Historically, liberalism emphasized a system of government to protect liberty; historically, liberalism viewed the threat to liberty as mainly coming from the force and coercion of the state. The split within liberalism occurred when many liberals viewed threats to individual liberty arising from sources other than the state, such as from the concentration of money, the amalgamation of power, or in the destitution of the poor, the sick, or the elderly.
Historically, liberalism focused on a governmental system to safeguard liberty; historically, liberalism perceived threats to liberty primarily from state force and coercion. The division within liberalism arose when many liberals saw dangers to individual freedom stemming from sources beyond the state, such as wealth concentration, power amalgamation, or neglect of the poor, sick, or elderly.