Socialism, Liberalism, and Conservatism Responses to a New Age

Forces of Change in the New Age

i) New Economic Structure Industrialization-Britain, France and the German states Limited Industrialization-- Russia, Austria, Italy Failure to Industrialize—Spain, Portugal, Turkey Industrial Social Conditions— urbanized population, new classes, class conflict

ii) Revolution and Enlightenment Enlightenment ideals that fostered the French Revolution and were spread by revolution persist despite attempts to put the genie back in the bottle

iii) Romanticism Emphasis on the emotional rather than the rational Broad range of values

Socialism Socialists strove to harness individualism and control property for the benefit of all Marx--Scientific Socialism Saint-Simon—celebrates men of ability Charles Fourier— Associative Labour—an attempt to get rid of “unattractive labour”

Liberalism Outgrowth of the Enlightenment Viewed humans as rational and emphasized the rights of the individual Society “was the sum of the interests and needs of the individuals who composed it.” Belief in freedom of the individual, constitutional government, equality before the law, free trade, centralization and modernization of government

i) Jeremy Bentham and Utilitarianism Best form of government provides the greatest good for the greatest number People are motivated by pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain Any action should be judged by its utility in promoting happiness

ii) Alexis De Tocqueville ( ) Democracy inevitable but could be dangerous Claimed Americans would rather “be equal than be free.” Warned of the “tyranny of the majority.”

iii) John Stuart Mill ( ) States must protect the rights of the individual “the sole end for which mankind are warranted, individually or collectively, in interfering with the liberty…of any of their number, is self- protection…”

iv) Henry David Thoreau ( ) The state often acts tyrannically even in democracies Emphasis on individualism and environmentalism “That government is best which governs least.” “All men recognize the right to revolution… when…tyranny…[is] great and unbearable.”

Conservatism Emphasized tradition and believed that government was necessary to keep control of the often irrational impulses of mankind Strong central government, paternalistic, and authoritarian

i) The Congress System Orchestrated by Prince Metternich at the Congress of Vienna “The Concert of Europe” Holy Alliance of Austria, Russia, and Prussia

“You can hold back progress.” Do you agree?

Does it Work? Revolutions: Spain in 1820, 1823 and 1840, Portugal in 1834, Naples in 1820, Russia in 1825, Greece in 1830, France in 1830

Why was Liberalism so Strong? Emphasis on the individual General sense of progress Economic components complement industrialization Merger with Nationalism

The Revolutions of 1848 The Rise (and temporary fall) of Liberal Nationalism

The Revolutions of 1848 occurred throughout Europe. Of the major powers, only Britain and Russia were spared.

Causes of the Revolutions General dissatisfaction with the conservative nature of society. Liberalism and Socialism united the middle and lower classes against the established order. Nationalism led to the desire to restructure societies.

The Revolution in France ignited the revolutionary spirit throughout Europe.

Louis Philippe of France Louis represented the interests of the upper and upper middle class Many in the lower middle class and lower class favoured republican reform

The February Revolution Louis banned political societies when opposition rose so banquets were held to discuss the expansion of the franchise In Feb Louis cancelled a banquet, people rose up in rebellion, the army refused to fire on them and Louis abdicated the throne

Provisional Government French revolutionaries agreed that a government should be elected in April and until then a provisional government would rule

Revolution Spreads

Austria In March, Metternich was dismissed due to liberal risings in Vienna

Hungary In Budapest, in April, nationalist leader, Louis Kossuth demanded autonomy for the Magyars

Germany In the German states, liberal nationalists pushed for a unified democratic Germany

Prussia Frederick William promised revolutionaries a constitution

Italy In Rome Garibaldi and Mazzini established an assembly and declared a republic

Revolutionary Success Turns to Failure Revolutionary alliances began to fail by mid-1848 Lower class socialists, middle class liberals, and nationalist aristocrats, had competing visions of the future

June Days in Paris Paris erupted into civil war after the socialists were defeated in the April elections Workers battled the troops that supported the middle class In December Louis Napoleon was elected president, and in 1851 he overthrew the constitution

Hapsburg Triumph in Austria The Austrian emperor retained the loyalty of the army and never instituted promised changes

German States Here too, the princes delayed and the revolutionary fervor fizzled out as the conservatives ridiculed the liberals

Italy French and Austrian forces came to the aid of Pope Pius IX and crushed the Italian republic

The nationalist dreams would come true, but not under the banner of liberalism or socialism. Nationalism would occur through the use of realpolitick.