Chapter 2
Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution
 Liberals, Radicals and Conservatives
 Liberals
 Wanted secularism, safeguarding the rights of individuals against governments
and opposed the uncontrolled power of dynastic rulers.
 Argued for a representative, elected parliamentary government.
 Wanted interpretation of the laws by a well trained judiciary that was
independent of rulers and officials.
 Did not believe in universal adult franchise and wanted the right to vote for only
the men of property.
 Did not support the granting of voting rights to women.
 Radicals
 Supported women’s suffrage movements.
 Opposed the privileges of great landowners and wealthy factory owners.
 Disliked the concentration of power in the hands of few but were not against the
existence of private property.
 Conservatives
 Wanted some changes that were inevitable.
 Believed that the past had to be respected.
 Industrial Society and Social Change
 Industrialisation brought men, women and children to factories.
 Working hours increased and the wages decreased.
 Unemployment was rampant.
 No proper housing or sanitation existed.
 The liberals and the radicals encouraged trade and believed in individual effort and
labour enterprise.
 Some nationalist, liberals and radicals wanted revolutions for removing the
governments established in Europe in 1815.
 The Coming of Socialism to Europe