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Name: _______________________

Chapter 4: Exploring the Roots of Liberalism

A New Way of Thinking
Aboriginal Peoples and the Early Development of Liberalism: _____________________
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Questions Page 101 103
1. Where did many new liberal ideas that shaped the modern Western World come from?

2. What kind of political structure did Europeans countries such a Spain and France have
during the 1700s? Explain

3. Whose writings started to challenge to existing monarchy of France by the 1800s?

Many people who believed in liberalism believed that:

Individual freedoms and rights should be protected.

What is good for individuals within a community can also be good for the community
as a whole.

Government intervention should be limited so as to allow individuals as much

freedom of choice about their lives as possible.
1

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4. List some examples of how the Industrial Revolution changed peoples

lives.

5. For many years, much of Europe had an economic system called ___________________, which is
based on the idea that countries need to export more than they _____________. In other words,
countries need to sell more than they buy. Think of it in terms of a paycheque.

If you spend

_______ than you earn every month, then you will have extra money left over. In a mercantilist
system, a large number of _____________ are needed to do the ____________, but almost all of the
profits (in gold and ____________) are kept by the government. As a result, government leaders
(usually ________ and ________) lived in luxury, but workers lived in poor conditions. The
_________ system in Great Britain was also a factor in limiting the equal _________________ of
wealth. The British class system tended to keep people in the same ____________ class as their
parents, thus limiting their potential for ________________ advancement. For instance, if your
father had been of the working class, you would have a very difficult time rising to the
______________ or ____________ class.
6. Draw the diagram on page 103 make sure you include the title.

7. What was the name of Adam Smiths book and what did he criticize in it? Be thorough.

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Book Name: ________________________________

1.

2.
8. According to Smith, what was a very important part of an economy?

9. Smith did not believe in the absence of government. Instead he believed in this

10. According to Smith, what should the role of government be?

11. Copy the Chart on Page 105

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Liberal Ideas on Political Systems

During the European Renaissance (14th to 17th century), especially in 18th century Europe, a new
focus on the individual developed. This recognition of the worth of the individual was key to the
development of liberalism. The political influence of this new individualism can be seen in the
events of the late 1700s: the American Revolution against the British monarchy and the French
Revolution, where people rose up against the French monarchy. In the founding constitutions of the
United States of America and the French Republic, and other documents such as the Declaration of
Bill of Rights, key political values of liberalism were expressed. These new democracies embraced
ideas of philosophers such as John Locke, who suggested that people should enjoy the rights to life,
liberty and property. Some essential rights and freedoms on which these new governments were
founded include the following:

To be allowed to participate in government

To be free from excessive government intrusion into ones life
To be assured that no one (especially the king and the nobility) is above the law (that is
the rule of law)
To be protected and permitted to exercise individual rights
To be free to make decisions on ones own behalf

These new governments were the beginnings of what would become liberal democracies, and people
across Europe fought throughout the 1800s to establish some form of liberal democracy to replace
what they saw as unjust monarchies. A liberal democracy is a political system that is based on the
equality of all citizens and has free elections, multiple political parties that are made through a
democratically elected legislature and legal decisions that are made by an independent judiciary.
John Stuart Mill (page 107)
Mill believed that people should have as many individual rights as possible and
that the government was to do only three things:
1.
2.
3.
Mill believed strongly in individual choice and did not think the government should pass laws that try
to prevent actions before they happen. Mill did not believe that the possibility of something bad
happening was reason enough to restrict individual rights.
Read Freedom or Safety (page 108) and answer the three questions on the bottom right.
1.

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2.
3.
Do humans sometimes need to be protected from themselves? Can you think of an example?
Mill firmly believed in complete freedom of speech. Do you agree? Is there any type of freedom of
expression you think should be banned?
Mills Mass Mind: ________________________________________________________________
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Classical Liberalism versus Modern Liberalism

Classical Liberalism was a strong response to monarchical (having a king or queen) times when
individual rights and freedoms were very restricted. Classical Liberalism demanded more freedoms
and individuality for everyone. Over time, however, people began to rethink Classical Liberalism as
it did not bring freedom to the vast majority of people. Classical Liberal brought about enormous
freedom, but it created a sort of every man for himself type of society. And of course, there would
be winners and losers. Modern Liberalism developed over time to address concerns with the
inequality created by laissez-faire capitalist society. Some modern liberalists saw classical liberalism
as a throw-back to the old system. The few were getting very rich off of the many.
Copy the chart on the bottom of page 109

Modern Liberalism

Classical Liberalism

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A good example of the difference between classic and modern liberalism is rent control. Read the two
opposing view of rent control on pages 111 and 112.

1. Which view would a supporter of classical liberalism support?

2. Is having a roof over your head a basic fundamental right or a luxury?

3. What would a single mother of four children do if her rent suddenly doubled and she could no
longer afford it?

4. If you were to invest your own money into a new condo project, would you want the government
telling you how much you could rent out each unit for?

5. What might be the long term effects of strict rent controls?

6. If it was up to you, would there be rent controls in Alberta or Canada? Why?

7. List some other decisions that governments today get involved in, that would fit into the ideas of a
Modern Liberal democracy- (not in the textbook- brainstorm).