The differences between conservatism, liberalism, and socialism were not ones of emphasis or degree. They were, instead, rooted in fundamental disagreements about human nature, the relationship between society and the individual, and the possibility and desirability of social, economic, and political change. Conservatives, liberals, and socialists had different views of Europe’s past and different visions of Europe’s future. In significant ways, the political upheavals of the nineteenth century were battles over these competing outlooks. As you read these excerpts from the writings of Metternich, Mill, Marx, and Engels, concentrate on identifying the core assumptions that inform each author’s work. How did each author’s assumptions shape the solutions they proposed to the challenges facing nineteenth-century Europe?