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Corn laws repealed in 1846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