The Origin and Growth

of Liberalism

Where did liberalism emerge

from?
The

word liberal comes from the Latin liber, meaning

free. It was first used as a political term in Spain
during the Napoleonic Wars. The ideas of liberalism are
older than the name and they emerged in the 1700s
during the Enlightenment. Individuals such as Locke,
Smith, Jefferson, Montesquieu wrote about personal
freedom, limited government (economically and
socially) consent of the governed, yet these writers
never called themselves liberals. Their beliefs laid the
foundation for what is now called classical liberalism.
Modern liberalism includes the political beliefs and
social rights of classical liberalism, yet it rejects some
of the economic beliefs of classical liberalism

Historical
Backgroun
d

Medieval Period: agrarian; feudalism

Crusades: growth of towns; led to merchants
(bourgeois). Influence on economic policies
Renaissance
Humanists: questioning of authority and
church teachings
Protestant Reformation
Contact with Indigenous peoples(nonChristian)
Europe was in turmoil
Cities grew as overseas trade grew
Enlightenment or Age of Reason (late 17th18th) . The rise of Classical Liberalism focused
on allowing citizens the right to freedom in
their economic, political, and social lives

Principles of
Classical
Liberalism
Individual

Rights and

Freedoms
Humans are
reasonable
Private property and
free markets
Protection of civil
liberties
Limitations on
government by
constitution

Classical Liberalism
Individualism
Respect for rights

and freedoms
Private ownership
Natural rights; life,
liberty and the
pursuit of happiness
this goes beyond the
type of government
rights and freedoms

The government

holds onto the power

that is bestowed by
the people
Citizens have the
right to revolt if that
power or trust is
violated
Equality of
opportunity
Capitalism
John Locke

Contemporary Liberalism
(Modern)
Can sometimes be confused

with the present day Liberal

political party
Will accept greater levels of
state interventions if it promotes
if they perceive it would promote
justice and liberty for the greater
good of its citizens
Grew out of classical liberalism
but with more slant towards the
rights of minorities
A certain standard of living
should be attainable for the
greatest number of the
population. This is why
liberalism today will accept
social welfare.

Tolerance can vary according

to the issue being addressed

moves more towards the
social democratic
philosophies
Socially they want greater
levels of freedom and
personal choice(abortion,
same-sex marriage, gun
controls) but will accept more
government intervention in
politics and economics
John Stuart Mill
More inclined to favour
humanitarianism,
environmental issues

The Age of
Reason

Thinkers
Hobbes
Locke
Montesquieu
John Stuart Mill

Laissez-Faire
Economics
Adam Smith

Origins
Agrarian

economy overtaken by industrial

one
Movement away from subsistence to
surplus; farm to factory
What Great Britain is the 1st to Industrialize?
1. As an island, Britain had advantages
2. Parliamentary government and
constitutional monarchy; Enclosure Acts
3. Enlightenment
= Modern Industrialization

Rise of Capitalism and the

Individual
New

middle class led the way to

promote laissez-faire and criticize
mercantilism
Pursuit of self interest

Adam Smith
Every

individual looks after

themselves thereby helping
everyone else
Government role: maintain rule of
law; ensure contracts are followed;
provide public works

Laissez-Faire
Capitalism

at the time
Stemmed from the opposition to
mercantilism which believed that all
business should help better the state
Reduced government involvement
Individuals are free to make their own
decisions (economic)
Belief that individuals selfishness and
competitiveness will inadvertently
benefit society

Problems with Laissez faire:

Extreme gaps between rich and poor

developed
Monopolies
Poor working/living conditions
Others:
VS.