Social Studies 30: History of Economic Liberalism

In this excellent video created by an Alberta social studies teacher, you will many of the basic ideas of how a economy works and who controls it.

This excellent video, created by an Alberta social studies teacher, looks at the evolution of capitalism, and the benefits of this system.

This great video by an Alberta social studies teacher will look at why some philosophies reject capitalism, specifically utopian socialists.

Does money displace barter and lead to war and slavery? Let's explore!

This 15 minute video focuses on differences between command economies and market economies. Near the end of the video, we focus mixed economies.

Learn about some of the key ideas that influenced early economic thinkers, such as Adam Smith, in this video.

This useful Youtube channel has great explanations of many economic principles.

Adam Smith's invisible hand argument is one of the most well known in all of economics. What is the "invisible hand," and how does it work?

Learn the Social Contract theories of 3 philosophers based on their views about man's natural state of being.

A one minute summary of Adam Smith's concept of the Invisible Hand in the marketplace

One of the most influential thinkers during the Enlightenment in eighteenth century Europe.

Rousseau claimed that modernity and civilisation are not improvements to human life. Why?

Locke believed that all people were created equal and challenged the belief that people were part of a natural hierarchy.

Locke's blank slate theory shaped his view that government should protect people's rights.

J.S. Mill was an advocate for gender equality. He wrote about the need for broad reforms to achieve equality for women.

John Stuart Mill philosopher know for championing liberty, individualism, and women's rights.

The Invisible Hand proposes that individual choices and self-interest guide the capitalist economy forwards.

This review by an Alberta teacher focuses on free-market capitalism and Laissez Faire economic theory.

Thomas Hobbes believed that it is always better to have security rather than liberty in a country.

Locke's ideas on equality, individual rights and the role of the state influenced many thinkers and scholars.

A philosopher known for championing liberty, individualism and women's rights.

The Industrial Revolution changed the lives of more people more dramatically than any political revolution. Learn how it started!

Learn how these European countries managed to leverage the Industrial Revolution to build empires.

This two-page article is a great summary of how the ideology of Liberalism started and evolved.

A 5 minute video that introduces the political beliefs in individualism and collectivism.

Milton Friedman uses a pencil to explain how the operation of the free market promotes harmony and world peace.

Social contract theory considers the relationship between people and government.

Classical liberalism is built around a number of core concepts, including human dignity and individual liberty.

Natural law posits that all humans possess reason and know the difference between good and evil.

A short video that explains how Western culture changed because of these ideas that arose during the Enlightenment.

You will learn about communism and the ideas of Karl Marx as well as the benefits of a communist economic system. This excellent video was created by an Alberta teacher.

Learn about New Economic Policies in communist USSR, the focus of 5 year plans, and the price of rapid industrialization. Created by an Alberta social studies teacher.

Karl Marx pointed out the problems with capitalism that many people were blind to.

This video gives you an overview of Communism and Marxist-Leninist states.