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Levellers

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Levellers

Democratic party in the English Civil War. The Levellers found wide support among Cromwell's New Model Army and the yeoman farmers, artisans, and small traders, and proved a powerful political force from 1647 to 1649. Their programme included the establishment of a republic, government by a parliament of one house elected by all men over 21, elections every year, freedom of speech, religious toleration, and sweeping social reforms, including education for everyone. They were led by John Lilburne, whose wife Elizabeth campaigned for a ‘proportional share in the freedom of this commonwealth’ for women.

Cromwell's refusal to implement this programme led to mutinies by Levellers in the army, which, when suppressed by Cromwell at Burford in 1649, ended the movement.

True Levellers (also known as Diggers) were denounced by the Levellers because of their more radical methods.



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A lively quarrel ensued, Trefusis denouncing the folly of artists in fancying themselves a priestly caste when they were obviously only the parasites and favored slaves of the moneyed classes, and his friend (temporarily his enemy) sneering bitterly at levellers who were for levelling down instead of levelling up.
An Unsocial Socialist by Shaw, George Bernard View in context
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