English Civil War Right to property

the arguments advanced levellers during english civil war on property , civil , political rights, such right vote, informed subsequent debates in other countries. levellers emerged political movement in mid 17th century england in aftermath of protestant reformation. believed property had been earned fruit of 1 s labour sacred under bible s commandment thou shall not steal . such believed right acquire property 1 s work sacred. levellers views on right property, , right not deprived of property civil , political right, developed pamphleteer richard overton. in arrow against tyrants (1646) overton argued that:

every individual in nature given individual property nature not invaded or usurped any. everyone, himself , has self propertiety, else not himself; , of no second may presume deprive of without manifest violation , affront principles of nature of rules of equity , justice between man , man. mine , thine cannot be, except this. no man has power on rights , liberties, , on no man.

the views of levellers, enjoyed support amongst small scale property owners , craftsmen, not shared revolutionary parties of english civil war. @ 1647 general council oliver cromwell , henry ireton argued against equating right life right property. argued doing establish right take 1 may want, irrespective of rights of others. leveller thomas rainborough responded, relying on overton s arguments, levellers required respect others natural rights. definition of property, , whether acquired fruit of 1 s labour , such natural right, subject intense debate because property ownership tied right vote. political freedom @ time associated property ownership , individual independence. cromwell , ireton maintained property in freehold land or chartered trading rights gave man right vote. argued type of property ownership constituted take in society , entitles men political power. in contrast levellers argued men not servants, alms recipients or beggars, should considered property owners , given voting rights. believed political freedom secured individuals, such craftsmen, engaging in independent economic activity.

levellers concerned civil , political rights of small scale property owners , workers. in contrast diggers, smaller revolutionary group led gerard winstanley, focused on rights of rural poor worked on landed property. diggers argued private property not consistent justice , land had been confiscated crown , church should turned communal land cultivated poor. according diggers right vote should extended , had right adequate standard of living. when monarchy restored in 1660 confiscated land returned crown , church. property rights recognised , limited voting rights established. ideas of levellers on property , civil , political rights remained influential , advanced in subsequent 1688 glorious revolution. restrictions on right vote based on property meant fraction of british population given right vote. in 1780 214,000 property owning men entitled vote in england , wales, less 3 percent of population (8 million). reform act 1832 restricted right vote men owned property annual value of £10, giving approximately 4 percent of adult male population right vote. reforms of 1867 extended right vote approximately 8 percent. working class, increased dramatically industrial revolution, , industrialists remained excluded political system.