Establishment of Capitalist Systems Against the Socialist Systems - Essay Example

There were number of connections between Romanticism, Socialism, liberalism between 1789 and 1850. Describe some of the ways in which these movementswere connected? Three major movements that took place between the 1789 and 1850 included Romanticism and Liberalism. There were sparkling identical view points between each of them. One of the sparkling fact about each of them was the point that they came about in response and reaction to the established system of governance, political, and social order. It came about from the mind, heart and tongue of those who did not settle for the pre determined, rather wanted to establish a system that would grant them more freedom and more liberty against the conventionally set up systems. For example, Romanticism came about as a response to the developments that had started off in the form of the Industrial revolution. The feeling of the fact that industrial revolution brought about an alienation of the masses from the elements of the nature, propelled the ideas and mindset towards the ideas of getting back to nature and the natural way, in turn Romantic ideas and Romantics. While the French Revolution was considered as the benchmark of the people’s rights protection, the Romantics found it otherwise and termed it as a seeding of the exploitation that would come in the form of democratic setups establishment (Ben-Israel, 2002, p 110). According to the proponents of this ideology, the establishment of too many rules and restrictions were merely akin to the caging of the mankind in the different chains and there by handicapping them. These ideas were reflected in the socialist views as well expressed by the world famous sociologist Karl Marx. Hence a point of commonality exists between these two mindsets. Similarly the movement of the Socialism came about as a response and reaction to the capitalists established system of governance and political dictation. According to the proponents who came about in the form of Hegel and Karl Marx, it was the exploitation of the masses and the alienation of the work force from their abilities in the capitalist system and the remedy to this was the socialist ideas that sought the establishment of a global communist manifesto in a global perspective. Hence this was a reactionary movement in its own against the previously established industrial system and the subsequent capitalist mindset that prevailed from it. The failure of French revolution in the short term, along with the extensive bloodshed and potential exploitation of the masses was termed as the gifts of the so called status quo established systems and this had to be curbed and curtailed by free movements such as socialist political order, romantics free movement and liberalism that demanded freedom of the mankind from all kinds of bondage. In the same context Liberalism finds its values in the enactment of the global and moral system that is based on equality of the people, where there will be no exploitation of the masses in any way possible. The proponents of this mindset were the likes of John Locke and Voltaire. They were reactionary to the established norms based on their points that the given systems had held the mankind captive and had held him hostage in the chains of the social and artificially made rules. The exploitation of the masses by the superior forces was also termed as a factor of dismay by the proponents of the liberal movement. The concept of mercantilism and the alleged siding of the government agencies and institutions towards the establishment of the cartels were blamed for by the liberal proponents who advocated the establishment of a free and prosperous society that would be free of the mankind’s established chains and systems. The movements so undertaken also came about in the form and name of counter enlightenment movement. The romantics further argued that the rise of industries was not just the mere exploitation of the masses by the ruling elite, but also the direct destruction of the natural forces and presence of the natural ambiance. All these were collectively presented in a reactionary way and given the name of Romantics movement for the restoration of the natural peace, natural environment. These movements were in force for a considerable period of time, however they had to give way to the progressive and practically developmental movements that came about in the form of development in the industrial sector, establishment of capitalist systems against the socialist systems and the establishment of the nationalistic movements similar to the French revolution. The growth of such movement meant an end of these movements. What were the important conditions, technological developments and innovations developed in Britain in late 18th and early 19th century that spurred Industrial revolution? Till the middle of the 18th century the United Kingdom depicted an outlook that was more broadly driven by the rural outlook. The country side was more prominent and people were restricted to farms and horticulture and there was little knowledge of automation or any other development. The event of Industrial revolution that took place shortly after, changed the overall outlook of United Kingdom. United Kingdom in general and England in particular was the center and hub of the entire revolutionary movement that started off in Europe and spread all over the world like a jungle fire. This would change the overall dynamics and outlook of the world for good. It would change the social outlook, the family outlook, the living methods, the earning methods, the modes of income; nay it would totally change the living style and pattern and as a result is called revolution brought about by industries development. Apart from farming, cottage industry was one of the most dominant means that contributed largely towards the living and life style of the people. The women were largely limited to the four walls of the house or at most helping the men in the fields. The population also gained an impetus. This was made possible through the introduction of the industry which in turn gave rise to the health care facilities and other basic commodities of the life, giving an introduction to improved child and mother health care and increased chances of the survival (Kaufman, 2004, p. 15). The introduction of medicine production in the industries also made it possible living a healthier and longer life all together. Life expectancy grew proportionally as a result of all these developments. With the reliance being reduced over the manual methods the people found it easy working for longer hours without direct labor. Capitalism was another gift of the industrial revolution. The modern banking system based on the system and concept on interest and the cartel development are the gifts of the industrial revolution. Banks were established, central revenue centers were established, people started finding jobs through them, and money was being transferred through new means, mostly through the usage of the automobiles on the road (Lyles, 2003, p 198). The introduction of industrial developments, along with other associated items brought about a complete change. The women were no more isolated to the houses, the men were no more limited to the fields, and the man was no more reliant on the manual means of production. The industries so developed made things far easier. Things that would otherwise take days and weeks were matter of hours. Farming became more advanced. The introduction of steam engine made transportation easier and more rapid. The transfer and travelling between the different parts of the country was imaginable now. The rural urban divide was eliminated quickly. The percentages of the people shifting from rural parts to the urban centers started increasing proportionally. Men found new means of occupation. The living stands started getting better. The per capita income increased by high proportion, the economies started to blossom, the economy of the state also gained impetus; traveling and tourism industries started gaining momentum. With the advent of the industries and industrial revolution, the labors found the protection of their rights. They were brought together through the establishment of the labor unions, giving them more rights, protection against the cruel masters. This in a way was the final nail against the master slave tradition that had long existed. The industry environment brought about more transparency. The steam engine was the direct gift of all this effort which brought about vehicles on the road. The defense industries also started to flourish. The uses of new technological devices for military purposes were made possible through the establishment of the industries within the working domains. Science and technology were other quoted gifts of the technology. Cities now for the first time came across the concept of electricity. Electric equipments were introduced to the people and different industries were established for this. With this, the man was no more the single and lone bread earner in the house, the women now also started contributing in the different ways. Women that had largely been kept a side and isolated found a voice and representation and she made effective usage of her abilities. All this originated from Great Britain and it quickly went on to gain momentum and popularity in the other parts of Europe. All this majorly took place in late 18th century and early 19th century. From that point on, the progress has been continuous one. Explain how Nationalism emerged as one of the dominant political forces in Europe after the French Revolution. Give examples how nationalistic principles influenced Europe over the course of 19th century? Background: Prior to the middle of 18th century, the continent of Europe depicted an outlook of a monarchic and aristocratic ruled part of the world. Different parts of the continent had history of long rules of the kings and their nobles who were assigned various key posts. There was no name of nationalism or any other similar people oriented government. The traces of such government were visible in the likes of Italy, France, Great Britain, Eastern bloc of Europe and other regions within. This resulted in disparity amongst the masses against the nobles and against those who were in the power corridors. The breath of fresh air originally initiated from the French Revolution. Though the revolution itself was not an outcome of the fortnight, rather it had its roots and traces in the events that are aforementioned and that were existent through decades and this had led to resentment within the ranks. French revolution as the emblem: However, once the blow of revolution was set up by French revolution, there was no looking back. The entire continent of Europe was engulfed in movements of nationalistic uprising. From that time on, the course of European affairs took a totally unique and different path forward, paving the way for modern politics that the world can see in present day in the form of Europe’s free and fair societies established along the pillars of democratic norms and justice within. The domains of French revolution were multi fold. It had its impacts directly upon the society of France, at the same time, it had its direct impacts upon the outer regions of the continent of Europe. It was based on the fact that the manifestos and agendas set forth against this revolution were not just limited to the French society and borders, rather the pioneers of this revolution aimed at establishing a rule based on the same principles with further aims of giving the people of France liberty and freedom against their rulers who had ruled over them for decades and centuries in the most hostile and unfriendly manner. Edict of Fraternity: The slogan of Edict of Fraternity was one of the most serious and strong clause and slogan raised in the French revolution. The expanded the domain of the revolution and in turn made it ever so deadly and ever so lethal and wide. Under this slogan, the desire and objective was to establish people’s government in the different parts of the continent Europe that according to the revolutionaries were under the control and influence of the usurpers and further the fact that they had held the systems hostage. The edict of fraternity was to be implemented in the likes of Austria, Italy, Germany and other adjoining regions that had monarchies and kings established in them and the overall social outlook of the people was hardly appealing and satisfying in the context of social prosperity (Fremont-Barnes, 2013, p. 27). Other elements: Napoleon’s rise to power was an agent of initiation of spirit towards serving the country. One of the main features of Napoleon’s ruling style from those days was the fact that he established nationalistic army. This roused the spirit of nationalism further within the ranks and brought about desire for fighting against all the forces that stood in their way. Towards the middle of the 19th century, the situation grew further worse for the status quo powers. This was on the account the collapse and the gradual disintegration of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman had long controlled the region and did not allow any nationalistic movement coming up and surging. However with the gradual decline, the forces and states like Eastern bloc, the Slavs , the governors designated, all rose up in revolt from time to time and demanded more autonomous powers and freedom of governing and ruling (Brun-Ozuna, 2012, p. 242). The two revolutions that the French people saw towards the middle of the 19th century were two moves that instigated the move and desire towards establishing a self government. The Poles took direct influence from it and rose in revolt against the Tsar. The Belgians also rose in revolt and on account of the hard dealing that they suffered towards the end of Napoleon’s era and initiation of the Metternich’s era brought about more resentment within. They time and again gained in amount and rose for their independence. The Unification of Italy under Count Cavor and Unification of Germany under Bismark were the moves that were gained and brought into force as a result of the nationalistic movements that gained impetus after the French revolution of 1789. References: Ben-Israel, H. (2002). English Historians on the French Revolution. Cambridge University Press. Brun-Ozuna, B. (2012). Preparing for the AP World History Examination. Cengage Learning. Fremont-Barnes, G. (2013). The French Revolutionary Wars. Routledge. Kaufman, B. E. (2004). The Global Evolution of Industrial Relations: Events, Ideas and the IIRA. International Labour Organization. Lyles, L. D. (2003). Historical Development of Capitalism in the United States and Its Affects on the American Family:. iUniverse. Read More