The 19th Century and it’s “isms”

So What “isms” are we Talking About? Conservatism Liberalism Socialism Feminism Nationalism Romanticism

Ideologies? The period 1815-1850 can be termed the Age of Ideologies and is in response to the issues raised by the Dual Revolutions of the French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution Many Europeans in an effort to find security looked to a systematic view of human affairs in understanding the changing world around them

Conservatism Defied the optimistic views of human rationality associated with the Enlightenment and the French Revolution Conservatives looked backward and often believed those times were better attracted predominantly the aristocracy and the wealthy because they saw value in the old regime Rights are inherited - not God given but a traditional right Conservatives generally advocated for change only when the changes were designed to strengthen the kind of society they favoured They emphasized the wisdom of established customs, the value of the hierarchy and the social importance of religion

Edmund Burke Edmund Burke was a leading advocate for change through adaptation and NOT violent revolution Wrote against the events of the French Revolution Edmund Burke and Metternich are the leading proponents of Conservatism

Metternich The dominant personality at the Congress of Vienna Focused his energies on erecting an anti-revolutionary chain of international alliances throughout Europe. Using arguments borrowed from Burke, he insisted on the need for continuity with the past and orderly, organic development.

Liberalism Liberalism was less a doctrine and more a set of attitudes Attracted the Bourgeoisie Liberalism is all about reforming things to fit with the times - social progress, economic development and values associated with the middle class are extremely important Individualism is encouraged in Liberalism - places most importance on natural rights - life, liberty and equality Liberals look forward and are generally progressive in nature - not interested in the past Adam Smith and John Stuart Mill

John Stuart Mill Often considered to be the most important liberal thinker of the 19th Century He was a philosopher, economist and publicist and wrote some of the most influential classics of modern thought He made freedom of thought his founding principle because he feared the intolerance and oppression which any social majority was capable He came to recognize that collective action on the part of workers could enhance their freedom and work environment - this is particularly relevant given the Industrial Revolution in England

Socialism Socialists believed the capitalist system was unequal and unjust Wished to replace it with social and economic planning Socialists offered a radical alternative to conservative and liberal ideologies and were most critical of industrial capitalism Some of the leading thinkers argued that capitalist competition was wasteful and cruel and created an environment that was indifferent to suffering They believed that a reorganization of production and distribution would create a harmonious and orderly society

Robert Owen One of the first socialists was a textile entrepreneur Robert Owen (1771-1958) Owen built a factory that took in to consideration the conditions of his workers - higher wages, improved conditions and a provision for schools He shortened the work day to ten hours and created new housing which allowed employees rooms Nursery schools were also created

Feminism Many advocates of women’s rights like Mary Wollstonecraft and J.S. Mill drew from the ideas of the Enlightenment tradition of individual rights and social equality - they believed this should be extended to women as well By 1850 feminists have made gains through the establishment of a clear agenda which included greater access to education as well as legal, property and political rights

Nationalism Idea that nationality transcends class structures This is the most combustible ideology of the 19th Century - essential to understanding political and diplomatic events after 1800 Spread by the example of the French Revolution - it initially consisted of a cultural revival and celebration of traditions that defined nations Germany in particular (unified in 1871) experienced a wave of cultural nationalism Johann Gottfried Herder (1744-1803) replaced the traditional concept of state with an folk-nation best represented by the term Volksgeist or “spirit of the people” German philosopher Hegel (1770-1831) glorified the national state as a march of destiny through history - This led to a new idea of German national unity The Germans really start to identify themselves as a powerful german state here. Remind you of anything?

Here Comes the Dark Side - but wait, that’s not for a while yet

He sure looks happy doesn’t he? Romanticism The movement consisted of mainly the artistic class Romanticism was a literary, musical and artistic movement dominating European culture in the first half of the 19th Century Romantics turned away from reason and science and instead stressed Emotion, Intuition, Nature, Nationalism, Religion and the individual as unique Some famous romantics - Lord Byron, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (Sorrows of Young Werther), Edgar Allan Poe, Mary Shelley, Eugene Delacroix and Ludwig von Beethoven He sure looks happy doesn’t he?

Resources The Western Experience AP European History Achiever Encyclopaedia Brittanica