Classical Ideals of Liberalism and Conservatisms

Classical Ideals of Liberalism and Conservatisms

Introduction

Basically, classical liberalism can be defined as a philosophical ideology that aims at awarding freedom to citizens of a particular country by specifically reducing the powers of a government (Allen, 35-37). Significantly, liberalism ideology may cut across both economic and political grounds. Classical liberalism was predominant during the industrial revolution and urbanization in the USA and the Europe world. This philosophical ideology yearns for civil liberties through the rule of law, private ownership of property and belief in the existence of laissez-faire economic policy. Liberalism is built on the ideas of Adam Smith, Thomas Malthus and John Locke among others who that had been put forward by the 18th century. On the other hand, classical conservatism is a philosophical ideology that takes the route of hierarchy, order, authority, and tradition like in the industrial revolution in the United States of America in the 19th century (Viernes, 25). Classical conservatism is termed as the best in focusing on the issues affecting the state, however, at its extreme, conservatism can result in economic and, social stagnation in a country.

Values and skills of classical liberalism and Conservatism

Liberalism

For the classical liberalism to be achieved, various economic and political values need to be put on demand for the betterment of the livelihood of a society. Some of the values along the line of advocating for classical liberalism in the today world include the rule of law. In this case, the liberals believe that the only best way to solve problems is by volunteering in large numbers for association and action. Secondly, the economic exchange must be left in the hands of individuals to be practiced freely without the intervention of government (Hoffman & Graham, 52).  The research has shown that leaving everything in the hands of individuals for prosperity by reducing poverty, providing jobs and availing a variety of products in the market.

Thirdly, limited government power is a very important value of classical liberalism as it advises the government to provide security to the individuals but remain deemed in matters pertaining to a peaceful interaction of individuals in the economic market (Young, 322). Fourthly, individualism is a great idea in liberalism. It is precisely clear that individualism achieves far much better as compared to collectiveness. Moreover, individualism, in this case, describes people as distinct, self-governing and separation when it comes to the execution of duties. The last value of classical liberalism is the spontaneous order whereby most people mistakenly believe that order requires to be organized by a specific body so that it can be put into action. However, liberals assert that power can spontaneously emanate from anywhere through peoples’ interactions.

Conservatism

On the other hand, classical conservatism has its own values that governed co-existence among people in the 18th -19th century. As pointed out earlier, classical conservatism believes in the significance of the presence of a home which forms the society of the people rather than the government. According to Young, (324) conservatism does not just believe in everything that happened in the past but it is limited only to different social classes and recognizes the family as the basic structure of the human society. According to classical conservatism power, wealth, and influence should never be switched from the family to government and if there are cases of any then a reversal should be initiated immediately. Secondly, conservatisms believe in the tradition as the authority for the society. However, a lot of respect must be shown to the government and the rule of law in the institutions of law.

Additionally, this respect is extended to the emergency services and the law enforcement services. In return, the stipulated bodies must respect the tradition. In classical conservatism, there is a strong belief of heroes who gave back to the society and those who promoted the heritage of the society. Moreover, the future of the people and nation, in general, is protected. Love and honor are first priorities for each other and one’s nation. Conservatism believes that always, the government must remain loyal to the citizens, who in turn should respect back the government. Lastly and interestingly, the conservatism philosophical ideology strongly recognizes imperfections in the man’s doing and therefore he should try as much as possible to work smart and avoid mistakes.

Ideology policies of the pre-revolutionary period in the United States

Liberalism

In the 18th century, the ideas of the liberalism were dominant among the American colonists. This championed the liberal idea of great American Revolution of 1776 that saw the replacement of the then oversea king (Raphael, 106). One of the most evident aspects of liberalism among the Americans is that; although they were subjects who the white British, they all shared rights equally in terms of trial by jury and the right to vote for their countrymen. Much of the revolutionary thinking had been bestowed on this ideology because representations in the house by common Americans enhanced easy legislation of the colonies (Young, 320-321). As the time went by, the Americans began wisely to learn that an abrogation of their rights was taking place as they did not have much power on their legislation. All of the power rested with the king, an issue that culminated in rebellions that led to the 1773 Tea Party and the Stamp Act of the 1960s.

All the parliamentary acts were formed and put in exercise without a single consent of the American legislature. It was sad that many acts conflicted with the philosophy of liberalism which stipulated that the government was supposed to serve its people and protect their rights. The then fundamental component of ideology shaped many and enabled them to understand that they were being mistreated by the colonial masters. Among the heroes who felt assaulted by the British in American were John Hancock and the craftsmen around. This led to the widespread rebellions in most parts of the United States, an act that saw most of the servants abandon their masters by rebellions (Bailyn, 106).. The reason behind the increased rebellions during this period is that the system for administration went against the liberalism value of self-determination and that of the government in general. Evidently, it is said that it was the powers of liberal philosophy that orchestrated the declaration of independence in the United States of America (Polanco, 52). The spirit of liberalism did not end at this as it went ahead and saw the Bill of Rights enacted. Jefferson is one of the great heroes who advised people on the significance of tying the government on the liberalism lineage.

Conservatism

Although a lot had been fulfilled through rebellions and by the power of philosophical liberalism, conservatism still proved that a lot had to be done for equality of everyone. Notably, American independence was guaranteed but very few stuff changed on the common man. It is said that slavery was still on course, women were not yet treated equally and the Indian builders’ team had not shown great change. These are some of the reasons which conservatism ideology struggled to achieve for everyone. The main reason as to why most of the people felt incomplete even after the declaration of independence is that conservatism ideology was against the fact that the government treated all men equally (Bailyn, 106).Secondly, the formation of aristocratic or monarchical governments after the independence. Edmund Burke is a great philosopher who helped in teaching about the conservative ideology during the American Revolution. He not only geared for change in the United States of America but also helped the French revolution. The main argument was about the hierarchy and full exercise of authority as Americans after revolution-declaration of independence.

Conclusion

It is clear that classical liberalism and the classical conservatives are two different ideological philosophies that helped to define the early revolutionary of Americans in the 18th century. Classical liberalism specifically targets the power bestowed on the government. Liberalism struggles to limit the power in order to achieve fair economic conditions such free markets, individualism, and rule of law and the private ownership of property. Secondly, conservatism physiological ideology aims at hierarchy with a traditional chain of leaders that respect people and the government. Every philosophical ideology above has a list of values that teach and control the practices of human beings. While liberalism championed the great American Revolution in the 18th century, Conservatism complimented on the full independence by agitating for equality for all in America.

Works Cited

Alexander, James. “The major ideologies of liberalism, socialism and conservatism.” Political        Studies 63.5 (2015): 980-994.

Allen, Richard T. Beyond liberalism. Routledge, 2017.

Bailyn, Bernard. The ideological origins of the American Revolution. Harvard University Press,

Herzog, Dagmar. Intimacy and exclusion: religious politics in pre-revolutionary Baden.      Routledge, 2017.

Hoffman, John, and Paul Graham. Introduction to political theory. Routledge, 2015.

Kettler, David. Karl Mannheim and the crisis of liberalism: The secret of these new times. Routledge, 2018.

Polanco, Héctor Díaz. Indigenous peoples in Latin America: the quest for self-determination.         Routledge, 2018.

Raphael, Ray. A People’s History of the American Revolution: How Common People Shaped the   Fight for Independence. New Press, the, 2016.

Viernes, Peter. Conservatism revisited: the revolt against ideology. Routledge, 2017.

Young, James. Reconsidering American liberalism: The troubled odyssey of the liberal idea.          Routledge, 2018.