Chapter 4 Responding to Classical Liberalism
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Explain the impacts of classical liberal thought on 19th century society (done Ch#3)
Explain ideologies that developed in response to classical liberalism
Why would there be a reaction to Classical Liberalism in the early 19th century?
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iv.
Enclosure Acts?
Problems with and industrialized society?
Working conditions in the factories and in the mines?
Problems that came with Urbanization?
How would the citizens be able to oppose Classical Liberalism?
Luddites: A movement that began in the Textile Industry 19th century by Ned Ludd protesting that
workers were being replaced by machines. He organized workers into an army known as the Army of
Redressers. Over a 6 year period his army broke into and destroyed over 200 machines that would have
replaced the workers. The movement became known as Luddism. The government responded by stating
that machine breaking was punishable by death.
I.
Chartism: Another movement in Britain that focused on Political and social reform
from 1838-1848.
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The Six Points of the People’s Charter
The right to vote for all men aged 21 and over. (Voting had only extended to
some middle class males. This was key to change the undesirables of classical
liberalism in government
A secret ballot.
No property qualification for elected members of Parliament (this would enable the
poor as well as the rich to become MPs).
Payment of MPs (so that the poorer people could become MPs).
Equal constituencies i.e. the same number of voters in each constituency.
Annual Parliaments so that MPs could be held to account by their constituents.
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The movement ended in 1848 after the British parliament rejected three petitions by the
Chartists during this 10 year period.
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Because they were not able to make changes democratically the movement failed and
most of the members turned their support to Socialism. Social reform did not progress
until the end of the century with the rise of Socialism and the Trade Union Movement.
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Between social reformers and trade unionists had been able to make some progress and
working conditions had improved. By the implementation of the Reform Acts of 1867
and 1884
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However, very little progress was made with either electoral change or social equality.
II.
The Rise of Socialism:
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Due to the great rise in wealth produced by industrialization many people thought that
what was lacking was a fair and just distribution of wealth for everyone.
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What Socialists wanted was a reform:
i.
Political, economic, and social structure in society
ii.
To improve the equality and humanitarianism in classical liberalism
iii.
They believed that private ownership of the means of production allows
exploitation
iv.
The State should direct the economy to ensure economic equality for all citizens
v.
Society should be classless
Socialists wanted the same changes that the Luddites and Chartists wanted but where the
movements failed Socialism will be more successful. The reason for this is because unlike the
Luddites and Chartists, Socialism became an effective ideology.
*Utopian Socialists: term meaning an imaginary perfect society, based form Sir Thomas More’s
book Utopia.
Utopians are essentially Humanitarians who wanted an end to the abuses of Industrialization;
they wanted to modify classical liberalism.
Important individuals:
i.
Robert Owen - Scotland.
ii.
Charles Fourier and Claude Saint-Simon in France
iii.
Horace Greeley in United Sates
All three believed that education and improve working conditions would remove the evils of
capitalism which will eventually lead to an ideal society.
Robert Owen was the one that was most influential Socialist’s in the 19th century:
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ii.
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Created the Institution for the Formation of Character (education center for children
until age 10 rather than age 5 or 6)
At age 10 they would work no more than 10hrs /day (usual 13hrs/day)
Education offered to adults as well.
Free medical care
Socialists can range from Utopian Socialism, moderate and democratic social reform to radical
revolutionary Marxism (Scientific Socialism)