Political Traditions of the Nineteenth Century

Political Trends of the 19th Century

• In the 19th century, people who wanted to restructure society radically were categorized as conservatives, liberals, or radicals, with distinct meanings in that context.
• These terms don't mean the same thing in all contexts or at all times.

Liberals

• Wanted a nation that tolerated all religions, unlike European states that usually favored one religion or another.
• Opposed the uncontrolled power of dynastic rulers and wanted to safeguard individual rights against governments.
• Argued for a representative, elected parliamentary government, subject to laws interpreted by an independent judiciary.
• Did not believe in universal adult franchise, wanting men of property mainly to have the vote, and did not want the vote for women.

Radicals

• Wanted a nation where government was based on the majority of a country's population.
• Many supported women's suffragette movements.
• Opposed the privileges of great landowners and wealthy factory owners, disliking concentration of property in a few hands.
• Not against private property, but wanted it distributed more evenly.

Conservatives

• Opposed to radicals and liberals.
• After the French Revolution, even conservatives accepted that some change was inevitable, but believed it had to be brought about through a slow process.
• Respected the past and wanted to preserve it.

Industrial Society and Social Change

• The 19th century saw profound social and economic changes, including the Industrial Revolution.
• Industrialization brought men, women, and children to factories, with long working hours, poor wages, and common unemployment.
• Liberals and radicals searched for solutions to issues like housing and sanitation problems in rapidly growing towns.
• Almost all industries were owned by individuals, who believed that individual effort, labor, and enterprise would lead to societal development.