Liberalism and Conservatism

Liberalism and Conservatism

In Europe the second half of the 18th century was filled with uprising and revolution. Many of the French sought a new political order with broader political power which incorporated equality and toleration. Liberalists aligned themselves with the beliefs of the revolutionaries and supported balanced government. On the other hand conservatives opposed the revolution and new notions of government. They believed that France should restore old policies by instituting the monarchy and establishing churches and uniting throne, land, and alter. While the liberalists promoted revolutionary beliefs such as government reform, equality, and toleration, conservatives sought to crush the revolution by uniting throne, land, and alter and restoring the powerful monarchy.

The 19th century liberalists supported the reforms which the revolutionaries set up in France. The revolution reformed government to lessen its dominance over the people and allow broader political participation. By setting up a constitutional monarchy and instituting the "Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen" the reforms balanced the government's power and made individual rights law. Liberalists saw this Declaration as protection for citizens and equality which was a major premise of their beliefs. The Declaration also protected civil liberties which were advocated for by the liberalists. The eventual abolition of the monarchy allowed even broader political participation. This allowed many citizens to take part in government and political life. The liberalists agreed that the people should be unified under a representative government and believed that the government should protect the rights of the citizens within the country.

Conservatives from the 19th century had a very different reaction to the revolution and its reforms and changes. The conservatives who commonly stated that society and government shouldn't be changed did not agree with the reforms made by revolutionaries. They feared that reforms and changed would endanger stability and they stressed the importance of a steadfast and stable government. They believed that the throne, land, and alter should all be unified in order to suppress unrest. The religious reforms which secularized the government and divided church and state undermined these beliefs and were not accepted by the conservatives. The transformation from absolutist rule to a constitutional monarchy was also refuted by the conservatives. They saw the constitution and the "Declaration of the Rights of Man" as documents that did nothing but hurt the government. The conservatives held that the government should be kept the way it always has been and that it needs to be powerful in order to be successful. As the conservative order began to gain supporters it pushed for restoration of an all-powerful monarchy that would protect and administer its people.