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UNIT TWO: FOUNDATIONS OF LIBERALISM

15. SUMMARY

  Unit Two Summary



Unit Two explores the development of classical liberalism.

Classical liberalism is an ideology that continues to influence Western society both politically and economically. As you review the concepts in this unit, consider the themes and characteristics of an ideology.

On what themes and characteristics is classical liberalism based?

 

Themes
  • Nation
  • Class
  • Race
  • Relationship to the land or environment
  • Gender
  • Religion
  • Progressivism

Characteristics
  • The nature of human beings
  • Structure of society
  • Interpretation of history
  • Vision for the future


 
  • Rule of Law
  • Individual Rights and Freedoms
  • Private Property
  • Economic Freedom
  • Self-Interest
  • Competition
  • Thomas Hobbes
  • Jean Jacques Rousseau
  • John Locke
  • John Stuart Mill
  • Adam Smith
  • Baron de Montesquieu
  1. A belief that people are essentially reasonable and deserve the right to make personal decisions to benefit themselves and society
  2. A belief in the importance of the individual above all else
  3. A belief in individual rights and freedoms that should be enjoyed for the self-interest of the individual
  4. A belief in economic freedom, including the free market
  5. A belief in the protection of civil liberties
  6. A belief in constitution limits to the power of government
Industrial Revolution
French Revolution
American Revolution


All contributed to changes in how people lived, including the power people had over their own lives and who made the political and economic decisions that impacted society.


In the next unit, you will investigate how people responded to changes that arose in society because of classical liberal ideology.

Although classical liberalism brought many positive changes, it also presented challenges. From what you have learned, can you see any reasons people might disagree with classical liberalism? Is it missing any of the key values in which you believe?


Individuals, groups, and nations did not all agree that classical liberalism was the best ideology, and they rejected certain aspects of it or rejected it altogether. In the following unit, you will consider the following issue question:
To what extent is resistance to liberalism justified?