Liberalism/Conservatism during Post-Napoleonic Era

[KC]

I have to write a 5-7 page paper on the emergence of Liberalism and Conservatism during the Post-Napoleonic Era. Here is the exact text from my professor:


In the decades that followed the defeat of Napoleon (1815), two distinct and contradictory political ideologies emerged. By using the documents assigned thus far in the course as evidence [see below for the exact readings], describe the main aspects of early liberalism and conservativism. In addition, be sure to explain which particular social and political groups supported or opposed the respective ideologies.

If anyone could help me out by providing me with info and/or resources where I can find a good amount of info on this subject I would greatly appreciate it. Sources that I already have are at the bottom of this post, but more are always appreciated.


Emmanuel Joseph Sieyes, What is the Third Estate?
French National Assembly, Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
Maximilien Robespierre, “Justification for the Use of Terror”
The Peterloo Massacre
Engels on Industrial Manchester
Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France
Joseph de Maistre, The Divine Origins of Constitutions
Carlsbad Decrees
T.B. Macaulay, “Speech on Parliamentary Reform”
W.J. Fox, “Speech before the Anti-Corn Law League”
1846-78 Factory Debates

[Amusing Scrotum]

Is this just on France? ....or the whole of Europe?

If it's the whole of Europe then you may wish to look into the Whig Party and the Conservative Party. Here's the wikipedia page on the Whigs....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whig

Unfortunately I don't know of any specific books, but I'm sure something will turn up on the internet.


Originally posted by Lazar's Professor!
In addition, be sure to explain which particular social and political groups supported or opposed the respective ideologies.

In Britain at least, the people of the countryside supported the Conservative Party and the City folk supported the Whigs - and later the Liberals. So basically petty-Capitalists in the "muck of rural idiocy" voted Conservative, and big Capitalists voted Whig.

After the Chartist movement (1848?) the voting was "opened up" a bit, and I think something like 40% of the country could then vote. With generally the same voting pattern happening - rural idiots voted Conservative and civilised urbanites voted Whig.

The urbanites later changed their votes to the Liberal Party, with the sections of the "urban poor" who could vote also "pledging allegiance" to the Liberals. The Liberals were also reasonably prominent in the early Trade Union Movement - a few of the English Trade Unionists in the First International went on to become Liberal MP's and there was even one Trade Unionist who went on to become a Conservative MP.

So really there were two strands of Liberalism - Social-Liberalism (see Lloyd George's healthcare reforms) which Robert Owen could perhaps be incorporated into and "Free Trade" Liberalism generally driven by the most progressive and innovative elements of the Capitalist class (especially the big Industrialists).

Also at that period in time a lot of Conservatives linked themselves with traditional Christianity, where as Liberals tended to come from the Non-Conformist tradition and the Welsh Chapel "scene".

After further relaxation of the voting laws, the Labour Party was formed and support for the Liberals decreased. With their only base being rural Wales - incidentally the only rural area that I am aware of where they ever had a "base".

Throughout the 20th century British politics were dominated by the Conservatives and the Labour Party and the Liberals faded into insignificance. However it could be said that Plaid Cymru - Welsh Nationalists - carried on the Liberal tradition in rural Wales and recently the Liberal Democrats have received a moderate revival.

As for other countries, well I'm don't really know anything about that. However the young Marx did write for some German Liberal Newspapers - I think the Liberals were called the Democrats in Germany - and some of what he wrote may be of some use.

Also, I don't think it would be such a bad idea to start a thread on this in Theory because you'll probably get more responses.

Hope this helps.

[KC]

Thanks. Well, I got an outline written up and ran it by my professor and he seemed to really like it. I guess by groups he mostly meant social classes, which obviously won't be hard at all. Thanks a lot though.