The Ideological Revolution of the late 1800's

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In the late 1800’s, before World War 1, European countries saw a dramatic change within their societies. New and more liberal ideas began to emerge, and challenged the traditional European beliefs. Ordinary, average people started to ponder on new practices that would forever change society. Ideologies such as Marxism, Freudianism, and women’s movement not only revolutionized the face of Europe, but also shaped the continent’s government and society.

Marxism was a theory from Karl Marx that spread a thought for communist regime. He brought out the idea of a struggle in the working class called “the bourgeoisie-proletariat struggle” that disclosed the working class overthrowing the middle-class (Bourgeoisie) Marx believed that this conflict was not a product of bad intentions but rather this revolution was unavoidable due to the harsh treatment the middle class was giving to the working class. The thought was the working class would takeover the revenues of production, set up a dictatorship and eventually turn this into a classless communist society because Karl blamed this problem on capitalism. This was a criticism and a blow to European economy because it challenged the traditional beliefs and targeted the point that the economy was not benefitting the people. Karl Marx challenged the middle class with its value system also saying that the working class would ultimately be in power. Marxism not only questions traditional social hierarchy by saying that the working class would rule, but he also questions democracy, absolutism and monarchism with the knowledge of Marx saying that those “governments” would be rendered useless, and no longer a need for government in his mind.

Freudianism was an attack on rationalism theorized b...

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...women, caused the diseases. Their anger was so strong that Ladies’ National Association for the Repeal of the Contagious Disease achieved suspension in 1883. Women’s movement also brought about the challenge of traditional marriages. Women now wanted free union of equality with men and women to share the responsibility for the children. This movement demanded to dismiss traditional gender roles and unfair sexual morality therefore directly challenging Europe’s conservative outlook of women.

Ideologies such as Marxism, Freudianism and women’s movement challenged traditional European beliefs previous of the First World War. It revolutionized the face of Europe and shaped the government and society in the late 1800s. Because of ordinary people pondering about new theories, more liberal ideas began to appear to challenge traditionalists and forever transform society.

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