The Liberal State



Based on ideas ot the ENLIGHTENMENT and the FRENCH REVOLUTION, the 19th century developed the model of the LIBERAL STATE.
This liberal state was based on a number of principles :
(1) The State, it's government and it's laws were based on a WRITTEN CONSTITUTION which limited the authority of the state versus it's citizens, protected the rights of the individual citizen, and defined his duties.
(2) The State was to guarantee INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY; in transitional periods, servitude was phased out. Privileges of the nobility and clergy were cancelled.
(3) State and Church were clearly separated. As the church, in the past, had taken on functions now monopolized by the state, church property was confiscated to a large extent and turned into state property (often sold off).
(4) Communal property often equally was confiscated or dissolved, turned into individual property.
(5) FREEDOM OF TRADE was introduced; monopolies, privileges of guilds abolished.
(6) Some liberal states, in order to break regionalism (regional historical privileges, structures) instituted an administrative reform implementing CENTRALIZATION and a structure of DEPARTMENTS.
(7) Education, at least from secondary education upward, was the task of the state (not any more of the church)
(8) in economic policy, the Liberal State proposed a policy of LAISSEZ-FAIRE.
(9) LAW CODEs (civil and penal law) were published.

The 19th century liberal state was a CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY. The right to appoint a cabinet with a prime minister or chancellor lay with the king; PARLIAMENT, now permanent, was to exercise a checking function, by approving or not approving budgets, debating political issues or demanding individual portfolio ministers to resign.

Supporters of the liberal state were burghers, the middle class - entrepreneurs, bankers, property owners, intellectuals.
The liberal state had antagonized the Catholic Church and resulted in strained STATE-CHURCH-RELATIONs. Parliamentary politics throughout much of the 19th century was marked by the rivalry between conservatism and liberalism; liberals often advocating the extension of the FRANCHISE in hope to win more voters. This policy ultimately favoured the Labour Movement.



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This page is part of World History at KMLA
Last revised on February 20th 2002

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