Why is Liberalism an ideology?
Classical liberalism developed as a political ideology in the nineteenth century in Western Europe, and the Americas. It was committed to the ideal of limited government and liberty of individuals including freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and free markets. It drew on the economics of Adam Smith, a psychological understanding of individual liberty, natural law and utilitarianism, and a belief in progress. Classical liberals established political parties that were called “liberal”, although in the United States classical liberalism came to dominate both existing major political parties.
