ABSTRACT
The industrial and the political revolutions had complex consequences, principally in western Europe, though changes made themselves felt in central and eastern Europe as well. Ideologically, conservatives and liberals in particular became the main opposition groups within the newly created constitutional, partly democratic political systems. The former, those who regretted the consequences of the revolutions in their entirety, preferred to see the old power structures maintained or restored as much as possible; they also advocated a vigorous government. The latter were of the view that social progress was best served by as free a play of the social forces as was possible, implying a reserved attitude of the government in economic, social and certainly cultural affairs.
