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Liberalism, Romanticism and Nationalism
Western Civilization II
Economic Liberalism Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations
(1776): Everyone’s pursuit of self-interest
produces the common good Free trade allows each nation to
produce what they do best Thomas Malthus, Essay on
Population (1798): Population (unchecked) increases
much faster than food supply Government aid to the poor only
encouraged them to breed more, exacerbating problem
David Ricardo (1772 – 1823) “Iron law of wages” –
expanding labor supply will tend to force wages down to lowest possible level
Thus agreed with Malthus that government aid to the poor was really counterproductive
Believed rent was only permanent source of wealth
Political Liberalism Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) -
Utilitarianism: Hedonistic calculus: maxmimize
pleasure, minimize pain. Government should intervene
when pain of many outweighs pleasure of few.
John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) Called for maximum freedom
based on individual sovereignty. Wrote essay with his wife arguing
that women should vote & have equal rights.
Liberal Reform in Great Britain
Two parties in Parliament: Tories = conservatives Whigs = liberals
Peterloo Massacre (1819) Chartists demand universal male suffrage 1832 Reform Act:
eliminated “rotten boroughs” Doubled electorate from 478,000 to 814,000
Corn laws repealed in 1846
Romanticism Artistic & intellectual movement,
but with subtle political effects Valued subjective, emotional
experience above Reason & science
Interested in things bizarre, exotic, or fanciful Fairy tales – Bros. Grimm Historical novels – Sir Walter
Scott’s Ivanhoe Horror – Mary Wollstonecraft
Shelley’s Frankenstein
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
Romanticism (continued)
Celebrated spiritual power of Nature Landscape paintings – J.M.W.
Turner William Wordsworth
Celebrated genius of great men Beethoven’s 3rd Symphony Lord Byron
Lived Bohemian lifestyle William Blake Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
J.M.W. Turner, Fall of the Rhine at Schaffhausen (1806)
William Wordsworth
Sources of Nationalism: Reaction to French Revolution’s nationalism Conservatives’ & Romantics’ emphasis upon
history & spirit of people (volkgeist) Need for popular support of government Industrial Revolution improved
communication & centralizes government Discontent with economic and social
upheavals
Methods of Nationalism: Language = most important, defining element National holidays Reviving or inventing historical traditions Revolutions – 1830, 1848
Used by middle-class liberals to gain power & aristocratic conservatives to retain power
Easily turned into hatred of neighboring nationalities in late 19th century