How the 19th century redefined the purpose of the state
In short: During the 1800s, societies underwent massive transformations. While American groups attempted to build perfect utopian communities or fight for abolition, European liberals debated the state's role. The central tension emerged between those wanting government to fix poverty and disease, and social Darwinists who believed intervention hindered natural human progress.
The 19th century was defined by a surge of reformist energy. In the United States, this manifested as a desire to reshape society through religious and social movements. The Second Great Awakening saw Protestant denominations like the Methodists and Baptists expand their reach to the unchutched, while abolitionist societies fought to end slavery. Simultaneously, some sought escape rather than reform, establishing utopian communities in places like New Harmony, Indiana, and Modern Times, New York, though these idealized societies ultimately failed.
In Europe, the era was shaped by the rise of liberalism. Initially, the movement's character depended on local conditions, such as the power of the crown or the pace of industrialization. In Catholic nations like France, Italy, and Spain, liberalism often took an anticlerical tone, seeking to limit the political authority of the clergy. However, by the mid-19th century, a profound shift occurred in liberal thought, moving from a focus on reducing government power to a more proactive 'modern liberal' program.
Influenced by thinkers like T.H. Green, modern liberals argued that true freedom required the state to address systemic hindrances like poverty, disease, and ignorance. They advocated for government-led initiatives such as public schools, hospitals, and regulated working conditions. Prominent social Darwinists, including England's Herbert Spencer and America's William Graham Sumner, strongly contested this perspective. These dissenters viewed government intervention as an interference with the natural struggle for survival, arguing that the state's only role should be that of a 'night watchman' protecting life and property.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 19th Century Reforms: Crash Course US History #15
- Also: Liberalism - 19th Century, Reforms, Equality | Britannica
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