What success has liberalism sought to emancipate individuals Essay Example for Free

What succeeder has unspecificism sought to emancipate individuals Es jointLiberalism has always fought for the rights of the individual as it was one of the founding principles of the idle political orientation according to John Locke in the 17th century. As well as the rights of the individual, John Locke also adage freedom and toleration as two other key components of munificentism. This question demands, however, an examination of the conquest of liberal policies towards the emancipation of the individual. During the course of this essay one will examine how liberalism has freed the individual during the 19th Century low Gladstone and during the liberal reforms of 1906-1912. Finally one will solve that in concordance with R. Rurup that, Liberalism is regarded as the truest shoplifter of emancipation. Reforms enacted by liberal governments, often did provide huge improvements in both living standards and breeding however, they did not always fully emancipate the indi vidual.1 R. Rurup, Leo Baeck Institute Yearbook, (1975) 20 (1) p. 59First and foremost, one must disembodied spirit at the great liberal reforms of the 19th Century, enacted during both the starting line and second ministry of William Gladstone. Vincent, claims that, such reforms that, Maximised individuality, were, genuinely liberal. The first reform that most clearly emancipates the individual during Gladstones premiership was the Elementary Education Act of 1870. This as Heywood argues was seen as a way out in the 19th Century form the, Spread of slums, beggary, ignorance and disease. The act established the side basal teaching system, as children up to the age of 12 were made to attend unproblematic school. It created a codified curriculum with six standards or ages 5-12. Strict punishments were laid upon parents who refused to send their children to school. Whilst, this measurement created the provision of elementary education in the United Kingdom, it also led to numer ous problems as the new compulsory schools were not free.A means tested scheme applied to the poorest who could not afford to send their children to school, but for many it put them in a very difficult financial position. Vincent, therefore, criticises the Elementary Education Act by deeming it, Gladstones empirical socialism. The act, however, was a success as by 1880 4000 school were taken over by school boards and to the highest degree2.3 million children were enrolled in compulsory education up to the age of 12. One can say therefore, despite the criticisms by Vincent, that the Elementary Education Act did successfully emancipate the individual as it malarky to higher overall wages as workers were more skilled, for example they could read and take measurements, and it successfully started the primary schooling system in the United Kingdom. 2 Vincent A, A Modern policy-making Ideologies, (Blackwell) 1992 pg. 343 Vincent A, political Ideologies, 1992 pg. 344 Heywood A, Politica l Ideologies an Introduction, (Palgrave Macmillan) 2007 pg. 56 5 Vincent A, Political Ideologies, 1992 pg. 35Secondly, Gladstones ministry continued to emancipate the individual by expanding the franchise in the United Kingdom. This bill was the trinity reform act in the 19th Century and continued to increase the franchise by allowing anyone who had to devote rent of 10 pounds and above to vote as well as anyone who owned land with the observe of 10 pounds and above. This is equivalent to 7,300 in 2013 using the retail pricing index. This was a huge leap frontward as Goodwin describes the bill as, Progress to a better society, The bill nearly doubled the franchise in England from 2,300,000 in 1880 voters to 4,100,000 voters in 1885 and did double the franchise in the whole country from 3,000,000 voters in 1880 to 6,160,000 voters in 1892. staminate suffrage varied throughout the kingdom, however, in England and Wales, 2 in 3 adult males had the vote in Scotland, 3 in 5 did and i n Ireland, the figure was further 1 in 2. Whilst the bill was a long way off from universal suffrage and did not apply to women at all, the bill did research to emancipate those land-owners and those who rented who were not franchised in previous voting reform legislation. Therefore, whilst this piece of legislation did not collaborate the liberal ideals of equality according to John Locke and John Stuart Mill, due to its exclusion of women, it did enfranchise and emancipate a large proportion of the male population from prejudice in the voting system of the United Kingdom.6 Goodwin B, victimisation Political Ideas, (John Wiley Sons) 2007 pg.537 British Electoral Facts 1832-1987, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig Thirdly, one will look at the liberal reforms of the early twentieth century. The liberal reforms are the best example of the split in liberal opinion from classical liberalism to modern liberalism. They, shifted their outlook from a _laissez-faire_ system to a more collectivist approach, Modern Liberalism was started in the early twentieth century by leaders such as Campbell-Bannerman and Asquith. Heywood claims that inception of the reforms was spawned from the belief that, the call down should help the great unwashed help themselves. One will first look at how the liberal reforms liberate the workers of the early 20th Century.The drive Exchanges Act of 1909, created state run labour exchanges with the specific role of placing people in work who were modify by the seasonal demand of shipping and other seasonally affected trade, especially in winter. Whilst, opposed by labour unions as they feared that the labour exchanges would reduce the effectiveness of joint bargaining for fair wages, the labour exchanges by 1913 were putting 3,000 people a day into work. Whilst successful in emancipating approximately workers from the threat of seasonal unemployment the labour exchanges did have a small impact as only 25% of the working population i n the United Kingdom found employment though them. 8 Vincent Emy, H Liberals, radicals, and social politics, 1892-1914 p. 149 Heywood A, Political Ideologies, 2007 pg. 6010 Watts, D Whigs, Radicals, and Liberals, 1815-1914, p.8911 Watts, D Whigs, Radicals, and Liberals, 1815-1914, p.89Lastly, within the liberal reforms one must look at the interior(a) Health Insurance Act of 1911, which truly emancipated members of the working class, as they would have a safety net if they fell ill. Although, Goodwin views this reform as an, interference with individual freedom, but does argue that Hobhouse, having reiterated some of T. H. Greens views, claims that this extension of public control is justified on, Humane grounds. Goodwin does also explain that any, loss of independence, should be counted against the, benefits offered by the welfare measure. The National Insurance Act of 1911, offered many benefits and emancipated every worker in the United Kingdom who earned less that 160 a year. T he scheme created a compulsory government-run insurance policy plan against unemployment through illness. This emancipated workers from the fear of becoming destitute though illness. All workers paid quartette pence a week to the scheme, the employer paid three pence and the government paid two pence.Whilst there was criticism ofthe act, especially from the conservative part, as they argued that it was not the governments duty to be involved in such a scheme, the bill was passed and helped millions of workers. This can be seen as the most influential bill that any liberal government has passed during the liberal reforms between 1906 and 1912 as it both laid the foundations for the Welfare State but it also emancipated millions of workers from poverty as envisaged in _Life and Labour of the People_ by Rowntree and Booth, two influential liberal reformers.In conclusion, moreover, both the Labour Exchanges Act of 1909 and the National Insurance Act of 1911 were ultimately justified as they were seen to be based on, human grounds, and they were hugely successful at emancipating the working classes of the United Kingdom from, what Heywood describes as the, Spread of slums, poverty, ignorance and disease which was impetuous factor for all of the liberal reforms in the 46 year period between 1870 and 1918.12 Goodwin B, Using Political Ideas,2007 pg.5413 Goodwin B, Using Political Ideas,2007 pg.4914 Goodwin B, Using Political Ideas,2007 pg.5015 Goodwin B, Using Political Ideas,2007 pg.5016 Goodwin B, Using Political Ideas,2007 pg.49 17 Heywood A, Political Ideologies, 2007 pg. 56Therefore, to conclude, during the half century of liberal governments, one did see a huge improvement of both living standards and education as well as the partial emancipation of the individual. During Gladstones first and second ministry, one saw the electorate nearly doubled, leading to huge emancipation of those who, never before could vote. Gladstones government also made education required for those under the age of 10, therefore emancipating children from what Heywood calls, slums, poverty, ignorance and disease.Whereas, during the liberal government, headed by Herbert Asquith, between 1906 and 1918, the liberal government had discernibly more success in emancipating the individual as it provided both the Labour Exchanges in 1909 as well as National Insurance for those who were too sick to work. Whilst these successes in emancipating the individual were important, they were also marred by the fact that no(prenominal) of these reforms provided universal suffrage, a key principle of emancipation. Therefore, whilst the liberals were for the most part successful in emancipating the individual in the years between 1870 and 1918, their achievements werehampered by the fact that they failed to provide universal suffrage and consequently, one can conclude that the liberals emancipated the individual with partial success during their period of governance. 18 Heywood A, Political Ideologies, 2007 pg. 56BibliographyR. Rurup, _Leo Baeck Institute Yearbook_, (1975) 20 (1)Vincent A, A _Modern Political Ideologies,_ (Blackwell) 1992Heywood A, _Political Ideologies an Introduction,_ (Palgrave Macmillan) 2007Goodwin B, _Using Political Ideas,_ (John Wiley Sons) 2007Craig F.W.S, _British Electoral Facts 1832-1987_, (Politicos Publishing) 1989Vincent-Emy, H _Liberals, radicals, and social politics, 1892-1914_ (Cambridge University Press) 2008Watts, D _Whigs, Radicals, and Liberals, 1815-1914_ (Hodder Education) 2002