AQA · A-Level · History
Course version: 7042 · Version from Sept 2017
Social divisions: the emergence of political and religious radicalism in…
Full specification wording
1D Stuart Britain and the Crisis of Monarchy, 1603–1702 – Revolution, 1629–1649: Social divisions: the emergence of political and religious radicalism in the 1640s; the Levellers and Millenarian groups
The breakdown of traditional authority in the 1640s exacerbated social divisions and catalysed unprecedented political and religious radicalism.
Checked against the AQA 7042 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 4 of 6
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
The breakdown of traditional authority in the 1640s exacerbated social divisions and catalysed unprecedented political and religious radicalism. The collapse of censorship allowed dissenting ideas to flourish, particularly within the New Model Army. The Levellers emerged as a potent political force advocating for popular sovereignty, extended suffrage, and legal equality, famously debated at Putney in 1647. Simultaneously, religious radicalism surged through Millenarian groups like the Fifth Monarchists, who believed Charles I's defeat heralded Christ's earthly kingdom. These radical movements challenged the established social hierarchy, terrifying the conservative gentry and profoundly influencing the post-war political landscape.
What earns the marks
- Analyse the factors contributing to the rise of radicalism, including the collapse of censorship and the radicalising environment of the New Model Army.
- Evaluate the political demands of the Levellers, focusing on the Agreement of the People and the Putney Debates of 1647.
- Assess the theological and political impact of Millenarian groups, such as the Fifth Monarchists, on the stability of the state.
- Examine how the fear of social subversion among the traditional ruling classes influenced their reaction to radical groups.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Conflating the Levellers with the Diggers.
Put it right: Distinguish the Levellers' focus on political and legal reform from the Diggers' demands for economic and agrarian communism.
Assuming radical groups had widespread national support.
Put it right: Acknowledge that while highly vocal and influential in the army and London, their support base was relatively narrow.
Treating political and religious radicalism as entirely separate.
Put it right: Explain how they were deeply intertwined, with religious dissent often providing the justification for political upheaval.
Exam tips
- Use the Putney Debates as a primary example to illustrate the ideological clash between Leveller radicalism and the conservatism of the Grandees.
- When discussing Millenarianism, explain how the trauma of the Civil Wars led people to interpret events through the lens of biblical prophecy.
- Evaluate the extent to which the threat of radicalism was exaggerated by conservative contemporaries through the printing press.
Try the lesson
The start of the 1D Stuart Britain and the Crisis of Monarchy, 1603–1702 – Revolution, 1629–1649: Social divisions: the emergence of political and religious radicalism in the 1640s; the Levellers and Millenarian groups lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
What was a primary political demand of the Leveller movement during the late 1640s?
Listen
The breakdown of traditional authority in the 1640s exacerbated social divisions and catalysed unprecedented political and religious radicalism. The collapse of censorship allowed dissenting ideas to flourish, particularly within the New Model Army. The Levellers emerged as a potent political force advocating for popular sovereignty, extended suffrage, and legal equality, famously debated at Putney in 1647. Simultaneously, religious radicalism surged through Millenarian groups like the Fifth Monarchists, who believed Charles I's defeat heralded Christ's earthly kingdom. These radical movements challenged the established social hierarchy, terrifying the conservative gentry and profoundly influencing the post-war political landscape. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Analyse the factors contributing to the rise of radicalism, including the collapse of censorship and the radicalising environment of the New Model Army. Evaluate the political demands of the Levellers, focusing on the Agreement of the People and the Putney Debates of 1647. Assess the theological and political impact of Millenarian groups, such as the Fifth Monarchists, on the stability of the state. Examine how the fear of social subversion among the traditional ruling classes influenced their reaction to radical groups. A common slip: Conflating the Levellers with the Diggers. Instead, distinguish the Levellers' focus on political and legal reform from the Diggers' demands for economic and agrarian communism. Exam tip: Use the Putney Debates as a primary example to illustrate the ideological clash between Leveller radicalism and the conservatism of the Grandees.
Key words
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Radicalism and dissent
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Social hierarchy and subversion
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The role of the New Model Army
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Print culture and propaganda
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See every definition
- Radicalism and dissent
- Political and religious radicalism emerged in the 1640s as traditional authority broke down and social divisions were exacerbated.
- Social hierarchy and subversion
- Radical movements challenged the established social hierarchy, terrifying the conservative gentry.
- The role of the New Model Army
- The collapse of censorship allowed dissenting ideas to flourish, particularly within the New Model Army.
- Print culture and propaganda
- The collapse of censorship allowed dissenting ideas to flourish.
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