Liberalism

By:Chirag Shah & Rodante

Beltejar

What is Liberalism?• Limit on political authorities

– Done by writing constitutions• Goal: Emphasize rights to enjoy religious

freedom, freedom of the press, and equality under the law.– By limiting power of the state

• Denounced Church teachings that humans were evil and had to be kept in line by governmental regulations.

• Basic Principle: “Change might be appealing, but preferred that it come through legislation.”

• Liberalism was advocated by the middle class (primarily professionals)

• Liberals were NOT democrats; they did not trust the masses and were strongly opposed to the revolution.

Origins of Enlightenment

• Can be traced back to the Enlightenment– Emphasis on an individual’s natural

rights

• Connections with events of the early stages of the French Revolution

• Lafayette’s Declaration of the Rights of Man. – Signs of Liberal Ideals

Significant Advocates of Liberalism:

• John Stuart Mill: supported freedom of thought, universal suffrage, and collective action by workers. (Principles of Political Economy- it may be necessary for the state to intervene and help workers achieve economic justice)

Significant Advocates of Liberalism:

• David Ricardo: “iron law of wages:” factory owners could find an advantage over competitors by offering lower wages, resulting in a steady downward decline in their earnings.

• Economic Liberals always supported laissez-faire.

Significant Advocates of Liberalism:

• Thomas Malthus: In his Essay on Population, he argued that the population was growing at a rate that would eventually exceed the food supply. (Justified the low income of workers; higher income would cause the production of children to be more likely = more misery.

Significant Advocates of Liberalism:

• Not only a political theory, but economic. Ex.) Adam Smith‘s An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations—break the control that states generally held over their national economies; laissez-faire

Significant Advocates of Liberalism:

• Jeremy Bentham: author of Introduction of the Principles of Morals and Legislation; provided a justification for an expanded role of government; “the greatest happiness for the greatest number.”

Events Exemplifying Liberalism (England):

• Elections of 1830– weakened the conservative majority in the

House of Commons • As a result the House of Lords refused to

cooperate until King William IV threatened to create more lords if they didn’t agree

• Resolution: The Reform Bill of 1832: doubled the number of men in England who could vote. Note: almost none, with the exception of John Stuart Mill, promoted voting rights for women

Events Exemplifying Liberalism (England):

• Formation of the Anti-Corn Law League in 1838– Defenders of the Corn Laws worried

about the country’s balance between agriculture and industry-- opponents argued that grain tariffs hurt wage earners.•Prime Minister – Robert Peel realized

without reform, there would be a major uprising

•The repeal is important since it proved the ability of the British government to compromise

Events Exemplifying Liberalism (England):

• Chartist Movement:

• Based on the idea of a “great charter”

• Chartists, composed of the working class movement whose main issue was universal main suffrage.

• Spoke out for Parliamentary reform on more equally drawn districts, secret ballots, and salaries for members of Parliament.

• The movement gradually died despite 3 million votes on the petition

• Influence helped pass the Mines Act of 1842 and the Ten hours Act of 1847. This lead to the passing of a second voting reform bill in 1867 (nearly all of the Chartists’ desires were passed)

Events Exemplifying Liberalism (France):

• King Charles X, he dissolves Chamber of Deputies after great opposition; called new elections and liberals won.

• Charles X issued four July Ordinances:• dissolved the newly elected Chamber• censored the press• reduced franchise to exclude the upper

middle class• called for new elections.

Events Exemplifying Liberalism (France):

• The immediate reaction came from the working class, students, and intellectuals. The king fled to England and was replaced by Louis Philippe (“July Monarchy”--actually pretending to be more liberal than he actually was).

• Louis Philippe was quite conservative although the government maintained an appearance of liberalism. (wanted to have support of the upper bourgeoisie).

Events Exemplifying Liberalism (France):

• 1848: workers planned a rally in support of electoral reform; street fighting resulted.

• Louis Philippe resigned and appointed a committee as a provisional government. The government proclaimed universal male suffrage and an abolition of the death penalty.

• Led to spread of liberalist principles--demanded government to help provide jobs.

Types of Liberalism:

• Classical Liberalism: offshoot of the ideals of liberty and equality of the French Rev.– Political goals: equality, freedom of press,

freedom of assembly, speech, and most importantly, representative government.

• Economic Liberalism: laissez-faire, criticized old guild regulations, tariffs, and modern attempts of laborers to organize into unions. – balance-of-power system and free trade

Types of Liberalism:

• Political Liberalism (Utilitarianism): humans are ordained to avoid plan and seek pleasure. – General Principle: Social Contract;

citizens make the laws and agree to abide by those laws.

– Advocates: England- Thomas Robington Macaulay and John Stuart Mill; France- Benjamin Constant, Victor Cousin, Jean Baptiste Say, and Alexis de Tocqueville.

Types of Liberalism:

• Social Liberalism: support of equality under the law, and relief provided by the government from suffering caused by poverty or natural disaster. – John Dewey and Mortimer Adler: both

writers who explained that since individuals are the basis of society, they should have access to all the basic necessities of fulfillment—education, economic opportunity, and general welfare protection.

Types of Liberalism:• Cultural Liberalism: focuses on the rights of

individuals pertaining to lifestyle; for instance, deals with issues as sexual freedom, religious freedom, and protection from government intrusion into private life.

• Modern Liberalism: "contemporary liberalism has come to represent different things to Americans and Europeans…” – In United States: associated with the welfare-

state policies of the Democrats, whereas in Europe liberals are more commonly conservative in their political and economic outlook.

General Trend in All Forms of Liberalism:

• There should be a balance between government and private responsibilities.

• All forms claim to protect the autonomy of the individual—freedom of individual action promotes the best society.

Photo Gallery:

Summary

• In domestic politics, liberals have opposed feudal restraints that prevent the individual from rising out of a low social status; includes barriers such as arbitrary power exercised over the individual by the state.

• In international politics, liberals have opposed the domination of foreign policy by militarists and have sought to substitute a policy of international cooperation.

Summary

• In economics, liberals have attacked monopolies and mercantilist state policies that subject the economy to state control.

• In religion, liberals have fought against church interference in state affairs and attempts by religious pressure groups to influence public opinion.

Bibliography:

• http://community.eons.com/images/members/8/5/85237015_o.jpeg

• Freeden, Michael. The New Liberalism: An Ideology of Social Reform. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1978.

• McGowan, J. (2007). American Liberalism: An Interpretation for Our Time. Chapel Hill, NC: North Carolina University Press.