World History: Socialism and Atlantic Revolutions

World History: Socialism and Atlantic Revolutions The need to establish and protect personal freedoms and liberties, equality, and constitutionalism were some of the leading motivators of the Atlantic revolutions. The revolutionists believed that too powerful governments would only care about protecting their interests rather than protecting citizens' freedoms (Frykman 2020, 10). This belief inspired rebellions against absolute monarchies and the push to establish a bill of rights. Socialist ideals like the abolition of social classes and giving citizens equal opportunities became some of the leading objectives.

Socialism is the economic and social system in which means of production operate under social ownership. It is important to note that the definition of socialism, in a strict sense, only encompasses economic and social politics. However, socialist ideologists of the eighteenth century redefined socialism to encompass other aspects of politics. Since socialism was the antithesis of the existing conservative, hierarchical, and church doctrine-based government system, socialist ideologists incorporated ideas like progressivism, feminism, and environmentalism into socialism to make the ideology comprehensive, as this could enable them to challenge all the ideologies of the existing systems.

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Therefore, even though liberal ideas were associated with socialism, this was just a construct of socialist ideologists. Nevertheless, the socialist ideals of enlightenment inspired the democratic revolutionary ideals, which prompted the Atlantic revolutions.

Socialist ideologists believe that everyone is born equal, and this is one of the defining tenets of socialism. This concept of equality is one of the leading causes of the Atlantic revolutions. The self-liberated slaves of Haiti conducted a successful insurrection against the French colonialists in a bid to attain freedom and equality. In France, one of the main reasons for abolishing aristocracy was that the concept could not be reconciled with the concept of social equality (Harris 2020, 4). Absolute monarchy was also seen as a stumbling block to constitutionalism and liberty.

In the 18th century, there was a growing urge by the people to have their nations governed by liberal ideals. Socialist ideologists also preferred liberalism over conservatism. Socialists advocated for the rejection of imperialism, political and social equity of men and women, and economic equity. These ideals were greatly reflected in the Atlantic revolutions. Montesquieu and John Locke were some of the most influential socialist ideologists in the revolution era.

Their ideologies, like agitation for governance based on liberty, fraternity, and equality, were influenced by social thinking.

Even though the influence socialism had on the revolutions, there are areas where the early revolutionary upheavals differed from socialist thinking. For instance, while the revolutionaries fought for freedoms, including economic freedom, socialists believed that basic amenities which are fundamental to existence, like food, shelter, clothes, healthcare, electricity, and education, should be sponsored by the government. Thomas Paine proposed the introduction of a wealth tax to cater for the needs of the poor. He believed that sponsoring basic amenities is

one way of giving freedom since a person without food and shelter cannot be fully free (BearerFriend and Vanessa 2020, 6). Socialism advocates for the government's role in determining output and prices of food, healthcare and housing. The early revolutionaries, however, believed that the role of the government should only be to protect citizens' rights and freedoms. A major participant in the French revolution, Girondins advocated for a free market economy where prices are determined by supply and demand (Habibi 2021, 51). Socialists believed that the concept of freedom from poverty could not be implemented under capitalism since it had many loopholes for the exploitation of the poor. They, therefore, advocated for a centrally planned economy. Socialism led to the formation of trade unions which advocated for better working conditions.

Bibliography Dabscheck, Braham. "Labor's Mind: A History of Working-Class Intellectual Life by Tobias Higbie." Labour History: A Journal of Labour and Social History 118, no. 1 (2020): 219–220.

Frykman, Niklas. The bloody flag: mutiny in the age of Atlantic revolution. Vol. 30. the University of California Press, 2020.

Habibi, Don A. "JS Mill on Rebellion, Revolution and Reform." Utilit y (2021): 49.