19th Century Liberalism and Revolutions
19th Century Liberalism
Liberalism is an ideology that has its basis in the principles of the Enlightenment. It proposes a new form of organization that affects political, social, and economic development.
Its main precursors were philosophers and thinkers of the Enlightenment (18th century), before the French Revolution. The American and French Revolutions attempted to implement liberal ideas, which were confirmed in the United States but initially failed in Europe.
Throughout the 19th century, many thinkers developed the liberal ideology, making it more suitable for its eventual victory in Europe. The social group that best identified with this new ideology was the bourgeoisie. They initially rallied other elements of the Third Estate to the fight but later separated and faced opposition.
Liberalism in Politics
- The central idea of liberalism in politics is to ensure the freedom of the individual against the State and prevent it from having excessive power, as was the case with the absolute power of monarchs in the Old Regime.
- The liberal ideology is based on Montesquieu’s ideas. It starts with the idea that the State should be based on the separation of its various powers to prevent any person or institution from accumulating too much power and becoming tyrannical. Therefore, the legislative, executive, and judiciary should be carried out by different institutions.
- The State shall pursue a policy of minimum intervention. This is based on the belief that each individual will seek what is best for themselves, ultimately benefiting the whole of society, and the work of the State is to address areas where this cannot be fulfilled.
- The organization of liberal policy aims at the freedom of the individual. The ultimate holder of power is the people. This power, or popular sovereignty, implies restrictions on the authority of kings through Constitutions, which establish the rights of citizens: personal and family integrity, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and protection of private property.
- The right to legislate is vested solely in parliaments elected by the citizens, and citizens are not required to comply with anything beyond what the laws provide, in accordance with the interpretation given to them by independent judges.
The Enlightenment’s critique brought the Old Regime to its downfall.
The American Revolution and the United States
Enlightened ideas were implemented for the first time in North America, where there were 13 English colonies. King George III of England sought to raise their taxes, and representatives of the 13 colonies met in Philadelphia in 1774 to claim their rights in a statement that, for the first time, reflected the ideas of the Enlightenment. They rebelled against England by not abiding by the king’s decision.
George III sent troops to subdue the rebels, but they proclaimed independence on July 4, 1776, and issued a new Bill of Rights, also influenced by the Enlightenment. Article 1 stated that “all men are equally free and independent.” Britain launched a war against the colonies but lost in 1783, recognizing their independence. In 1787, the Constitution was passed, and the colonies were renamed the United States of America.
The Constitution and Bill of Rights introduced new concepts such as equal rights and the free participation of citizens in government. However, they did not consider women, Native Americans, or black slaves as citizens.
Why is the French Revolution so Important?
It was the first time in history that the Third Estate, or commoners, took power.
It can be considered a bourgeois revolution because it was the bourgeoisie who led the development of events, although at times, the most humble people came close to taking over the country. While many social groups participated in the revolution, not everyone had the same ideas about the type of organization that should be implemented to replace the Old Regime:
- Some moderate revolutionaries simply wanted to change the absolute monarchy to a constitutional parliamentary monarchy.
- Others wanted to eliminate the monarchy and establish a republic to defend the interests of the wealthy bourgeoisie.
- The most radical, in turn, hoped that the revolution would overcome the economic inequalities between rich and poor.
Why Did the Revolution Begin in France?
We consider that the French Revolution was caused by the accumulation of ideological, social, and economic factors that converged in France in the late 18th century.