Responses to Conditions Created by Classical Liberalism

1. Related Issue 2:Is resistance to liberalism justified?To what extent did classical liberalism meet the needs of society? Responses to Conditions Created by Classical Liberalism

2. Resistance to Classical Liberalism • During Industrial Revolution, many had to adapt to changes • Others chose to resist • Methods of resistance • Luddites • Factory Acts • Labour Unions • The Welfare State • Early Feminism • Protection of Human Rights

3. Luddites • Luddites: people who resisted the factory system and workers mistreatment. Resented that machines were taking work away from the worker. • Destroyed factories • Attacked business owners • Destroyed machinery

4. Improving Conditions for the Working Class • Industrialization caused a massive gap between the rich and the poor • Many people spoke out against: • Child labour • Poverty • Living and working conditions of working class • Led to numerous changes being made

5. Factory Acts • Series of acts passed by British parliament to make better and fairer working conditions • Page 126 - Factory Act 1802 • Eventually child labour was abolished • Goes against Classical Liberalism (economic freedom) • Upholds basic principles of liberalism • Individual rights for everyone • Equal opportunity

6. Labour Unions • Page 127 • Labour Unions • First Paragraph • Labour Union: organized groups of workers who try to improve the working conditions and wages for a specific group of workers or for an entire industry • Examples • Teachers • Nurses • Telus • Shaw • CN • Airline Pilots • Collective beliefs • Strength in numbers • Use strikes (work stoppages) to improve contracts

7. Labour Unions • Opinions • Supporters thought they were needed to: • Limit workday hours • Ensure safe working conditions • Protect job security • Obtain medical benefits • Provide members with legal services • Critics thought: • High wages = high product prices = increase in cost of living • Protect workers who are: • Unproductive • Unskilled • Unsuited for their jobs • “Unions protect the weak.” • Stone Cold Steve Austin

8. Labour Unions • Page 128 • Winnipeg General Strike • Crowsnest Past Miners’ Strike • Page 137 • Winnipeg General Strike • Articles • Why were unions formed? X 2

9. Increasing Rights and Government Intervention: The Welfare State • 1800s: few liberal democracies • As time passed, more and more countries became liberal democracies • Countries allowed more and more people to vote • Women • Non-landowners • Working class • Governments also had to introduce government programs • Unemployment insurance • Old-age pensions

10. Increasing Rights and Government Intervention: The Welfare State • Welfare State: society where the government plays a large role in providing for the needs of its citizens through publicly funded programs • Old-age pensions • Unemployment insurance • Education • Health care • Public housing • Based on principles of • Equal opportunity • Equal distribution of wealth

11. Increasing Rights and Government Intervention: The Welfare State • Classical liberals: • Hate the welfare state • Creates dependence on government • Discourages innovation • Discourages motivation • Modern liberals: • Like the welfare state • People are better able to be creative and innovative when: • Healthy • Safe • Economically secure

12. Evolution of Individual and Collective Rights:Early Feminism • Pages 130-132 • Early Feminism worked to get the right to vote for women. Later women worked to be see as “people” under the BNA Act, giving them the right to run for or hold office. • Historica Minute: • Agnes Macphail • Emily Murphy • Jennie Trout • Nellie McClung

13. Evolution of Individual and Collective Rights:Protection of Human Rights • Liberal governments pursued: • Decent standard of living • Safety and security for all people • Governments had to define human rights • 1948: United Nations declared “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” • Right to: • Take part in government • Treated equally by law • Liberty and freedom of thought and worship • Own private property • Page 132-133 • Article 23

14. Evolution of Individual and Collective Rights:Protection of Human Rights • Late 1900’s: Liberal governments focussed on: • Race equality • Economic equality • Sexual orientation • Nationality • Gender • Should liberal governments: • Impose sanctions against countries that violate human rights? • Send troops to defend peoples whose rights are being violated?

15. From Classical to Modern Liberalism • Classical liberalism • No government intervention in economy • Government is to protect natural rights • Life, liberty, property • Economic liberalism (freedom) • What were the problems that developed because of this? • Modern liberalism • At times, lots of government intervention in economy • All people are equal in politics and economics • Government programs to eliminate poverty • Sharing wealth • What kinds of things emerged from modern liberalism?

16. From Classical to Modern Liberalism • Page 135 • Government intervention spectrum • Different Understandings and Uses of the Term Liberal • Desire for change spectrum • Read last paragraph