Which ideology emphasized individual rights and freedoms in the 19th century?

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The ideology that emphasized individual rights and freedoms in the 19th century is liberalism. During this period, liberalism emerged as a significant political philosophy advocating for civil liberties, political equality, and the protection of individual freedoms against the authority of the state. Prominent thinkers like John Stuart Mill and Alexis de Tocqueville promoted ideals such as free speech, representative government, and the rule of law, which were central to liberal thought.

Liberalism sought to limit government intervention in the lives of individuals and emphasized the importance of personal autonomy and individual rights as fundamental to a just society. This was a contrast to socialism, which focused more on collective ownership and equality rather than individual rights. Conservatism, on the other hand, often prioritized tradition and social order over individual freedoms, while fascism promoted a strong authoritarian state often at the expense of personal liberties. Thus, liberalism stands out as the ideology most directly aligned with the concepts of individual rights and freedoms in the 19th century.

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