Liberalism stemming from the Enlightenment--Enlightenment ideas encouraged representative government and natural rights bestowed by nature/God.
Following successful revolutions in the US, France, and Haiti other areas were encouraged by the Enlightenment ideas and idea of reform. This reform was called liberalism because it was based in the rights of the individual instead of the power of the state. Liberal ideas encouraged reform for voting rights, representative government, and more power as citizens.