Classical liberalism focused on negative freedom and minimal government intervention, believing individuals should be free from interference. It viewed people as rational and self-interested, and advocated for laissez-faire economics and free markets. Modern liberalism shifted to positive freedom, seeing a role for government in providing services to help people achieve their potential and overcome barriers to opportunity. It supported a mixed economy and state intervention to guarantee certain freedoms and promote equality. Both aimed to maximize individual liberty but differed on the state's role in helping or limiting individuals.