Conservatism And Liberalism

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The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement. It took place in the 18th century, although its roots are in the time way before that, as early as in the mid-decades. The Enlightenment took place mostly in France and Britain. It affected European politics, science and philosophy and society. The Enlightenment thinkers believed in that humanity could be improved by human reason. Their main aims were individual liberty, the domination of society by hereditary aristocracy and ending the abuses of the church and state. The Enlightenment thinkers thought that they were more enlightened than others and that they had the responsibility to educate the others.

Agricultural revolution started in the 1700s in Britain and also in the “low lands” such as Netherland. One of the things that affected the revolution was the change from the three-field crop
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Because of this, conservatives are critical about major changes for example in politics. Conservatives think that state and public interests are more important than individuals and individual welfare. Conservatism was born in the turn of the 18th century. It was a response and an opposite of liberalism. Conservatism back then was supported by the wealthy and well off, such as the king, nobility and church. Conservatives wanted a strong leader instead of democracy.

Liberalism was born in the 18th century. It is the opposite of conservatism. When liberalism was born, most of the liberalists were middle class. Liberals supported the ideas of enlightenment, as you can see from the main aims. Enlightenment’s main aims were individual liberty and limitations to the power of religion and government – these were the main aims of liberalism too. Also democracy and free market were liberalism’s main aims. Liberals think that individuals and individual welfare are above state and public interests, unlike conservatives, that think it’s vice

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