Question

what does the term liberalism mean? what did it mean to different classes and people?

Answer 1

• The term ‘liberalism’ comes from the Latin word liber that means free.
• For the new middle classes in the in early nineteenth century Europe, liberalism denoted freedom for the individual and equality of all before the law.
• Since the French Revolution, liberalism implied the end of autocracy and clerical privileges, constitution and a representative government through parliament.
• Nineteenth-century liberals also rooted for sanctity of private property.
• In the economic sphere, it implied the freedom of markets and the elimination of state-imposed limitations on the movement of goods and capital
• In the political sphere, it stressed on the concept of government by consent

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