IDEOLOGIES of Change & Reform Movements [AP Euro—Unit 6 Topic 7]

Summary

The video explores the emergence of political ideologies in 19th-century Europe amidst the upheavals of the Industrial Revolution, French Revolution, and conservative suppression. It covers liberalism, with its emphasis on individual rights and limited government; socialism, which advocates for community ownership of production and wealth redistribution, including utopian and scientific branches; and anarchism, which calls for the abolition of government in favor of voluntary cooperation. Key figures such as Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart Mill, Karl Marx, and Mikhail Bakunin are highlighted for their contributions to these transformative ideas.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Industrial Revolution and the French Revolution caused significant social and political disruption in Europe in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
• 😀 Liberalism, emerging from Enlightenment ideals, emphasizes individual rights, popular sovereignty, limited government, and enlightened self-interest.
• 😀 Jeremy Bentham's utilitarianism focused on judging actions based on their ability to increase happiness, diverging from Christian moral perspectives.
• 😀 John Stuart Mill expanded on Bentham’s ideas, advocating for happiness not only of individuals but also society as a whole, and supported women’s rights.
• 😀 Charism and its push for universal male suffrage and citizenship highlighted the tension between the elite class and broader social reforms.
• 😀 Women’s rights were largely ignored by most liberals, but figures like John Stuart Mill and Flora Tristan argued for gender equality, including voting and property rights.
• 😀 Socialism emerged as a reaction to the inequality created by the Industrial Revolution, advocating for collective ownership of society's means of production.
• 😀 Utopian socialism, represented by thinkers like Saint-Simon, sought to redistribute wealth and create societies without poverty but was criticized as unrealistic.
• 😀 Scientific socialism, championed by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, focused on class struggle, with Marx predicting that the proletariat would overthrow the bourgeoisie.
• 😀 Anarchism, promoted by figures like Mikhail Bakunin and Georges Sorel, advocated for the elimination of governmental authority and the establishment of self-governing societies and labor unions.

Q & A

What major social and political changes in Europe influenced the rise of new ideologies in the 19th century?

The Industrial Revolution, the French Revolution, and the conservative era of Metternich all contributed to significant social and political upheavals in Europe, leading to the rise of new ideologies as people sought change in the face of shifting power structures and economic disparities.

How does classical liberalism differ from contemporary American liberalism?

Classical liberalism, as discussed in the 19th century, emphasized individual rights, limited government, and popular sovereignty, whereas contemporary American liberalism is often associated with more progressive social policies and government intervention in the economy.

Who was Jeremy Bentham, and how did his ideas influence 19th-century liberalism?

Jeremy Bentham was a British philosopher who developed the philosophy of utilitarianism, which judged actions based on their ability to increase happiness. His ideas laid the groundwork for liberalism in the 19th century, particularly in emphasizing individual rights and rational self-interest.

What was the core belief of liberalism regarding the role of government?

Liberalism advocated for a limited government, meaning the government should not be all-powerful but rather should be accountable to the people, ensuring individual freedoms and popular sovereignty.

What was the Chartist movement in England, and what did it demand?

The Chartist movement in England was a political campaign that demanded universal male suffrage, full citizenship, and the right to vote for all, regardless of wealth or property ownership. It was a response to the limited suffrage advocated by many liberal thinkers of the time.

How did John Stuart Mill contribute to the advancement of women's rights?

John Stuart Mill was a prominent liberal thinker who broke with his contemporaries by advocating for gender equality. In his book 'The Subjection of Women,' he argued for women's right to vote, own property, and pursue professional careers.

What is socialism, and how did it emerge during the Industrial Revolution?

Socialism is an ideology that calls for the community ownership of the means of production, aiming to reduce economic inequality. It emerged during the Industrial Revolution as a response to the extreme wealth disparity between industrial capitalists and the impoverished working class.

What is the difference between utopian socialism and scientific socialism?

Utopian socialism, represented by thinkers like Saint-Simon and Fourier, envisioned ideal societies where wealth was shared equally. In contrast, scientific socialism, developed by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, viewed historical progress as driven by class struggle and advocated for a proletarian revolution to overthrow capitalism.

What was the central idea behind Karl Marx's theory of historical materialism?

Karl Marx's theory of historical materialism posited that history follows a pattern of class struggles driven by economic forces. Marx believed that the working class, or proletariat, would eventually overthrow the capitalist bourgeoisie in a revolution, leading to a classless, communist society.

How did anarchism differ from socialism, and who were its key proponents?

Anarchism differed from socialism in its complete rejection of government and authority, advocating for a society based on voluntary cooperation and self-governance. Key anarchist figures included Mikhail Bakunin, who promoted revolutionary movements to destroy the state, and Georges Sorel, who championed syndicalism, where labor unions would replace the state.