What do you understand by the term liberalism explain the new ideas in the field of politics society and economy supported by the liberals from 1848 onwards?
Answers
By the 1848 revolution of the liberals we mean, the revolution led by the educated middle classes of Europe. Events of February 1848, in France brought about the abdication of the monarchy and a republic based on universal male franchise was formed.
Ideals Supported
(i) Politically, it emphasized the concept of government by consent, abolition of autocracy and special privileges.
(ii) Socially, the liberals supported the abolition of discrimination based on birth.
(iii) Economically, it stood for the abolition of trade restrictions imposed by the state.
Or in others words
Ideas of national unity in early-nineteenth-century Europe were closely allied to the ideology of liberalism. For the new middle classes; freedom for the individual and equality of all before the law were the bases of idea of liberalism.
Political & Social Perspective: From the political perspective, the idea of liberalism emphasized the concept of government by consent. Liberalism also meant an end of autocracy and clerical privileges. Further, it meant the need of a constitution and a representative government. Inviolability of private property was also emphasized by the nineteenth century liberals.
Economic Perspective:Economic liberalization was another hallmark of the Napoleonic Code. The emerging middle class was also in favour of economic liberalization. Multiple currencies, units of weight and measurement and tariff barriers worked as obstacles for economic activities. The new commercial class was demanding a unified economic territory so that there could be unhindered movement of goods, people and capital.
By the 1848 revolution of the liberals we mean, the revolution led by the educated middle classes of Europe. Events of February 1848, in France brought about the abdication of the monarchy and a republic based on universal male franchise was formed.
The political, social and economic ideas supported by the liberals were clearly based on democratic ideals.
Politically, they demanded constitutionalism with national unification a nation-state with a written constitution and parliamentary administration.
They wanted to rid society of its class-based partialities and birth rights. Serfdom and bonded labour had to be abolished, and economic equality had to be pursued as a national goal.
The right to property was also significant in the liberals’ concept of a nation based on political, social and economic freedom.