Levelers

Home > ... > Philosophy and Religion > Christianity > Protestant Denominations > ...

Levelers

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | 2008 | The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Levelers or Levellers, English Puritan sect active at the time of the English civil war . The name was apparently applied to them in 1647, in derision of their beliefs in equality. The leader of the movement and its most indefatigable propagandist was John Lilburne . The Levelers demanded fundamental constitutional reform—a written constitution, a single supreme representative body elected by universal manhood suffrage, proportional representation, and the abolition of monarchy and noble privilege. Their ideals, far in advance of their time, were those of complete religious and political equality. They were adept at the use of mass petitions and extensive pamphleteering to arouse the public. When the Long Parliament did not respond to their ideas, they tried to build support in the ranks of the army, with some success. They identified themselves with the army's demands for arrears of pay, and Lilburne's pamphlet The Case of the Army Truly Stated was presented (1647) to Thomas Fairfax (later 3d Baron Fairfax of Cameron ). An expanded version, Foundations of Freedom; or, An Agreement of the People, describing the whole Leveler program, was discussed at the Putney debates (Oct., 1647) between the elected army council and their commanding officers. The Leveler proposals were totally rejected by Gen. Henry Ireton as subversive of property interests. A later pamphlet, England's New Chains, published after the execution of Charles I, and several Leveler mutinies (1649) resulted in severe suppression of the Levelers by Oliver Cromwell, who had constantly opposed them.

Bibliography: See T. C. Pease, The Leveller Movement (1916, repr. 1965); W. Haller and G. Davies, ed., The Leveller Tracts, 1647-1653 (1944, repr. 1964); J. Frank, The Levellers (1955, repr. 1969); N. H. Brailsford, The Levellers and the English Revolution (1961); C. H. Shaw, The Levellers (1968).

Hide all research tools
Print this article Print all entries for this topic Cite this article Link to this article
Link to this article

CloseClose

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1E1-Levelers" title="Facts and information about Levelers">Levelers</a>

Add this article to Del.icio.usBookmark this article on DiigoShare this article on FacebookSubmit this article to RedditGive this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"Levelers." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 27 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Levelers." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (November 27, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Levelers.html

"Levelers." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Retrieved November 27, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Levelers.html

Learn more about citation styles

Levellers

A Dictionary of World History | 2000 | © A Dictionary of World History 2000, originally published by Oxford University Press 2000. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Levellers English radicals of the mid-17th century. The Levellers were led by John Lilburne, William Walwyn, and John Wildman, and their early strength lay with the London poor. By 1647 they had won considerable support among the lower ranks of the NEW MODEL ARMY. In that year Leveller ‘Agitators’ were elected from each regiment to participate in the Putney debates, with CROMWELL and the Army Grandees, in an attempt to resolve disagreements. Their political programme, embodied in such documents as the Agreement of the People, was less radical than that of the True Levellers or Diggers. It demanded the abolition of the monarchy and House of Lords, sovereignty for the people, manhood suffrage, social reform, liberty of conscience, and equality before the law. Exasperated by the conservatism of the Grandees and Parliament, they mutinied in 1647 and 1649. By May 1649 both the civilian and military wings of the movement had been broken.

Hide all research tools
Print this article Print all entries for this topic Cite this article Link to this article
Link to this article

CloseClose

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O48-Levellers" title="Facts and information about Levelers">Levelers</a>

Add this article to Del.icio.usBookmark this article on DiigoShare this article on FacebookSubmit this article to RedditGive this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"Levellers." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 27 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Levellers." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (November 27, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-Levellers.html

"Levellers." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Retrieved November 27, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-Levellers.html

Learn more about citation styles

Levellers

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church | 2000 | | © The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church 2000, originally published by Oxford University Press 2000. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Levellers. A 17th-cent. English political and religious party. They were opposed to kingship and advocated freedom in religion and a wide extension of the suffrage. The name first occurs in 1647. Their main support was in the Army. After the execution of Charles I (1649), the Levellers faded out.

Hide all research tools
Print this article Print all entries for this topic Cite this article Link to this article
Link to this article

CloseClose

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O95-Levellers" title="Facts and information about Levelers">Levelers</a>

Add this article to Del.icio.usBookmark this article on DiigoShare this article on FacebookSubmit this article to RedditGive this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Levellers." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 27 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Levellers." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (November 27, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-Levellers.html

E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Levellers." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Retrieved November 27, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-Levellers.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

Free Article Using threaded levelers.(applications of threaded levelers on machine tools)
Magazine article from: Modern Machine Shop; 3/1/1998
Free Article Pallet load leveler.(Modern Equipmenta Review: Spotlight: Workholding)
Magazine article from: Modern Machine Shop; 7/1/2005
Free Article Spring-Loaded Devices And Levelers--Viler, Booth 2513.
Magazine article from: Modern Machine Shop; 3/1/2000

Facts and information from other sites

Related topics

  Edit this list

Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

Which dock leveler is the right one for you?
Magazine article from: Modern Materials Handling; 12/1/1993; ; 700+ words ; ...them. Recessed levelers Each type of leveler has its own strong...design, recessed levelers can present housekeeping...underneath. A recessed leveler is mounted in a...of-dock (EOD) levelers The fourth type of leveler is the edge-of...
Comparing dock levelers.
Magazine article from: Plant Engineering; 10/1/1996; ; 700+ words ; ...placing the dock leveler into its stored position. Hydraulic levelers typically make this...results whenever the leveler is in a below dock...Few mechanical levelers perform this function...platform to settle the leveler flush with the surrounding...Most hydraulic levelers are ...
Putting dock levelers on the level: with many different types, choosing one's not easy.
Magazine article from: Food Logistics; 7/1/2006; ; 700+ words ; ...lines of dock levelers. "There is virtually a dock leveler for every specific...to lower the leveler onto the trailer...knock on these levelers, though, is...assisted mechanical levelers use push-button...that force the leveler up; gravity...
Get the right dock leveler for the job. (dock leveler purchasing)
Magazine article from: Modern Materials Handling; 4/1/1991; ; 700+ words ; ...retrofitting a recessed leveler into an older...work. Recessed levelers are available...length of the leveler ramp, recessed dock levelers can service trailer...available, as are leveler ramp lengths...front-of-dock levelers may be able to...
Finding the right leveler for the job: vertical dock levelers offer many advantages.(Material Handling)
Magazine article from: Food Logistics; 9/1/2008; ; 700+ words ; ...He says the pit levelers were much harder...vertical storing leveler all the way throughout...Serco vertical dock levelers. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "The levelers have a great impact...with the pit style leveler that you can only...
Selecting replacement dock levelers.
Magazine article from: Plant Engineering; 9/5/1991; ; 700+ words ; ...the plant cross the levelers. Operational factors and the leveler type chosen - edge...selecting a replacement leveler: length, width...investment. Length. Levelers should be long enough...bed height. Steep leveler grades wear down...
Selecting replacement dock levelers. (Special Issue: Best of Plant Engineering)
Magazine article from: Plant Engineering; 12/10/1992; ; 700+ words ; ...the plant cross the levelers. Operational factors and the leveler type chosen -- edge...selecting a replacement leveler: length, width...investment. Length. Levelers should be long enough...bed height. Steep leveler grades wear down...
Selecting the best dock levelers for your application. (includes related article on dock equipment)
Magazine article from: Modern Materials Handling; 6/1/1995; ; 700+ words ; ...different types of dock levelers? Here's a short course on leveler selection. Functionally, all dock levelers are identical: they...air flow through the leveler is reduced during truck...unloading. Vertical levelers are available in mechanically...
Selecting the right dock leveler
Magazine article from: Modern Materials Handling; 1/1/1998; ; 700+ words ; ...levelers. Pit-style levelers are the most commonly...hydraulically-powered levelers see service most often...determine the appropriate leveler capacity, length...and powered types of levelers. In general, there are four methods of leveler activation: mechanical...
New dock levelers cut forklift maintenance and product damage.(Brief Article)
Magazine article from: Modern Materials Handling; 9/15/1998; 700+ words ; ...of the mechanical levelers was "walked down" into place, the leveler's support legs...to hydraulic dock levelers (APB-1000 model...cost automatic leveler combines proven...test one of these levelers on a six-month...Becsey installed the leveler at the dock position...

Pictures from Google Image Search

Click to see an enlarged picture
Click to see an enlarged picture
Click to see an enlarged picture

For students and teachers!

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including:

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including:

Current Levelers News: