Distinguish liberalism and conservatism as ideological responses to nineteenth-century revolutions.

• A. Liberalism advocated constitutional government and individual rights; conservatism sought to preserve traditional institutions and hierarchical order
• B. Liberalism supported strong centralized authority and monarchy
• C. Liberalism rejected constitutional limits on government; conservatism supported religious authority
• D. Liberalism favored equality of outcomes

Answer: (C)

The main idea being tested is how liberalism and conservatism view change and legitimation after the nineteenth‑century revolutions. Liberalism centers on limiting government power through constitutional frameworks and safeguarding individual rights, such as liberty, property, and equality before the law. It pushes for reforms that expand political participation and civil liberties within legal bounds, often favoring constitutional monarchies or republican structures rather than absolute rule.

Conservatism, on the other hand, emphasizes continuity, tradition, and social hierarchy. It seeks to preserve established institutions—like the church, nobility, and monarchic authority—and fears rapid or radical upheaval that could disrupt order. Conservatives tend to resist sweeping reforms and prefer gradual, cautious change that preserves the stability and legitimacy of existing authority.

So, liberalism is best understood as advocating constitutional government and individual rights, while conservatism aims to protect traditional institutions and hierarchical order. The other descriptions misrepresent liberalism’s commitment to constitutional limits, the general aversion of liberalism to rejecting those limits, or the emphasis on equal outcomes rather than equality before the law.