Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
social class and its impacts
social class and its impacts
social class and its impacts
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: social class and its impacts
The Influence of Conservatism, Liberalism and Nationalism in Europe in the Period 1815-1848
*No Works Cited
The years between 1815-1830 saw the rise of a number of related and competing ideologies, each holding a powerful influence in their own time. That influence often extended well into the future, continuing to the present day. Largely, these ideologies were reactions to or products of Enlightenment thinking, although they all went in a variety of different directions. Conservatism, Liberalism and Nationalism had great impact on European society and reflected new radical ideas and principles of the different classes (e.g. bourgeoisie, monarchy). Many of the new movements dealt with ideas that had been around for a while; but it was only in this period that the ideas gained formal, coherent structure.
CONSERVATISM
Conservatism sprung as a reactionary philosophy/ideology supporting monarchy and the old ways. Driven by Edmund Burke, who had been horrified by the French Revolution, Conservatism introduced a new concept, one that argued for prudent and gradual change t...
Between 1815 and 1851, there was an increase in conservative demands and ideals across Europe. Three nations fit into this mold exceptionally well, one of them being Prussia. The other nation that best shows how conservative ideals achieved their goals is France and how it changed after the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy. The third nation being, Austria and how the rulers handled the discontent of the different minority groups within it’s borders.
Various reform movements and revolutions occurred in the time period between the years 1825 through 1850. Justice, freedom, liberty, equality, and the purist of happiness are all democratic values considered to enforce the reform movements of this time period. The democratic ideals tried to cut the social separation and discordance present in America mainly between the south and north sections. Originating from the Second Great Awaking with vast religious reinforcement democratic ideals spread through the new reform movements. Main movements that supported the democratic views included the Second Great Awaking revival, antislavery reform and more equal rights movements for women and men.
Unlike previous centuries, the eighteenth century was the dawn of a new age in Western Europe where intellectuals thrived, science was honored, and curiosity was encouraged; and the framework of how civil society was changed as a whole. From the dawn of the Enlightenment Western European culture was changing due to the revolutionary new ideas that were changing. With the social change going on, political change was as ever evident as time went on. With these changes rooted in social change went out, the effects of the Enlightenment can be seen over 18th century Western Europe and beyond.
Edmund Burke was an Irish political theorist and a philosopher who became a leading figure within the conservative party. Burke has now been perceived as the founder of modern conservatism. He was asked upon to write a piece of literature on the French Revolution. It was assumed that as an Englishman, Burke’s words would be positive and supportive. Given that he was a member of the Whig party, and that he supported the Glorious Revolution in England. Contrary to what was presumed of him, Burke was very critical of the French Revolution. He frequently stated that a fast change in society is bad. He believed that if any change to society should occur, it should be very slow and gradual.
During the 18th and 19th Century, a revolutionary ideology known as Classical Liberalism began to come to fruition. This ideology was centered around the importance of the individual rather than the greater good of society. This was a stark contrast to the worldviews of those previous; where the ideals of a hierarchy and the ultimate power of a monarchy were much more common and accepted. Classical Liberalism arose as a response to the ongoing urbanization of the Industrial Revolution. However; The principles of Classical liberalism were not without flaws. Due to the decreased level of control exerted on individuals, many business practices such as child slavery and horrid
The Enlightenment itself ignited the changes in perspective that were needed to provoke improvement in society and set new standards for our future. These standards spread rather rapidly across Europe and eventually to America and challenged the old order. These ideas of rational thinking over religion and authority delivered a vast political change throughout the world which can still be felt today. These revolutionary thoughts of rationalism brought on freedom of speech and the demand for equality in society. This was not only the igniter to the French revolution but was also, how many governments including the United States based their modern
The Enlightenment is a unique time in European history characterized by revolutions in science, philosophy, society, and politics. These revolutions put Europe in a transition from the medieval world-view to the modern western world. The traditional hierarchical political and social orders from the French monarchy and Catholic Church were destroyed and replaced by a political and social order from the Enlightenment ideals of freedom and equality(Bristow, 1). Many historians, such as Henry Steele Commager, Peter Gay, have studied the Enlightenment over the years and created their own views and opinions.
The rise of European nationalism in the 19th Century brought with it an overabundance amount of change that would definitively modify the course of history. The rise of nationalism in one country would rouse greater nationalism in another, which would in turn, motivate even greater nationalism in the first, progressively intensifying the cycle that eventually concluded in a World War. Nationalism as an ideology produced international competition which inspired absolute allegiance to an individual’s nation state. The ideology was fueled by industrial commerce and imperialistic developments which led to nation-states pursuits of outcompeting rival nations.
The Enlightenment was a period in European culture and thought characterized as the “Age of Reason” and marked by very significant revolutions in the fields of philosophy, science, politics, and society (Bristow; The Age of Enlightenment). Roughly covering the mid 17th century throughout the 18th century, the period was actually fueled by an intellectual movement of the same name to which many thinkers subscribed to during the 1700s and 1800s. The Enlightenment's influences on Western society, as reflected in the arts, were in accordance with its major themes of rationalism, empiricism, natural rights and natural law or their implications of freedom and social justice.
Nationalism is way of thinking both political and socially to create a community united by: history, ethnicity, religions, common culture, and language. Numerous effects occurred while establishing a Nationalist community, some effects were a long term impact on Nationalism, and other was short term impacts on Nationalism.
The French Revolution had a great impact on modern day politics and the ideologies that have become common knowledge among society. When France was reconstructing their government in the 1790's, many of the changes inspired how politics has established itself in today's world. The French Revolution was significant in sweeping away monarchical absolutism in the name of the modern ideas of 'liberty, equality, and fraternity'. The French society, as well as other European societies, were going through many cultural and social changes and were developing more intellectual thoughts for the time. Ideologies of liberalism, socialism, and conservatism, were beginning to appear in all aspects of European life, especially in France. The creation of the National Assembly is an example of how these new ideologies affected how France was governed. France realized the necessity to instil thoughts of equality into its people to ensure a long-lasting government. The Third Estate showed many aspects of liberalism in their campaign to create a more equal government. The National Assembly sought to pursue a policy of constitutional monarchy, which is an aspect of modern day liberalism. Liberals believe in limited government and democracy, the belief that a government should be accountable to their people. Eighteenth-century liberals believed that these two elements would minimize the role of the government and maximize the personal freedoms of the government's people. They believed that the economy should be controlled by the people, instead of under the strict control of the government. This idea was created by Adam Smith and was labelled as laissez-faire. Liberals were also looking to change the clericalism of the Church and entrench ideas of religious freedom on France.
These coherent ideas make conservatism a legitimate ideology. The core beliefs of conservatism are tradition, human imperfection, organic society, authority, and property. Conservatists believe that change propels society into the unknown and creates a state of chaos and fear endangering happiness. To the conservative, tradition needs to defend prior institutions, placing a high value on past knowledge and the belief that those that stand the test of time ought to be protected. Creating a sense of identity and providing reassurances by practicing customs and traditions is strong conservative
Conservative ideas and principles first emerged in the late eighteenth century and the nineteenth century; they emerged as a result of their rebel against the growing pace of political and economic change, which was mostly influenced by the French revolution. Due to that they came to an agreement that they should go back to the ancient regime which means the old orders or tradition.
The year 1812 marked the end of the Napoleonic Era. France was under the Liberal directive of Napoleon Bonaparte who ruled with a proverbial iron fist. Conservative nations watched as the leadership of France diminished. Napoleon’s reign created many non-conformists amongst his people and revolutions disrupted the governing power of France. Conservatives believe they can avoid this demise if they continue their efforts to promote an altruistic society. In light of this idea, Conservatives believe their form of government is better for the progress of man. The 19th century was a predominantly Liberal society. After the fall of France, Conservatives emphasized the pros of instituting a monarchial constitution, and the cons of its absence. The establishment of conservative ideas is a preventative measure against rebellion and individual thinking. It can also be seen as a way to maintain stability and order, the great chain of being, and the integration of church and state.
During the end of the seventeenth century and early eighteenth century a socio-political shift occurred. Sensibilities transferred from the logic of the Enlightenment, or Neo-classical Period, to those feelings and emotions of the Romantic Age.