Contrary to popular belief and standard textbook education, the Levellers were not socialists who believed in common ownership. Rather, the Levellers—led by Richard Overton, John Lilburne, and William Walwyn—were a 16th-century classical liberal movement born during the English Civil War, giving inspiration to modern-day libertarianism.
The root of their beliefs was in the principle of self-ownership, which states that individuals have ownership—and inadvertently, sovereignty—over themselves. Christian Levellers will concede that ultimately, God has authority over everyone, and in that sense, individuals are not sovereign over themselves. However, they argue that for all practical purposes and discussions, it remains true, in the sense that on a human-to-human level, individuals have more “ownership” over their bodies than anyone else. Thus, coercion is immoral because it rejects the free will God gives individuals.
Property rights, freedom to make contracts, freedom of trade, religious toleration, and popular sovereignty are a few other principles the Levellers believed in. Richard Overton, in particular, argued that the people have ultimate power over Parliament and that Parliament is bound by natural law.
Asher Sisneros 