levellers?
- universal male suffrage
- new constitution
- equality before the law
- religious freedom
how revolutionary were the beliefs of the Levellers?
politically radical, but not socially revolutionary - sis not support suffrage of women or the poor
how successful were the Levellers?
- most successful revolutionary group of the age - short lived (crushed 1649) but influences later democratic movements
- but encouraged conservatism from Rump + Cromwell in response
- mixed messages in pamphlets due to disagreements between leaders, relatively low national support
how long- lasting were the Levellers?
short-lived. 1645-9. leaders imprisoned 1649 and Rump crushed movement
why did Leveller pamphlets have mixed messages?
due to disagreements between leaders
how high was national support for the Levellers?
relatively low
when and where did the Diggers originate?
Diggers began to gid vegetables on common land in Surrey in April 1649
what did the Diggers believe in?
had quite modern ideas
- common land
- compulsory education for boys + girls
- abolition of the monarchy + HofL
- universal suffrage
how much support did the Diggers gain?
not much - ideas too revolutionary
what became of the Diggers?
squashed by 1650. Original Diggers had to leave land after 4 months after losing a court case to local landowners
when and where did the Ranters originate?
started with a small group of preachers in London in 1650
what did the Ranters believe?
that those predestined to be saved by God were incapable of sin, therefore they ignored social codes
what became of the Ranters?
leaders in prison by 1651
were the Ranters (and other radicals) as dangerous as they were made out to be?
fear and threat exaggerated- sources written by natural enemies. Rump able to use fear to pass Acts that actually reduced religious toleration
who founded the Quakers and when?
George Fox in 1652
how many members did the Quakers have by the early 1660s?
35,000 in England
by when did the Quakers have 35,000 members across England?
the early 1660s
where did the Quakers thrive the most? why?
in rural areas as needed no external support or organisation
what is the criteria for ‘large impact’ of radicals?
- long lasting
- widespread
- transformative
