Classical liberalism is a political ideology and a branch of liberalism which advocates civil liberties under

the rule of law with an emphasis on economic freedom. Closely related to economic liberalism, it
developed in the early 19th century, building on ideas from the previous century as a response to
urbanization and to the Industrial Revolution in Europe and the United States.[1][2][3] Notable
individuals whose ideas contributed to classical liberalism include John Locke,[4] Jean-Baptiste Say,
Thomas Malthus and David Ricardo. It drew on the economic ideas espoused by Adam Smith in Book 1
of the Wealth of Nations and on a belief in natural law,[5] utilitarianism[6] and progress.[7] The term
"classical liberalism" was applied in retrospect to distinguish earlier 19th-century liberalism from the
newer social liberalism.[8]