Before the Napoleonic Era, most governments were conservationist. However, many citizens sought to liberalize Europe in the 19th century. While conservatives were against the Enlightenment and even tried to suppress it in their countries, liberalism developed during the Enlightenment in response to the absolutist policies of monarchs in the 18th century, such as Louis XIV. The economically-powerful bourgeoisie had been excluded from the governing of their countries for centuries, but wanted political power. Although conservatism and liberalism are in some ways similar, the shift from conservatism to liberalism was a radical change. The ideas of liberalism drew from those of conservatism. Both were very class-driven. A small group still
