Diggers - Revision history

WikiSysop at 12:20, 24 October 2018

2018-10-24T12:20:34Z

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	Or '''True Levellers''' (to be distinguished from the [[Levellers]]). [[Proto-Socialism\|~~proto~~-socialist]] movement advocating the abolishing of private landownership and instead practiced a communal rural lifestyle in harmony with the environment.		Or '''True Levellers''' (to be distinguished from the [[Levellers]]). [[Proto-Socialism\|Proto-socialist]] movement advocating the abolishing of private landownership and instead practiced a communal rural lifestyle in harmony with the environment.

	==Context of the Digger movement==		==Context of the Digger movement==

Pankratz at 13:21, 25 April 2013

2013-04-25T13:21:12Z

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	~~The '''Diggers''' or~~ '''True Levellers''' (to be distinguished from the [[Levellers]]) ~~were a~~ [[Proto-Socialism\|proto-socialist]] ~~agrarian~~ movement advocating the abolishing of private landownership and instead practiced a communal rural lifestyle in harmony with the environment.		Or '''True Levellers''' (to be distinguished from the [[Levellers]]). [[Proto-Socialism\|proto-socialist]] movement advocating the abolishing of private landownership and instead practiced a communal rural lifestyle in harmony with the environment.

	==Context of the Digger movement==		==Context of the Digger movement==
	The idea of common land has a long tradition in Britain. But enclosures constantly reduced the amount of common land, much to the detriment of the poor. Radical elements of the Army, in 1646, call for an Agrarian law, restricting the maximum amount of land a man can own, thereby effectively stopping further enclosures and freeing up a great amount of land in the case of the wealthiest landowners. In December 1648 a Buckinghamshire Leveller group called for equality of property in a pamphlet entitled ''Light Shining in Buckinghamshire'': "All men being alike privileged by birth, so all men were to enjoy the creatures alike without property one more than the other." Thus, while being more radical in their ideas, and the first to put them into practice, the Diggers were by no means a unique phenomenon. The combination of a radical rethinking of religious ideas, the practical possibility of changing the hierarchy as evidenced by Charles' execution and the disaffected poor masses suffering from war and famine were a fertile breeding ground for such ideas.		The idea of common land has a long tradition in Britain. But [[enclosures]] constantly reduced the amount of common land, much to the detriment of the poor. Radical elements of the Army, in 1646, call for an Agrarian law, restricting the maximum amount of land a man can own, thereby effectively stopping further enclosures and freeing up a great amount of land in the case of the wealthiest landowners. In December 1648 a Buckinghamshire Leveller group called for equality of property in a pamphlet entitled ''Light Shining in Buckinghamshire'': "All men being alike privileged by birth, so all men were to enjoy the creatures alike without property one more than the other." Thus, while being more radical in their ideas, and the first to put them into practice, the Diggers were by no means a unique phenomenon. The combination of a radical rethinking of religious ideas, the practical possibility of changing the hierarchy as evidenced by Charles' execution and the disaffected poor masses suffering from war and famine were a fertile breeding ground for such ideas.

	==Theory==		==Theory==
	The theoretical basis for the Digger movement was never unified and homogeneous, but can be said to have roughly ~~two~~ distinct strands:		The theoretical basis for the Digger movement was never unified and homogeneous, but can be said to have roughly three distinct strands:
	* Ecology. They understood the land as not merely given to them for their benefit, but advocated its responsible use. In what would be called ecological thinking today, they realised that the land (including plant and animal life) and the people living upon it form a relationship that affects both parties.		* Ecology. They understood the land as not merely given to them for their benefit, but advocated its responsible use. In what would be called ecological thinking today, they realised that the land (including plant and animal life) and the people living upon it form a relationship that affects both parties.
	* Communism or Anarchism. They felt that once all the people of England followed their example and formed communes, thus working the common land together and for everyone's benefit, they would essentially have abolished the ruling class. Without peasants and labourers working for them, the former members of the elite would be forced to join the communes themselves, thus losing their privileges.		* Communism or Anarchism. They felt that once all the people of England followed their example and formed communes, thus working the common land together and for everyone's benefit, they would essentially have abolished the ruling class. Without peasants and labourers working for them, the former members of the elite would be forced to join the communes themselves, thus losing their privileges.
	~~A third important strand was the~~ belief in God. This justifies the reverence for the common land as a replay of Paradise as well as the premiss that - before God - everyone is created equal.		* Religion. Digger tracts emphasised a strong belief in God and the writings of the Bible. This justifies the reverence for the common land as a replay of Paradise as well as the premiss that - before God - everyone is created equal.

	==Practice==		==Practice==
	Diggers began to form small rural communities in Surrey and Buckinghamshire and cultivated common land. However, the local landowners, obviously aware of the radical implications the Diggers' presence had, started to recruit gangs to harass Diggers or even destroy their crops and tools, going as far as to burn down their houses. Local courts did not recognise the Diggers, in one case even prosecuted them as being [[Ranters]], a forbidden ~~sect~~. Thus the Digger movement never took off, by 1651 the last communities had collapsed under the constant harassment.		Diggers began to form small rural communities in Surrey and Buckinghamshire and cultivated common land. However, the local landowners, obviously aware of the radical implications the Diggers' presence had, started to recruit gangs to harass Diggers or even destroy their crops and tools, going as far as to burn down their houses. Local courts did not recognise the Diggers, in one case even prosecuted them as being [[Ranters]], a forbidden Puritan group. Thus the Digger movement never took off, by 1651 the last communities had collapsed under the constant harassment.

	==See also==		==See also==

Pankratz at 08:18, 21 July 2009

2009-07-21T08:18:26Z

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	==Context of the Digger movement==		==Context of the Digger movement==
	~~''For more of the context in which the Diggers appeared see [[Proto-Socialism]].''<br />~~
	The idea of common land has a long tradition in Britain. But enclosures constantly reduced the amount of common land, much to the detriment of the poor. Radical elements of the Army, in 1646, call for an Agrarian law, restricting the maximum amount of land a man can own, thereby effectively stopping further enclosures and freeing up a great amount of land in the case of the wealthiest landowners. In December 1648 a Buckinghamshire Leveller group called for equality of property in a pamphlet entitled ''Light Shining in Buckinghamshire'': "All men being alike privileged by birth, so all men were to enjoy the creatures alike without property one more than the other." Thus, while being more radical in their ideas, and the first to put them into practice, the Diggers were by no means a unique phenomenon. The combination of a radical rethinking of religious ideas, the practical possibility of changing the hierarchy as evidenced by Charles' execution and the disaffected poor masses suffering from war and famine were a fertile breeding ground for such ideas.		The idea of common land has a long tradition in Britain. But enclosures constantly reduced the amount of common land, much to the detriment of the poor. Radical elements of the Army, in 1646, call for an Agrarian law, restricting the maximum amount of land a man can own, thereby effectively stopping further enclosures and freeing up a great amount of land in the case of the wealthiest landowners. In December 1648 a Buckinghamshire Leveller group called for equality of property in a pamphlet entitled ''Light Shining in Buckinghamshire'': "All men being alike privileged by birth, so all men were to enjoy the creatures alike without property one more than the other." Thus, while being more radical in their ideas, and the first to put them into practice, the Diggers were by no means a unique phenomenon. The combination of a radical rethinking of religious ideas, the practical possibility of changing the hierarchy as evidenced by Charles' execution and the disaffected poor masses suffering from war and famine were a fertile breeding ground for such ideas.

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	* Ecology. They understood the land as not merely given to them for their benefit, but advocated its responsible use. In what would be called ecological thinking today, they realised that the land (including plant and animal life) and the people living upon it form a relationship that affects both parties.		* Ecology. They understood the land as not merely given to them for their benefit, but advocated its responsible use. In what would be called ecological thinking today, they realised that the land (including plant and animal life) and the people living upon it form a relationship that affects both parties.
	* Communism or Anarchism. They felt that once all the people of England followed their example and formed communes, thus working the common land together and for everyone's benefit, they would essentially have abolished the ruling class. Without peasants and labourers working for them, the former members of the elite would be forced to join the communes themselves, thus losing their privileges.		* Communism or Anarchism. They felt that once all the people of England followed their example and formed communes, thus working the common land together and for everyone's benefit, they would essentially have abolished the ruling class. Without peasants and labourers working for them, the former members of the elite would be forced to join the communes themselves, thus losing their privileges.
			A third important strand was the belief in God. This justifies the reverence for the common land as a replay of Paradise as well as the premiss that - before God - everyone is created equal.

	==Practice==		==Practice==
	Diggers began to form small rural communities in Surrey and Buckinghamshire and cultivated common land. However, the local landowners, obviously aware of the radical implications the Diggers presence had, started to recruit gangs to harass Diggers or even destroy their crops and tools, going as far as to burn down their houses. Local courts did not recognise the Diggers, in one case even prosecuted them as being Ranters, a forbidden sect. Thus the Digger movement never took off, by 1651 the last communities had collapsed under the constant harassment.		Diggers began to form small rural communities in Surrey and Buckinghamshire and cultivated common land. However, the local landowners, obviously aware of the radical implications the Diggers' presence had, started to recruit gangs to harass Diggers or even destroy their crops and tools, going as far as to burn down their houses. Local courts did not recognise the Diggers, in one case even prosecuted them as being [[Ranters]], a forbidden sect. Thus the Digger movement never took off, by 1651 the last communities had collapsed under the constant harassment.

	==See also==		==See also==
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	* Berens, Lewis. ''The Digger Movement in the Days of the Commonwealth.'' London: Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent, & Co., 1906.		* Berens, Lewis. ''The Digger Movement in the Days of the Commonwealth.'' London: Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent, & Co., 1906.
	* Bernstein, Eduard. ''Cromwell and Communism''. London: George Allen & Unwin, 1930.		* Bernstein, Eduard. ''Cromwell and Communism''. London: George Allen & Unwin, 1930.
	* Coward, Barry. ''A ~~companion~~ to Stuart Britain.'' Oxford: Blackwell, 2003.		* Coward, Barry. ''A Companion to Stuart Britain.'' Oxford: Blackwell, 2003.
	* Petegorsky, David. ''Left-Wing Democracy in the English Civil War.'' Oxford: Alden, 1995.		* Petegorsky, David. ''Left-Wing Democracy in the English Civil War.'' Oxford: Alden, 1995.

Daniel at 21:18, 17 July 2009

2009-07-17T21:18:38Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:18, 17 July 2009
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	''For more of the context in which the Diggers appeared see [[Proto-Socialism]].''<br />		''For more of the context in which the Diggers appeared see [[Proto-Socialism]].''<br />
	The idea of common land has a long tradition in Britain. But enclosures constantly reduced the amount of common land, much to the detriment of the poor. Radical elements of the Army, in 1646, call for an Agrarian law, restricting the maximum amount of land a man can own, thereby effectively stopping further enclosures and freeing up a great amount of land in the case of the wealthiest landowners. In December 1648 a Buckinghamshire Leveller group called for equality of property in a pamphlet entitled ''Light Shining in Buckinghamshire'': "All men being alike privileged by birth, so all men were to enjoy the creatures alike without property one more than the other." Thus, while being more radical in their ideas, and the first to put them into practice, the Diggers were by no means a unique phenomenon. The combination of a radical rethinking of religious ideas, the practical possibility of changing the hierarchy as evidenced by Charles' execution and the disaffected poor masses suffering from war and famine were a fertile breeding ground for such ideas.		The idea of common land has a long tradition in Britain. But enclosures constantly reduced the amount of common land, much to the detriment of the poor. Radical elements of the Army, in 1646, call for an Agrarian law, restricting the maximum amount of land a man can own, thereby effectively stopping further enclosures and freeing up a great amount of land in the case of the wealthiest landowners. In December 1648 a Buckinghamshire Leveller group called for equality of property in a pamphlet entitled ''Light Shining in Buckinghamshire'': "All men being alike privileged by birth, so all men were to enjoy the creatures alike without property one more than the other." Thus, while being more radical in their ideas, and the first to put them into practice, the Diggers were by no means a unique phenomenon. The combination of a radical rethinking of religious ideas, the practical possibility of changing the hierarchy as evidenced by Charles' execution and the disaffected poor masses suffering from war and famine were a fertile breeding ground for such ideas.


	==Theory==		==Theory==

Daniel at 21:18, 17 July 2009

2009-07-17T21:18:18Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:18, 17 July 2009
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	The '''Diggers''' or '''True Levellers''' (to be distinguished from the [[Levellers]]) were a [[Proto-Socialism\|proto-socialist]] agrarian movement advocating the abolishing of private landownership and instead practiced a communal rural lifestyle in harmony with the environment.		The '''Diggers''' or '''True Levellers''' (to be distinguished from the [[Levellers]]) were a [[Proto-Socialism\|proto-socialist]] agrarian movement advocating the abolishing of private landownership and instead practiced a communal rural lifestyle in harmony with the environment.

	==Context==		==Context of the Digger movement==
	''~~See~~ [[Proto-Socialism]].''		''For more of the context in which the Diggers appeared see [[Proto-Socialism]].''<br />
			The idea of common land has a long tradition in Britain. But enclosures constantly reduced the amount of common land, much to the detriment of the poor. Radical elements of the Army, in 1646, call for an Agrarian law, restricting the maximum amount of land a man can own, thereby effectively stopping further enclosures and freeing up a great amount of land in the case of the wealthiest landowners. In December 1648 a Buckinghamshire Leveller group called for equality of property in a pamphlet entitled ''Light Shining in Buckinghamshire'': "All men being alike privileged by birth, so all men were to enjoy the creatures alike without property one more than the other." Thus, while being more radical in their ideas, and the first to put them into practice, the Diggers were by no means a unique phenomenon. The combination of a radical rethinking of religious ideas, the practical possibility of changing the hierarchy as evidenced by Charles' execution and the disaffected poor masses suffering from war and famine were a fertile breeding ground for such ideas.


	==Theory==		==Theory==
	The theoretical basis for the Digger movement ~~had~~ two distinct strands:		The theoretical basis for the Digger movement was never unified and homogeneous, but can be said to have roughly two distinct strands:
	* Ecology. They understood the land as not merely given to them for their benefit, but advocated its responsible use. In what would be called ecological thinking today, they realised that the land (including plant and animal life) and the people living upon it form a relationship that affects both parties.		* Ecology. They understood the land as not merely given to them for their benefit, but advocated its responsible use. In what would be called ecological thinking today, they realised that the land (including plant and animal life) and the people living upon it form a relationship that affects both parties.
	* Communism or Anarchism. They felt that once all the people of England followed their example and formed communes, thus working the common land together and for everyone's benefit, they would essentially have abolished the ruling class. Without peasants and labourers working for them, the former members of the elite would be forced to join the communes themselves, thus losing their privileges.		* Communism or Anarchism. They felt that once all the people of England followed their example and formed communes, thus working the common land together and for everyone's benefit, they would essentially have abolished the ruling class. Without peasants and labourers working for them, the former members of the elite would be forced to join the communes themselves, thus losing their privileges.

Daniel at 21:06, 17 July 2009

2009-07-17T21:06:55Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:06, 17 July 2009
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	==Practice==		==Practice==
	Diggers began to form small rural communities in Surrey and Buckinghamshire and cultivated common land. However, the local landowners, obviously aware of the radical implications the Diggers presence had, started to recruit gangs to harass Diggers or even destroy their crops and tools, going as far as to burn down their houses. Local courts did not recognise the Diggers, in one case even prosecuted them as being Ranters, a forbidden sect. Thus the Digger movement never took off, by 1651 the last communities had collapsed under the constant harassment.		Diggers began to form small rural communities in Surrey and Buckinghamshire and cultivated common land. However, the local landowners, obviously aware of the radical implications the Diggers presence had, started to recruit gangs to harass Diggers or even destroy their crops and tools, going as far as to burn down their houses. Local courts did not recognise the Diggers, in one case even prosecuted them as being Ranters, a forbidden sect. Thus the Digger movement never took off, by 1651 the last communities had collapsed under the constant harassment.

			==See also==
			* [[Levellers]]

	==Primary Sources==		==Primary Sources==

Daniel at 21:05, 17 July 2009

2009-07-17T21:05:33Z

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	~~{{working\|Daniel}}~~
	The '''Diggers''' or '''True Levellers''' (to be distinguished from the [[Levellers]]) were a [[Proto-Socialism\|proto-socialist]] agrarian movement advocating the abolishing of private landownership and instead practiced a communal rural lifestyle in harmony with the environment.		The '''Diggers''' or '''True Levellers''' (to be distinguished from the [[Levellers]]) were a [[Proto-Socialism\|proto-socialist]] agrarian movement advocating the abolishing of private landownership and instead practiced a communal rural lifestyle in harmony with the environment.

Daniel at 21:05, 17 July 2009

2009-07-17T21:05:22Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:05, 17 July 2009
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	{{working\|Daniel}}		{{working\|Daniel}}
			The '''Diggers''' or '''True Levellers''' (to be distinguished from the [[Levellers]]) were a [[Proto-Socialism\|proto-socialist]] agrarian movement advocating the abolishing of private landownership and instead practiced a communal rural lifestyle in harmony with the environment.

			==Context==
			''See [[Proto-Socialism]].''

			==Theory==
			The theoretical basis for the Digger movement had two distinct strands:
			* Ecology. They understood the land as not merely given to them for their benefit, but advocated its responsible use. In what would be called ecological thinking today, they realised that the land (including plant and animal life) and the people living upon it form a relationship that affects both parties.
			* Communism or Anarchism. They felt that once all the people of England followed their example and formed communes, thus working the common land together and for everyone's benefit, they would essentially have abolished the ruling class. Without peasants and labourers working for them, the former members of the elite would be forced to join the communes themselves, thus losing their privileges.

			==Practice==
			Diggers began to form small rural communities in Surrey and Buckinghamshire and cultivated common land. However, the local landowners, obviously aware of the radical implications the Diggers presence had, started to recruit gangs to harass Diggers or even destroy their crops and tools, going as far as to burn down their houses. Local courts did not recognise the Diggers, in one case even prosecuted them as being Ranters, a forbidden sect. Thus the Digger movement never took off, by 1651 the last communities had collapsed under the constant harassment.

	==Primary Sources==		==Primary Sources==

Daniel at 09:36, 17 July 2009

2009-07-17T09:36:12Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:36, 17 July 2009
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	* Berens, Lewis. ''The Digger Movement in the Days of the Commonwealth.'' London: Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent, & Co., 1906.		* Berens, Lewis. ''The Digger Movement in the Days of the Commonwealth.'' London: Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent, & Co., 1906.
	* Bernstein, Eduard. ''Cromwell and Communism''. London: George Allen & Unwin, 1930.		* Bernstein, Eduard. ''Cromwell and Communism''. London: George Allen & Unwin, 1930.
			* Coward, Barry. ''A companion to Stuart Britain.'' Oxford: Blackwell, 2003.
			* Petegorsky, David. ''Left-Wing Democracy in the English Civil War.'' Oxford: Alden, 1995.

	===Weblinks===		===Weblinks===

Daniel: /* References */

2009-07-17T09:02:37Z

References

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:02, 17 July 2009
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	* Berens, Lewis. ''The Digger Movement in the Days of the Commonwealth.'' London: Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent, & Co., 1906.		* Berens, Lewis. ''The Digger Movement in the Days of the Commonwealth.'' London: Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent, & Co., 1906.
	* Bernstein, Eduard. ''Cromwell and Communism''. London: George Allen & Unwin, 1930.		* Bernstein, Eduard. ''Cromwell and Communism''. London: George Allen & Unwin, 1930.


	===Weblinks===		===Weblinks===