19th Century French Liberalism
Liberalism is the valuing of
natural and individual rights for all people. This specifically related to property,
equal say in government as well as limitations of it for the good of the people.
Because of the monarchies in place in France during the 19th century liberal attitudes
were hard to find among the rich and powerful. The lower class in particular had
very few rights and absolutely no power in the government. With the help of the
works of the social realists and impressionists influencing the bourgeoisie (to
revolt with the working class), the lower class eventually became reactive to
this ignorance of their aspirations and they became organized enough to produce
the July Revolution of 1830 and the February Revolution off 1848, as well as causing
the June Days. Liberalism should be closely associated with democracy and thus
modernity.
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