Romanticism, Socialism, Liberalism between 1789 and 1850 - Assignment Example

Ways in which Romanticism, socialism, liberalism were connected and informed between in the period between 1789 and 1850 There were several ways in which ideologies such as Romanticism, socialism, liberalism, as and other events that happened between 1789 and 1850 connect with each other. This paper is going to describe the ways in which these movements and events were connected and informed one another during this period. In the early nineteenth century, ideologies were mainly influenced by two opposing traditions: the scientific rationalism which derived its meaning from the scientific revolution, and Romanticism which rejected most ideas of the positivists.

For example, Auguste Comte (1798-1857), developed a form of scientific rationalism which stated that science is the highest form of knowledge that will inevitably lead to progress in humans. His argument was that positive or scientific knowledge is the highest stage of human development which would allow humans to discover the laws of human behaviour and be able to use them in improving the society. On the other hand, Romanticism rejected most of these ideologies by the positivists. They recognized the fact that humans have limits to reason and comprehend the reality and also rejected the artistic style called classicism.

Instead, they explored the mysterious, strange, satanic, and exotic aspects of the human nature by incorporating it into myths and folk music. Their ideologies appealed to the liberals on the basis of rejecting an established order and emphasis on individual liberty, and conservatives on the basis of societal importance in religion. Liberalism held its ideology on the principle of economic, social, and political freedom. In particular, the liberals had three main aims: to establish and protect civil liberties; worked to achieve the right to vote to the middle class, and to promote free trade.

They drew most of their support from merchants, manufacturers, ad middle-class professionals in urban areas. This ideology became prominent during the French revolution especially after the Congress of Vienna. It became a major force in France between the years 1830 and 1848, resulting in the overthrowing of the Bourbons who were replaced by Louis Philippe and attainment of republic status by France in 1848. In Britain, liberalism led to several reforms including the repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846 and also the Reform Bill of 1832.

Another ideology that appeared during the French Revolution is Nationalism. This ideology held that nationalities had a right to identify and be attached to their nation. It aimed at establishing nation-states with people that shared the same land even though they had differences in cultural unity. For instance, the Swiss spoke in different languages and the French had a different dialect but individuals in those countries could identify themselves with their nation because they lived within the same geographical borders.

This meant that the minority lived as a small nation inside the geographical region of another nation. It led to a number of revolutions such as Italy Revolution against the rule by Austria in 1830 and 1848, Prussian Revolution in 1848, Greece gaining from the Ottoman Empire in 132 among others. This ideology was first associated with liberalism because it held a belief in representative government, but it was later identified more with conservatism. Socialism rose as a result of justification by the working class to the awful conditions brought about by liberalism and industrial capitalism.

This ideology advocated that the community becomes the owners of the means of production. Rise of socialism advocated a new economic order and social equality in different states during that period. It also led to the challenge of the bourgeoisie due to its maltreatment of workers in the Industrial Revolution. In conclusion, the ideologies of liberalism, romanticism, socialism, and nationalism had a great influence in the political beliefs and revolutions which altered the political culture of the West.