The Spread of Liberalism

Liberalism is a political and moral ideology founded on the principles of equality and liberty. Liberalism began to spread swiftly after the French Revolution. The hereditary aristocracy was overturned during the French Revolution under the slogan “liberty, equality, fraternity” and France became the first country in history to provide universal male suffrage.

During the Revolution, there were two major events that marked the triumph of liberalism. The first was the abolishment of feudalism in France on August 4, 1789. This signaled the end of feudal and conventional privileges and entitlements. The passage of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen in August 1789 was the second. The Declaration of Independence is regarded as a key document in the development of both liberalism and human rights. Throughout the 19th century, liberal governments were founded in countries across Europe, South America, and North America as a result of the French Revolution's success. As a result, the Revolution is seen as a watershed moment in liberalism.