Development of Classical Liberalism

Ancient Greek Democracy is very well known to the world today as the first democracy. During this time in history, active public participation in the government was very common. Athenian leader Cleisthenes, during this period of time, introduced several political reforms, one of the many beings: demokratia; “rule by the people. This system was comprised of three different institutions. The Ekklesia: the sovereign governing body that wrote and enforced the foreign policy, The Boule: a council of representatives (all male representatives) from the ten Athenian tribes, and The Dikasteria: the popular courts in which citizens could argue their cases in front of jurors who were selected by lottery. Demokratia eradicated the political divide between Athenian aristocrats who had the most influence in the political decision-making process at the time and ensured equality. However, this “equality” was limited as only 40, 000 males out of the 100, 000 in Athen participated due to the fact that the majority of men did not meet the criteria. In this form of government, men who were allowed to participate, represented themselves as opposed to representing a group who elected them.

In modern times, most countries around the globe have representative democracies in contrast to the direct democracies that were in place in Ancient Greece. Representative democracies have citizens vote for representatives who will create and enact laws on their behalf rather than direct democracies where individuals represent only themselves, this practice was used by the Greeks in the past. Although different from present-day democracy, Ancient Greek Democracy laid the foundation for western civilization today. Classical liberalism is focussed around the ideas of individual importance, inclusivity through government where all are given equal opportunities to make their voice heard. Greek societies also practiced the Rule of Law principle, known to them as ostracism, and had a strong belief in equal treatment before the law. This idea is one of the principles of Classical Liberalism.

The Magna Carta was a charter written when England’s King John was facing a possible rebellion of his subjects, particularly, the powerful barons, during the time. Under this pressure, the King agreed to sign the charter known as the Magna Carta (Great Charter). Initially, this doctrine was not successful as it was altered and reissued several times. However, this document for the first time in history that all, including the king, were subject to the law. This influential document was the first written constitution in history and acted as the foundation of the English system of Common Law. The charter was one of the earliest documents in history that outlined the idea of the rule of law and established individual rights and freedoms for citizens. For a number of centuries, the 63 clauses of the doctrine that dealt with property rights of barons and powerful citizens of the time were limited and were not applicable to the farmers or lower class.

The Magna Carta contributed many of the ideas that are central in Classical Liberalism such as the Rule of Law and Individual Rights and Freedoms. It is known in Egland as the foundation of modern democracy and continues to be a significant document when discussing individual rights and freedoms and individual treatment before the law, both ideas that are foundational to the idea of Classical Liberalism. As well as this, in 1776, during the American Revolution, the Magna Carta served as a base for the demands of liberty that they wanted from the English crown. The influence of the Magna Carta is especially evident in the American Constitution and The Bill of Rights. The Fifth Amendment echoes Clause 39 of the Magna Carta “Nor shall any person be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law”.

The Renaissance was a time of change in European history that followed after the dark times during the Middle Ages. During this time, there were many cultural, economic, artistic, and social reforms and is widely known for the birth of humanist philosophy. The Renaissance promoted the rediscovery of classical philosophy, literature and art. It was a time of knowledge and rebirth. Many of the great thinkers, authors, scientists and artists the world knows today were discovered during this time in history. The term Renaissance originates from the French term “rebirth”. This period of European history was characterized by a renewed interest in Greek and Roman culture.

In contrast to the medieval period, the Renaissance brought a greater interest to the individual. European scholars revisited classical ideas about the importance of life in this world, man’s role in the world and an appreciation for the worth of the individual. Along with these ideas, the growth and revival of humanism views played a pivotal role in the idea that humans are rational beings who deserve individual rights and freedoms. Classical Liberalism during this time was developed through a sense of individual awareness that blossomed due to the influence of Renaissance artists, philosophers and ideologies that were theorized during this time.

The Haudenosaunee, or “people of the longhouse,” also known as the Iroquois or Six Nations, are members of a community/confederacy of Aboriginal nations known as the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. In the beginning, the confederacy was comprised of five nations that lived in the northern part of New York State. Later on, another nation joined the confederacy in the early 18th century, it became known as the Six Nations. These six nations, who were once at war, decided collectively to put an end to their constant conflict and unite under the Great Law of Peace; their oral constitution. The guiding principles of the Great Law of Peace were: divisions of power, equal participation by citizens, and clearly stated rights and freedoms. Today, the Haudenosaunee Confederation is recognized as one of the most ancient democracies in the world.

The Six Nations placed a great emphasis on equality for all members of their society, and they ensured that all members understood the respect everyone should have for each other’s Individual Rights and Freedoms. The Haudenosaunee Confederation through this respect exemplifies the direct contribution that they made to classical liberalism. Along with this, the Confederation was one of the first political systems that divided powers equally among the different branches of government. In such a political system, all members of the confederacy were given the opportunity to have a say in the decisions being made, especially women, who played a great role in government. In modern-day society, historians have discovered direct links between the Haudenosaunee’s oral constitution; The Great Law of Peace and the American Constitution, which goes on to demonstrate how much of an influence the Confederacy had on Classical Liberalism.

The Protestant Reformation was a time of political, religious, intellectual, and cultural disorder in 16th century Catholic Europe that laid the foundation for the structures and beliefs that the continent would be recognized for in the modern era. During this upheaval, many influences such as Martin Luther, and Henry VIII began to question the teachings of the church and called for the power to be redistributed within the Church. They not only fought for there to be the religious change they also went on to demand political change, by redistributing the power from the Church to the Bible and pamphlet-reading pastors and princes. While the Reformation first began in Germany, similar movements in Switzerland and England were brewing. All of these movements being fueled by humanist philosophies that motivated individuals to do what's best for themselves, as opposed to conforming to the decisions made for them by the corrupt church of the time. Many of the protestant religious communities today are the products of many of the Protestants rebelling against the Church.

As the Reformation progressed, the movement taught and encouraged individuals to become less constrained by the church and think, as well as make decisions for themselves. It contributed to Classical Liberalism as it inspired people to contribute to building a society that they believed was best for themselves. During this time, the printing press, accompanied by the translations of the Bible gave individuals an opportunity to educate themselves about religion and interpret them in their own way. The main contribution that the Reformation to Classical Reformation that individuals should question and stand up to authority to fight for what they believe in.

The Enlightenment, also referred by many as the Age of Reason was a period of time during the 18th century in Europe that radically transformed European politics, philosophy and communication. During this time in history, people of Europe questioned the authority in place and accepted the idea that humanity could be improved by making rational changes. Not only did this movement create change in society it resulted in numerous books, essays, inventions, scientific discoveries, laws, wars and revolutions. The American and French Revolutions directly took inspiration from Enlightenment ideals, and in doing so, marked the peak of the influence this movement had in Europe, while simultaneously beginning its decline. It was a time of great philosophical and intellectual development that would have an influence on many generations to come and impact communities globally. Many of the ideas that were born in this time period would power liberalism ideas. Thinkers during this time established ideas of human potential as well as individual importance which would lay the foundation for Classical Liberalism.

The Age of Reason was of great importance in the development of principles of Classical Liberalism, as it placed emphasis on the individual and how humans are rational and reasonable human beings. These thoughts and ideas contributed to the evolution of some of the basic principles of Classical Liberalism such as rights and freedoms, private property, and the capacity of individuals to act in their self-interest. The Enlightenment played a pivotal role in creating a foundation for the ideas about Classical Liberalism that we have today.

The Industrial Revolution pronounced a remarkable time of development in 18th-century society that transformed predominantly agricultural and mercantilist societies into industrialized urban societies in Europe and America. Goods that had been crafted meticulously and laboriously by hand in the past had begun to be produced in mass quantities by machine factories, due to the introduction of new innovations in machinery and techniques in different sectors and industries. Powered by the ground-breaking innovation of steam-power, the Industrial Revolution that began in Europe quickly spread to the rest of the world. This revolution sparked the switch of a feudal system to an industrial system, which implemented economic, social and political change that significantly altered the lives of Brtish citizens. Technological advancements, the growth in a sense of self-interest and competition, the surplus of investment capital and the huge amount of cheap labour as a result of the increasing urban population are all factors that contributed to the changes in the lives of the British.

New ideas and belief in individual worth during the Industrial Revolution sparked the beginning of liberalism ideologies. While working conditions were poor, and there was no growth in the sense of social equality, it was a significant move towards the principles of economic freedom which played a role in contributing to the still-developing liberalism ideologies that formed the free market economy. Classical liberalism was a dominant factor in the development of a capitalist society, and in this society, aspects of self-interest and competition became more and more apparent. The time of the Industrial Revolution contributed greatly to the developing ideology of Classical Liberalism. This time period also left a mark in the global community as the lasting impact can still be observed in free-market economies across the globe.

The American Revolution, also known as the Revolutionary War was a product of the growing tensions between the people of Britain’s 13 North American colonies and the governments in these colonies who represented the British crown. Small outbursts of violence between British troops and colonial militiamen in Lexington and Concord marked the beginning of the armed conflict, however, by the end of the summer of the next year, the rebels of the revolution had waged a full-scale war for independence. In 1778, France entered the conflict, taking the side of the colonists, and transformed what had been a civil war, into an international conflict. With help from France, the colonials forced the British to surrender and had won their independence. The “Declaration of Independence” demonstrated that they were an independent government that citizens would participate in, rather than the monarch.

The central ideas of the American Revolution Consisted of individual rights and freedoms, along with the ideals of sovereignty, it was these ideals that founded and assisted in the creation of the “Declaration of Independence” thus forming a citizen controlled government. This particular revolution further moved along the and contributed to the development of classical liberalism, while influencing individuals around the world at the time with liberal ideologies.

The French Revolution was one of the most significant historical events that took place in Europe. This revolution began in 1789 and ended in 1798 with the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte. During the revolution, citizens completely reoriented their country’s political landscape and eliminated century-old systems such as feudalism and absolute monarchy. The main cause of the revolution being the discontentment the citizens had with the French monarchy of the time as well as the economic policies that were put in place by King Louis XVI. Along with the poor economic policies in place, the feudal class system created an extensive division between the three estates of society. During the revolution, citizens, especially from the third estate, fought for their freedom and equal rights, which were outlined in the “Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen”. While the revolution did not meet all of its goals and at times during the many years of the revolution spiralled into bloodbaths, the French Revolution had a tremendous impact on modern nations by exemplifying the world the power of the will of the people.

Throughout it all, the French Revolution embodies many components that are central to Classical Liberalism. For example, individual rights and freedoms, as well as the protection of civil liberties. This revolution exemplified one of the first events in history in which the ideals of the Enlightenment began to have an influence and develop into an ideology, which is now recognized as Classical Liberalism. This time in history spread the idea of liberalism throughout Europe, and also had a hand in developing the ideals of Classical Liberalism that are still evident in France, as well as Canada.

The ideals of Classical Liberalism continually progressed and began to be integrated into society, significant changes were made to the class system in place. Prior to these alterations, classes were based on birthright, however, as changes were implemented, divisions in society were based on wealth became the factor that determined social standing. Many aspects of Classical Liberalism such as private property, economic freedom and individuals being able to act in their own self-interest paved the way for equal opportunity for better economic conditions and overall, a better quality of life.

The organization of society based on wealth, where all individuals held the same rights and freedoms and opportunities, where they were allowed to work in their own self interest prompted a new society drastically different than one where individuals were restricted by the feudal system. Through the use of the free market economy, the central principle of Classical Liberalism continued to develop. And as a result, equality and individual rights and freedoms were respected by all.