Fully define and explain the 17th and 18th Century Ideology known as Classical Liberalism.

Question

Fully define and explain the 17th and 18th Century Ideology known as Classical Liberalism. In addition to defining this ideology, also lay out how and why this ideology was significant to the English Colonists in America, the English people back in England, as well as to the world at large during the European Enlightenment. Essentially, to note how and why did this ideology eventually became the bedrock of American, English, and later, European social and political life in the 18th and 19th Centuries?

Answer 1

Classical liberalism is the precursor to modern libertarianism. It was advocated by English philosopher John Locke and embraced by Americans like Thomas Jefferson. It was one of the ideas that led to the American Revolution. People came to believe that the government exists to protect individual freedoms rather than people existing to serve the government. While it was a nice idea on paper, it wasn't very practical in terms of creating a unified nation, which is why the Articles of Confederation was scrapped in favor of the Constitution. It should also be noted that many believers in classical liberalism did not extend their ideals of freedom to slaves, believed in gender hierarchy, etc.