Question: Which of the following was a key difference between republicanism and liberalism? Need Assignment Help? Republicanism viewed social inequality as innate to society, while liberalism considered inequality as solely evidence of poor governance. Republicanism stressed active participation in public life, while liberalism focused on individual rights that were essentially private. Republicanism emphasized the equality of property owners and non-property owners, while liberalism rejected the idea of the "social contract" and the existence of "natural rights." Republicanism embraced a limited role for government, while liberalism saw the government as having a role in enforcing public morality. Republicanism was the first political school of thought to oppose slavery, while liberalism considered slavery essential to the liberty of white men.