Seminar: Religious and political radicals in Early Stuart England, HIS211

Questions: Why were the religious and political radicals of the 1640s and 1650s feared by most people, given their numerical insignificance?

Which were the main religious and political radical groups? How many were there, in proportion to the whole nation? Were they the victims of hostile propaganda? What sort of fears did their activities, or their reported activities, arouse? What sort of success in recruitment or political influence did they achieve? You should mention the Diggers, Levellers, Quakers and Ranters at least.

You should use the reading list already handed out, namely the political reading list for HIS211 and the relevant thematic breakdown


LIST OF TOPICS ON RADICALS:


Topic ONE:Levellers:
Who were the Levellers and why were the Levellers so feared?

DOCUMENT EXTRACTS:


Recommended secondary literature for seminar topic. Just try and read a couple of chapters, or two articles as well as the documents.

Aylmer, G. (Eds.). (1975). The Levellers in the English Revolution

Woolrych, A. (1992). Looking back at the Levellers. Historian, 34, 3-8.

Fletcher, A., & Stevenson, J. (Eds.). (1985 ). Order and Disorder in Early Modern England . [942 05-ORD c.1 ]. Key article is by John Morrill and John Walter.

Dow, F. D. (1984). Radicalism in the English Revolution.

Hill, C. (1964 ). Society and Puritanism in Pre-revolutionary England .

Hill, C. (1972 ). The World Turned Upside Down .

J. Morrill (Ed.), Reactions to the English Civil War (941.063-REA)

Morrill, J. (Eds.). (1992b). Revolution and Restoration. England in the 1650s . Collins & Brown.


Topic TWO:Quakers and Ranters
Why were religious radicals feared by contemporaries?
DOCUMENT EXTRACTS:You only have to read TWO document extracts ..

Recommended secondary literature for seminar topic. Just try and read a couple of chapters, or two articles as well as the documents.

Reay, B. (1985 ). The Quakers and the English Revolution . [289 69-REA].

McGregor, J., & Reay, B. (Eds.). (1984). Radical religion in the English Revolution. .

Acheson, R. J. (1990 ). Radical Puritans in England 1550-1660

Dow, F. D. (1984). Radicalism in the English Revolution.

Hill, C. (1972 ). The World Turned Upside Down .

Morrill, J. (Eds.). (1991). The Impact of the English Civil War 941.062-IMP.

Morrill, J. (Eds.). (1992b). Revolution and Restoration. England in the 1650s . Collins & Brown.

Fletcher, A., & Stevenson, J. (Eds.). (1985 ). Order and Disorder in Early Modern England . [942 05-ORD c.1 ]. Key article is by John Morrill and John Walter.

Friedman, J. (1987). Blasphemy, Immorality and Anarchy.

Capp, B. (1972). The Fifth Monarchy Men.

Davis, J. C. (1986). Fear, myth and History.

Davis, J. C. (1992). Religion and the struggle for freedom in the English Revolution.

Thomas, K. (1958 ). Women and the Civil War Sects. Past and Present

Thomas, K. (1978 ). The Puritans and Adultery: the Act of 1650 Reconsidered. In K. V. Thomas, & D. H. Pennington (Ed.), Puritans and Revolutionaries


Topic THREE: Diggers and Gerard Winstanley
Who were the Diggers and what was so unusual about their ideas?

DOCUMENT EXTRACTS:


Recommended secondary literature for seminar topic. Just try and read a couple of chapters, or two articles as well as the documents.

Winstanley, G. (1973). The Law of Freedom and other writings. Penguin. Ed. C. Hill.

Fletcher, A., & Stevenson, J. (Eds.). (1985 ). Order and Disorder in Early Modern England . [942 05-ORD c.1 ]. Key article is by John Morrill and John Walter.

Dow, F. D. (1984). Radicalism in the English Revolution.

Hill, C. (1972 ). The World Turned Upside Down .

Morrill, J. (Eds.). (1991). The Impact of the English Civil War 941.062-IMP.



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