Revolutions are always subject to criticism, especially when they challenge the entire political system that is in place. Reflections on the Revolution in France, by Edmund Burke, criticizes the French Revolution, discussing many controversial topics. Three topics that are mentioned throughout the text are the effects of religion, importance of legitimacy, and the effects of consistency and the resistance to change within a government system. Tradition is important for conservative politicians, so many of Burke’s views of the government had to do with the importance of religion within a government, and the impact of God choosing the monarch. Throughout the Reflections, he describes how religion is the base of society, and that without it, …show more content…
Since Burke himself was a politician, he was very adamant on the fact that people who are helping run a country need to be qualified, specifically, politicians and monarchs. The National Assembly that formed during the French Revolution was made up of average citizens, so Burke’s position on the Assembly was that it was illegitimate. The assembly was made up of “inferior, unlearned, mechanical, nearly instrumental people” (pg 40), not people like politicians and people who had studied the government. Burke also criticizes Richard Price, for his sermon that accepts the French Revolution, particularly that the French will thrive with more adequate representation. Burke states that in “old fashioned constitution… our representation has been perfectly adequate for all of the purposes for which a representation can be desired or devised. I defy the enemies of the constitution to show the contrary.” (pg 54). Burke explains that the constitution is good the way it is, and there are no issues with the monarchy. Burke’s writing shows us his perspective on who is qualified to govern, and it is not the average …show more content…
With disregarding France’s original constitution, the country can easily be lead to Its downfall. With the formation of the National Assembly, France left a “ferocious dissoluteness in manners, and of an insolent irreligion in opinions and practices; and has extended through all of the ranks of life, as if she were communicating some privilege, or laying open some secluded benefit, all the unhappy corruption of that usually were the disease of wealth and power.” (pg 35/36) In this quote, Burke explains the aftereffects of the sudden drop of the monarchy. If France had amended its system, it could have been successful. Populations change with time, as should the government to suit the dynamic country, and this is recognized by Burke. He explains that the government was “in need of reform, even though there should be no change in the monarchy. They required several more alterations to adapt them to the system of a free constitution.” (pg 208) With adjustments to the system, France could have become
Edmund Burke was an Irish political theorist and a philosopher who became a leading figure within the conservative party. Burke has now been perceived as the founder of modern conservatism. He was asked upon to write a piece of literature on the French Revolution. It was assumed that as an Englishman, Burke’s words would be positive and supportive. Given that he was a member of the Whig party, and that he supported the Glorious Revolution in England. Contrary to what was presumed of him, Burke was very critical of the French Revolution. He frequently stated that a fast change in society is bad. He believed that if any change to society should occur, it should be very slow and gradual.
Another social factor which prompted Burke to oppose the French Revolution was the threat of violence, which he saw as an inevitable consequence of revolution. It was after the storming of the Bastille that the idea of the revolution became repugnant to Burke, perhaps due to his opposition to the potential violence of revolution. The contrast Burke draws between a “mild and lawful monarch” and “fury, outrage and insult” of the rebels highlights the needless violence that had already materialised during the revolution in his attempt to persuade the English people that the events taking place in France were unjustified and lamentable. Burke did not view the monarchy as the tyrannical force which the French saw them. Instead he saw them as glorious
Many changes occurred in France during 1789 until 1799. This ten-year span, not only brought major upheaval to the government, but to social aspects within the country as well. Both, Edmund Burke’s, Reflections on the Revolution in France and Mary Wollstonecraft’s, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman’, were published during this revolutionary time period. Although Burke and Wollstonecraft possess contradicting views, their works both include opinions about justice, equality and tradition. Burke’s conservative views persuade the reader to understand that the government follows a natural and cyclical path just as nature does.
The ideas of change in the French Revolution came from Jean- Jacques Rousseau. Rousseau, from his book, Discourse on the Moral Effect of the Arts and Sciences, had the idea that civilization corrupted people and had once said “Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains”. His ideas were the beginning of socialism. He believed in the common good. More extremely, there was Karl Marx (1818 – 1883) who fueled ideas for the Russian Revolution. He was the Father of Communism, a more radical form of socialism. Those who followed Rousseau’s and Marx’s ideas felt that the...
“Society was cut in two: those who had nothing united in common envy; those who had anything united in common terror.” The French Revolution was a painful era that molded the lives of every citizen living in France and changed their ways of life forever. Beginning in 1789 and lasting ten years until 1799, the people of France lived in a monarch society under King Louis XVI’s rule. He was a very harsh ruler and had many restrictions placed on his people. They eventually overthrow him and become a monarch society. Among his deceptive ways, the people also experienced “The Reign of Terror,” which was a period where many lives were taken by the guillotine. Other revolutionary events included rebellions, constitutions, and groups. One of the popular groups that contributed greatly to the French Revolution were the Jacobins who were led by Maximilien Robespierre.
The American Revolutionary system served as a model, exemplifying the potential for great change and consolidation. The United States Constitution also provided a template for the French National Assembly. Montesquieu’s proposal of the separation of powers, as well as democratic conventions with representatives of the French people provided protection for the people against their government, securing “the greatest freedom and security for a state” (Duiker and Spielvogel 463). According to Article XV, people possessed the right to hold government officials accountable for their actions, developing a moral incentive as well as a foundational right for a more democratic society (National Assembly). France’s preparation for their independence showed a strong desire for equality and representation that mirrored that of the United
A revolution is a forcible overthrow of a government or social order in favor of a new system. In 1775, America was ready for dramatic change, freedom, and a disconnection from Great Britain. Taxes, trade regulations, and overarching, power, made all colonists, aside from the loyalists, more than ready to detach from Great Britain’s rule. The American Revolution portrays many similarities and qualities of the French revolution, due to the inspiration of one to another. The similarities and qualities lie within their spiraling economies, selfish, money-worship-thirsty leaders, ideologies, and provocation.
Edmund Burke, as a conservative theorist, claims that England’s preference for restoration over revolution makes the Glorious Revolution more legitimate than the French Revolution. To substantiate this, Burke quips, “We are not the converts of Rousseau…” to hastily dismiss the French philosophe based on his Enlightenment reputation (75). In comparing Rousseau’s conservatism with Burke’s, it’s important to categorize conservative thought into two genera: foundationalism and traditionalism. While foundationalist conservatives believe that there is a distinct, morally correct way to govern, traditionalist conservatives are grounded in the continuity of government for the purpose of stability. While these two categories are reductionistic, the
New York: Barnes & Noble, 1969. Print. The. Kreis, Steven. A. A. "Lecture 12: The French Revolution - Moderate Stage, 1789-1792.
On a personal level, Burke’s assertions appear to support efforts for self-preservation because of his status in the social and political spheres of London. Because he was a Statesman, it was evidently easier for Edmund Burke to advocate slow changes for equality in France because he was already enjoying power in the British House of Commons (par. 32. The nlnlnlnlnlnlnlnlnlnlnlnlnlnln For that reason, Thomas Paine’s calls for democracy and liberty for the people of France are more appealing. Naturally, if the French needed time to elevate the social and political status of the commoners, then the Revolution would not have been necessary.
The essential cause of the French revolution was the collision between a powerful, rising bourgeoisie and an entrenched aristocracy defending its privileges”. This statement is very accurate, to some extent. Although the collision between the two groups was probably the main cause of the revolution, there were two other things that also contributed to the insanity during the French revolution – the debt that France was in as well as the famine. Therefore, it was the juxtaposing of the bourgeoisie and the aristocracy as well as the debt and famine France was in that influenced the French Revolution.
He believed that the revolutionaries’ concept of freedom was wrong - that freedom in and of itself was not right or wrong but the application of it, particularly if used with (voluntary) restraint. He thought that there was a continued ‘social contract’ within society that exists in both the past and present, and will continue into the future: ‘Society is indeed a contract…As the ends of such a partnership cannot be obtained in many generations, it becomes a partnership not only between those who are living, but between those who are living, those who are dead, and those who are to be born.’ (Burke 80) and that to ‘preserve this partnership, Burke believed that both government and longstanding customs and traditions are indispensable.’ (Ball, Dagger, and O’Neill 102) and so he espoused a view of human imperfection, the fact of inequality across society and the provision of freedom and order within the existing social system of society.
The quote “The blood of the people has flowed as in July; but this time this noble people shall not be deceived”, is almost a perfect rebuke to von Metternich’s assessment that the French Revolution was pointless as here. The people have held their rulers accountable for their actions and made sure to not give an opening for demagogues likes Robespierre. In addition, as if to add insult to injury to Metternich, the words “The provisional government wishes to establish a republic, --subject, however, to ratification, by the people, who shall be immediately.” is everything that Metternich disdained. The French people didn’t want to wait another century to gain the benefit of political power or when “people were wise enough”, they wanted their rights immediately. Therefore, the French people believed that establishing a Republic would be the best way to achieve that goal. In addition to a Republic style government being the culmination of everything Metternich disdained, a Republic has no absolute monarchy that can do as it likes and the government has to serve the people first instead of someone who lucked out on being born into the right family. Also, republics often tend to be secular, which would end the Catholic/Protestant Church’s political power, and essentially put the last nail in the coffin on divine right being the way
Though Paine’s reaction towards the British monarchy is definitely an extreme one given that the majority belief was reconciliation with the crown of the British Isles, Burke’s reaction would be just as extreme on the other side of the political spectrum (the extremist belief would even manifest itself in hostile words towards the French). However, both political beliefs have them fit neatly into the notion of historical progress, for they both advocate for the same thing: governmental change. Burke argues that political change is best done gradually and makes that argument with at least a century of “evolutionary politics” as evidence, while Paine appeals to the common citizen while using rhetoric and emotion to found his argument. While Burke and Paine might have had conflicting views, their contributions to revolutions and political processes positively changed the diplomatic world with lasting
Each social class in France has its own reasons for wanting a change in government. The aristocracy was upset by the king’s power, while the Bourgeoisie was upset by the privileges of the aristocracy. The peasants and urban workers were upset by their burdensome existence. The rigid, unjust social structure meant that citizens were looking for change because “all social classes.had become uncomfortable and unhappy with the status quo.” (Nardo, 13)