INTELLECTUAL

Intellectual History 1815-1848 AP European History (Nick Rossi, Mike Wojtusik, Peter Schooling)

The “ism’s”: During this time period many new ideals surfaced. These ideals were based on the observation of human nature and societal tendencies. Liberalism: Liberalists of the early to mid 19th centaury were critical of the previous absolutist rulers. The liberals of the time were more in favor of a democratic government of the people. The liberals also wanted rights for the common man; they wanted freedom of the press, and freedom of speech. The believed in the philosophy of john Locke. Conservatism: Conservatism was the reaction to the rapid spread of liberalism. It was a movement to return to the status quo and to maintain the balance of power by the institution of stable monarchies in Europe. Socialism: Socialism was the furthest left of the isms. The primary tenet was that the government owned the means of production and distributed goods produced equally amongst the people. Romanticism: Romanticism was a movement in art and literature toward a focus on the irrational and the individual. This however led to a greater sense of being a single individual as well as a more avid interest in nature.

The Oppression of Intellectuals: In this era many intellectuals were stifled due to censorship in conservative regimes. Even colleges were strictly overseen and observed to ensure that no liberal ideas were making it into the minds of the young.

Conservatism was a change made by the people as a result of their dislike of the violence and terror associated with liberalism and revolution. Klemens von Metternich, the ruler of The Austrian Empire, supported this way of thought. Conservatism was supported by people who favored nobility, and peasants. This became a popular belief because the majority of the population supported it in some form. Some beliefs of conservatism were order in society and faith. In Austria Louis XVIII started to believe in this. During the “White Terror”, Frenchmen loyal to a monarchial style of rule attacked and killed many leaders of the French revolution. This was a direct attack on the liberal beliefs, farthing the conservative cause.

In Russia the Decembrist revolution led to the split in intellectuals in Russia. Some were called Slavolphiles who believed that the most advanced culture and society was that of the Russian village. The other side of thinking was the Westernizes, who believed that western powers were more superior, and that Russia needed to modernize.