Those people who have studied the English Civil War and the conflicts associated with it should be familiar with the Levellers, and the name Richard Overton. These radicals, whose democratic views were based on their understanding of Christianity, were one of the world's first political parties. Their name continues to echo down through history, still influencing politics to this day.
Many pamphlets and tracts debating the political issues of the day were written in the late 1640s, with Richard Overton writing many famous examples. The Levellers rose to the peak of their influence in 1648 and 1649, in the time immediately before the execution of Charles I. The English Civil War had spread to Ireland and Scotland by then, and violence would erupt again in England before Oliver Cromwell would take power.
By 1650, the influence of the Levellers had diminished to almost nothing, but they are far from forgotten today in England, and further afield, especially among political groups on the left of the spectrum. In many ways, the Levellers were one of the world's first political parties, wearing a sea-green ribbon to show their loyalties, and campaigning with petitions and pamphlets. Overton played a prominent role in producing many of these.
The word 'Leveller' was first heard in the early years of the 17th century, when rural rebels who 'levelled' hedges in protest against enclosures were disparaged with the term. In the 1640s, the term Leveller came to be associated with a New Model Army faction who were accused of planning the assassination of Charles I. Richard Overton, John Lilburne and William Walwyn were among the most prominent of the people who were known as Levellers.
Many of the political demands made by the Levellers have been incorporated into the political systems of countries all over the world now, but at the time they seemed very radical. The Levellers wanted to see all adult males given the vote, for Parliament to be elected every two years, the abolition of imprisonment to punish debtors, and for measures to be put in place to eliminate parliamentary corruption. Religious toleration, a vital issue in the 17th century, was also one of their principles.
Overton himself was of the opinion that liberty was the natural right of every person, something which is familiar today. Some Levellers also felt that the natural rights of the English people had been eroded since the Norman Conquest. Others felt that the justification for universal freedom could be found in the Bible.
The forces of the government, with Oliver Cromwell to the fore, did not tolerate the Levellers for long. A mutiny amongst some New Model Army units was brutally crushed, with some ringleaders shot, while political leaders like Walwyn and Lilburne were put in prison. Many of the Levellers' demands would later come into law, in England and across the world.
Richard Overton would go on to vanish into relative obscurity, though it is known that he spent time in prison, as well as overseas, in the two decades or so after the end of the Levellers. It is also believed that he may have spied on behalf of both Cromwell's government and Charles II. As part of the Levellers, he helped to bring the plight of the common people to history's notice.
Many pamphlets and tracts debating the political issues of the day were written in the late 1640s, with Richard Overton writing many famous examples. The Levellers rose to the peak of their influence in 1648 and 1649, in the time immediately before the execution of Charles I. The English Civil War had spread to Ireland and Scotland by then, and violence would erupt again in England before Oliver Cromwell would take power.
By 1650, the influence of the Levellers had diminished to almost nothing, but they are far from forgotten today in England, and further afield, especially among political groups on the left of the spectrum. In many ways, the Levellers were one of the world's first political parties, wearing a sea-green ribbon to show their loyalties, and campaigning with petitions and pamphlets. Overton played a prominent role in producing many of these.
The word 'Leveller' was first heard in the early years of the 17th century, when rural rebels who 'levelled' hedges in protest against enclosures were disparaged with the term. In the 1640s, the term Leveller came to be associated with a New Model Army faction who were accused of planning the assassination of Charles I. Richard Overton, John Lilburne and William Walwyn were among the most prominent of the people who were known as Levellers.
Many of the political demands made by the Levellers have been incorporated into the political systems of countries all over the world now, but at the time they seemed very radical. The Levellers wanted to see all adult males given the vote, for Parliament to be elected every two years, the abolition of imprisonment to punish debtors, and for measures to be put in place to eliminate parliamentary corruption. Religious toleration, a vital issue in the 17th century, was also one of their principles.
Overton himself was of the opinion that liberty was the natural right of every person, something which is familiar today. Some Levellers also felt that the natural rights of the English people had been eroded since the Norman Conquest. Others felt that the justification for universal freedom could be found in the Bible.
The forces of the government, with Oliver Cromwell to the fore, did not tolerate the Levellers for long. A mutiny amongst some New Model Army units was brutally crushed, with some ringleaders shot, while political leaders like Walwyn and Lilburne were put in prison. Many of the Levellers' demands would later come into law, in England and across the world.
Richard Overton would go on to vanish into relative obscurity, though it is known that he spent time in prison, as well as overseas, in the two decades or so after the end of the Levellers. It is also believed that he may have spied on behalf of both Cromwell's government and Charles II. As part of the Levellers, he helped to bring the plight of the common people to history's notice.
About the Author:
If you want details about Richard Overton, visit the web pages here at www.rickoverton.net today. You can see details on performances online at http://www.rickoverton.net now.
