Notes

In Europe and North America in the 1800s, homes were usually heated by
coal or wood fires, and their chimneys had to be cleaned regularly. Because
children were small enough to fit in the chimneys, they were considered
ideal for this dangerous and dirty job. It was common practice for an adult
to hire several children for a crew of chimney sweeps. These children often
lived with their employer and received no education, except on how to do
their job. One young chimney sweep, living in England in the 1800s, spoke
to a journalist about what his job was like:
I remember the first time I ever climbed. I must ha’ been goin’ on for six then, I
s’pose; but some was put to it as young as four—yes, sir, little gals as well as
boys. My master had two boys as well as me—older than me—and they used
to wallop me, too, and tell me all sorts o’ flesh-creepin’ stories about the
chimbleys—lads stickin’ in ’em, and bein’ dug out with the flesh all burnt off
their bones, and so on.
It wasn’t pleasant to ’ear sich tales of a night, layin’ there in that shed that was
as black as pitch. And there was truth in them stories, too; though, of course,
t’other boys made ’em out as bad as they could. Anyways, I was hawful [awful]
scared when master first told me to go up a chimbley. He leathered me, but I
caught old [hold] of his legs, and begged and prayed of him not to force me.
—Source: Richard Rowe, Episodes in an Obscure Life, Chapter XXIV,
“A Black Missionary to the Blacks,” 1871. The Victorian Dictionary,
http://www.victorianlondon.org/publications7/episodes-24.htm.
Many employers at this time felt that they were helping these children
and their families by giving the children jobs. Although it was not illegal for
employers to hire children, many people felt that it was cruel and unfair
for children to work, especially when the jobs were dangerous. Concerns
about child labour and the treatment of workers were some of the challenges
to the values of classical liberalism that emerged during the 1800s and 1900s.
How do you feel about children working? Do you think employers should be
free to decide who they employ and how they treat their employees?
Chapter Issue:
To what extent did classical liberalism meet the needs of society?
In the previous chapter, you read about the shift from classical liberalism to
modern liberalism over time. This shift occurred in response to issues in
many Western democratic societies that resulted from following classical
liberal values. Classical liberal values are centred on individualism: the
belief that individuals should be allowed to make their own decisions and
look after their own interests. This focus on the individual was eventually
questioned by modern liberals, who sought to create greater equality of
opportunity for all individuals through government intervention. In this
chapter, you will explore the impacts of classical liberalism on society and
discover why and how modern liberalism evolved. In doing so, you will
address the Chapter Issue: To what extent did classical liberalism meet the
needs of society?With such things as the work of labour unions, the extension of voting
rights, the creation of government social programs, and the recognition of
the rights of women and other groups, liberalism evolved into what is often
referred to as modern liberalism. During the Industrial Revolution, many
Western governments focused on classical liberal values, such as the
importance of the individual (especially the industrialist and entrepreneur).
By the late 1800s and early 1900s, some of these governments began to
focus on modern liberal values, such as providing greater equality of
opportunity for all individuals. The development of modern liberalism is