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Slide Notes
The first half of the 19th C. saw countries and their leaders struggle internally with powerful ideologies emerging in response to Enlightenment ideas, the French Revolution, and industrialization. Liberalism, Conservatism, and Nationalism inspired political groups and leaders with new frameworks for organizing government and society. The tension between these ideologies would come to a head in 1848, a year of failed revolutions. Despite a failure in 1848 liberal reform, nationalist passions, and a newly emerging socialist ideology would become the most powerful forces of the 19th and much of the 20th centuries.
AP European: Conservatism, Reaction, and Reform
Published on Jan 27, 2020
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19th C. Conservatism and Reaction
Revolution and Reform
The first half of the 19th C. saw countries and their leaders struggle internally with powerful ideologies emerging in response to Enlightenment ideas, the French Revolution, and industrialization. Liberalism, Conservatism, and Nationalism inspired political groups and leaders with new frameworks for organizing government and society. The tension between these ideologies would come to a head in 1848, a year of failed revolutions. Despite a failure in 1848 liberal reform, nationalist passions, and a newly emerging socialist ideology would become the most powerful forces of the 19th and much of the 20th centuries.
Congress of Vienna
Concert of Europe
Congress of Vienna
- 1815 Peace Process after the Napoleonic Wars
- Reaction against the chaos of the French Revolution
- Blamed Enlightenment values and liberalism
- Restored the monarchies of Europe
Concert of Europe
- Members: UK, Russia, Austria, Prussia
- Goals: Suppress liberal and nationalist movements
- Ideology: Conservatism
Conservatism
Monarchy, Aristocracy, Church
Conservatism was the dominant force in Europe from 1815-1848. The Concert of Europe (the leaders of England, Russia, Prussia, Austria, and France) collaborated effectively to suppress or co-opt efforts of liberal reformers or crush nationalist revolutions.
New Ideologies
Challenging Conservative Order
Liberalism
Carriers of Enlightenment Values
Liberal thinkers like John Stuart Mill were committed first and foremost to the idea of individual liberty or freedom from the tyranny of a government (King or majority) or society. The difference between Mill's liberty (and other 19th C. thinkers) and Locke's was that it was based on a utilitarian argument arguing that this arrangement provided the most good for society rather than on some concept of natural or god-given rights.
Arguments for constitutionally limited government and laissez-faire economic policies sometimes called for government intervention or laws regulating individual behavior but only when it was necessary to produce the greatest good for the greatest number of people.
John Stuart Mill condoned Enlightened Despotism when ruling barbaric peoples (like those in the colonies), was opposed to slavery, and is considered one of the first male feminists for his outspoken support for the reform of gender construction, education, and the institution of marriage.
Arguments for constitutionally limited government and laissez-faire economic policies sometimes called for government intervention or laws regulating individual behavior but only when it was necessary to produce the greatest good for the greatest number of people.
John Stuart Mill condoned Enlightened Despotism when ruling barbaric peoples (like those in the colonies), was opposed to slavery, and is considered one of the first male feminists for his outspoken support for the reform of gender construction, education, and the institution of marriage.
Liberalism
- Constitutions that protected individual liberty and self-interest
- Limited governmental power and action
- Debated whether the vote should be extended to women and the working classes
- NOT Democracy
Notably absent here is the word "democracy". Only radical reformers called for the extension of voting rights to the working classes or the peasants. Liberalism as an ideology rested on the idea of enlightened members of society participating in the government for the good of everyone else.
Nationalism
Citizenship tied to ethnic, cultural, religious identity
Nationalism will be the new religion of the 19th Century. National identity was founded upon romantic ideas of a common ethnic heritage, customs, and language. At its best nationalism educated people about their shared past, revived folk myths and music, and created strong bonds of unity. However, nationalism typically had a component of racialism and anti-semitism (prejudice and discrimination towards Jews) that would inspire the oppression of and violence towards minority groups.
Nationalism
- Political and ethnic boundaries should coincide
- Protested multi-national empires and states - Ottoman and Austrian
- Typically linked romantic ideals with chauvinism and racialism/anti-semitism
Socialism
Socialism
- Redistribution of society's wealth and resources
- Material view of history driven by inequality and want
- Capitalism was inherently oppressive and created inequality
Revolts Against Conservatism
Destroy the Status Quo
Political Revolts
- Greek Independence
- Decembrist Revolt
- Polish Uprising
- July Revolution in France
Untitled Slide
Results of Early Revolutions
- Expansion of voting rights in W. Europe but successful repression of working class
- Repression of reform movements in RAP
- Independence for Greece and Serbia from the Ottoman Empire
The Broken Concert of Europe
- The UK had stopped participating by 1818
- No meeting was called for the Revolutions of 1848
- The Crimean War in 1853 saw Britain and France fight against Russia
The Revolutions of 1848
- Triggered by economic hardship and discontent with Conservatism
- Involved over 50 countries from Europe to Latin America
- Mix of liberal reformers, working classes, nationalists, democratic demands for representation
