19th Century Political Ideologies and Revolutions

Historical Revolutions of the 19th Century

The 1820 Revolutions

In 1820, surveys showed liberal minority support (which was defeated), though liberal victories occurred in Greece, marking the beginning of its independence, and in Latin America, which gained independence from Spain. In Spain, a liberal movement of soldiers forced King Ferdinand VII to sign the Constitution. This lasted three years before being defeated by the Holy Alliance.

The 1830 Revolutions

In 1830, liberal uprisings gained popular support in France. Victory was achieved in Belgium, where a conservative liberalism was imposed based on census suffrage and limited freedoms (known as Doctrinal Liberalism).

The 1848 Revolutions

In 1848, progressive liberal uprisings emerged with democratic ideals, including universal suffrage, equal protection for workers, and the concept of a social republic. Additionally, nationalist uprisings took place in Austria, Prussia, Russia, and Turkey.

Key Political Ideologies

Liberalism

Liberalism is a political system based on the individual as a citizen with rights and duties. It defends national sovereignty, free elections, the separation of powers, property rights, and economic freedom.

Nationalism

Nationalism represents the people's right to decide for themselves and defend their sovereignty. Nations must be free, and their citizens should decide if they want to be independent or part of one state or another. There are two types of nationalism:

• Unifying: Many nations and peoples struggling to join a strong and powerful state (e.g., Germany, Italy, and the USA).
• Separatist: Some peoples or nations want to diverge from an existing state to create another independent one.

Marxism

Marxism emerged in the mid-nineteenth century when Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels denounced the exploitation of the working class and advocated for a workers' revolution to destroy capitalism. Through revolution, the proletariat would conquer political power and create a workers' state to socialize private property. This would lead to the gradual disappearance of social classes and the state to achieve the ideal society. From the last third of the nineteenth century, Marxists proposed the establishment of socialist workers' parties. Their goal was the realization of the proletarian revolution, but they also defended involvement in political life through participation in elections and entry into national parliaments to achieve legislation more favorable to workers.

Anarchism

Anarchism gathered a group of thinkers who shared three basic principles: the exaltation of individual freedom and social solidarity, the criticism of private property, and the rejection of authority (mainly the state). They defended the revolutionary action of workers and peasants to destroy the state and create a new, egalitarian society. Collectivist anarchists opposed participation in political life and the organization of workers into parties. Some advocated violent action against the pillars of capitalism, including the bourgeoisie, the army, the state, and the church.