Citizenship During The French Revolution

Citizenship is sometimes defined as who can participate in government and other political protection. Citizenship can also be seen as a type of cultural attribute. The idea of Citizenship has had many interpretations, especially within the last couple of centuries. The idea that citizens have power and can reform their government is one that has developed mostly from the nineteenth century. One commonality of citizenship between the eighteen hundreds and now derives from not only where someone is born, but also the country in which their loyalty lies. With Citizenship comes a sense of nationalism and love for country. With this love many take action and responsibility for others with a heightened sense of exceptionalism. The nineteenth century

During the Revolution, “the Enlightenment had succeeded in putting “natural” or human rights on the agenda”. The people of France believed that they should have guaranteed rights as citizens of the nation and with these rights would come equality before the law. “Statesmen and Enlightenment reformers did not always agree on just what those rights were or how they would be guaranteed, but rights had become part of public discourse, and they could be defended in ways that privilege could not.” The French sought liberty through the revolution to be able to expand citizenship and the political rights of the people. Privilege is given and received as it is expected to be, but Revolutionaries in France believed that legal privilege by birth and name had no scientific backing. The people fought to obtain rights for many people, but not all. While, these ideas of citizen’s rights were radical at the time, today they are seen as just the tip of the iceberg as they did not extend to a majority of the population. The fight for equality between citizens still happens

Unlike imperialism in the eighteen hundreds, modern governments and people feel as though it is their global civic duty to be involved with foreign affairs A specific example of this is the United States. Time and time again the United States has involved itself within another countries affairs. For example, the U.S. involvement in Afghanistan. The U.S. first became involved in Afghanistan to try to help expel the invading Russians and therefore communism. The U.S. has continued to have troops and involvement after the 9/11 attacks in the war against terrorism. The U.S. has made it their business to be in Afghanistan for reasons that are both culturally reasonable and at one point were supported by the citizens. In order to have felt or to feel like a participating citizen in both modern times and a few hundred years ago, it is commonly through that a foreign nation can take control of situations in another county in order to help. A reason for imperialism is the “civilizing” or “liberating” the people, but no matter what the reason is, exceptionalism and nationalism are the root