Classical liberalism Facts for Kids

Classical liberalism is a way of thinking about how society and government should work. It's a type of liberalism that focuses on freedom for individuals. This includes freedom in how people live their lives and how they earn money.

Classical liberals believe in a government that doesn't control too much. They think people should mostly be guided by natural rules, like common sense and fairness. They also believe everyone has special rights that nobody can take away. These are called inalienable rights. They also strongly support a free market where people can buy and sell things freely. They believe people should own their property and be able to use it as they wish.

What is Classical Liberalism?
- Core Beliefs of Classical Liberals
Important Thinkers
- Early Ideas
- Later Supporters
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What is Classical Liberalism?

Classical liberalism is both an idea about how the economy should work and a political ideology. It became popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. It teaches that people should have lots of freedom in their daily lives. This includes freedom to make choices about their jobs and businesses. It also means having freedom to speak, think, and worship as they choose.

Core Beliefs of Classical Liberals

Classical liberals believe in several key ideas:

Small Government: They think the government should have limited power. Its main job is to protect people's rights and keep order. It should not control too much of people's lives or businesses.
Natural Law: This idea suggests that there are basic rules of right and wrong that everyone can understand. These rules come from nature, not from government laws. Classical liberals believe people should mostly follow these natural laws.
Inalienable Rights: These are rights that belong to every person from birth. They cannot be taken away by any government or person. Examples include the right to life, liberty, and property.
Free Market: This means an economy where businesses and people can trade freely. There are very few rules or controls from the government. People can decide what to produce, buy, and sell.
Property Rights: Classical liberals believe it's very important for people to own things. This includes land, homes, and businesses. They think people should be able to use and control their property without much interference.

Important Thinkers

Many important thinkers helped develop classical liberalism. They lived during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Early Ideas

Adam Smith (1723–1790) was a Scottish economist. He wrote a famous book called The Wealth of Nations. He believed that a free market, where people act in their own interest, helps everyone. He thought the government should not interfere much with the economy.
Thomas Malthus (1766–1834) was an English scholar. He wrote about population growth and how it affects resources. His ideas influenced how classical liberals thought about economics.
Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) was an American Founding Father. He helped write the Declaration of Independence. This document talks about "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." These ideas are very important to classical liberalism.

Later Supporters

In the mid-20th century, other thinkers continued to support classical liberal ideas.

Ludwig von Mises (1881–1973) was an Austrian economist. He strongly supported free markets and limited government.
Friedrich Hayek (1899–1992) was another Austrian economist. He believed that central planning by governments was bad for freedom. He thought free markets were the best way to organize society.
Milton Friedman (1912–2006) was an American economist. He also believed in free markets and less government control. He thought that economic freedom leads to political freedom.

Many of the beliefs of classical liberalism are similar to those of libertarianism. Libertarianism also focuses on individual freedom and a very small government.