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Significance and impact of the French revolution
Significance and impact of the French revolution
French Revolution and It's Significance
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The French Revolution is one of the most controversial topics in today’s European history. Throughout decades this revolution has not only been influential in European customs and ideals, but throughout the world as well. During the 18th century the rise and power of the French monarchy created trouble for citizens; the lack of job opportunities, the rise of tax on bread, and an economic crisis for the whole country. With France at stake, revolutionaries like Maximilien Robespierre gathered his beliefs and the needs of all France to create a movement for equality and justice. He spoke on the behalf of all citizens and their rights in order to fight for liberty for all mankind. However, Edmund Burke an Irish political philosopher and American …show more content…
In the 18th century the Roman Catholic Church had power over many royal empires. There were many disputes over religious wars and practices such Catholicism and Protestantism. The National Assembly acknowledged some religious issues among the French and proposed in article 10 that “‘no one shall be disquieted on account of his opinions, including his religious views, provided their manifestation does not disturb the public order established law”’ ( Lualdi 119). Burke profoundly expressed the government laws and religion should not discussed in the same sentence, because it goes against the Catholic Church and its beliefs. The declaration guarantees citizens a certain amount of religious freedom only if it does their government any good. If a religious faith opposes the new constitution and its beliefs of “equality” one is betraying their government, country, and people. With such a small amount of freedom of speech mankind in confining oneself to the governments proposition of having equal opportunity and freedom. Burke quotes that “‘government is not made in virtue of the natural rights, which may and do exist in total independence of it” (644). Instead the declaration triumphs by sending out a message to its people that it is a citizen’s duty to follow this law in order to protect their freedom and justice for
Edmund Burke delivered his speech on conciliation with the Colonies to Parliament on March 22, 1775. The purpose of the speech was to persuade the British Parliament to consider their relationship with the American Colonists in regards to them being forced to pay taxes and whether or not their relationship would evolve. The evolvement would see the Colonists as more of an equal nation instead of the “loyal” British subjects that they were. This speech came almost 10 years after Parliament passed the Stamp Act (Mamet, 2015). This meant that the Colonists had been living with the oppression of the Crown as well as being taxed without proper representation or consent.
“ It remains to be noted that none of the great constitutional rights of conscience, however vital to a free society is absolute in character. Thus, while the constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion goes a long way, it does not serve to protect acts judged to be morally licentious, such as poly amorous marriages. Children cannot be required to execute the flag salute which is forbidden by religious belief… Similarly freedom of speech, often defended by the courts, does not extend to the seditious utteran...
Burke, Edmund (the Right Honourable), “Reflections on the Revolution in France” from The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke from Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/15679, Vol. III/12, No. 04/22, Pp. 1-15, Public Domain, 2009
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
Edmund Burke and Thomas Paine were two of the several strongly-opinionated individuals writing back-and-forth in response to what the others were saying about the French Revolution. Burke, a critic, writes first. Paine, a supporter, responds.
The constitution of the United States ratified in the 18th century has a number of similarities and differences to the declaration of independence documented on July 4, 1776 (Allen, 2015). These documents are significant to both the system of governance adopted by the United States and the responsibility of the government to protect the rights and freedoms of its citizens. This paper will focus on the relationship between the two documents. The paper will also highlight on the significance of the letter President Jefferson wrote in response to the Danbury Baptist letter to the his government in today’s American society.
The Declaration’s proclamations of the “unalienable and sacred rights of man,” point towards religious undertones; however, Revolutionary France discontinued a state religion (National Assembly). Therefore, although the language of the document indicates a religion influence, it shies away from a religious focus. Thus, the Deistic thought which stemmed from the Enlightenment, although somewhat muted, clearly inspired the course of the French documents in a similar manner to that of the United States, in spite of the evolving viewpoints of the time. In addition to a religious disposition, statements regarding the “natural, unalienable, and sacred rights of man,” indicate humanistic and morally inclined focuses from the Enlightenment (National
Beginning in mid-1789, and lasting until late-1799, the French Revolution vastly changed the nation of France throughout its ten years. From the storming of the Bastille, the ousting of the royal family, the Reign of Terror, and all the way to the Napoleonic period, France changed vastly during this time. But, for the better part of the last 200 years, the effects that the French Revolution had on the nation, have been vigorously debated by historian and other experts. Aspects of debate have focused around how much change the revolution really caused, and the type of change, as well as whether the changes that it brought about should be looked at as positive or negative. Furthermore, many debate whether the Revolutions excesses and shortcomings can be justified by the gains that the revolution brought throughout the country. Over time, historians’ views on these questions have changed continually, leading many to question the different interpretations and theories behind the Revolutions effectiveness at shaping France and the rest of the world.
Reflections on the revolution in France by Edmund Burke was written as a response to a Frenchman who asked Burke of his opinions on what was happening in France in 1789. Throughout the letter there are many examples of irony however the letter itself is extremely ironic since it is not written in a format suitable for the intended recipient. Burke writes in an educated and political manner which he expects everyone reading to be able to understand, since he assumes they have the same knowledge and education he has. Throughout the text Burke talks about different events in politics and even goes as far as using Latin words throughout the text since a gentleman like himself would have learned Latin as a child. The irony in this is that the Frenchman
Analysis of Edmund Burke’s Speech This essay compares and contrasts Edmund Burke’s speech given to British Parliament. The essay utilizes two different perspectives to see the speech through individuals living in 1775. The speech, itself, took place on March 22, 1775.
To open this discussion, I would like to start with the civil liberty of freedom of religion. This liberty was identified in my original Constitution essay through the mentioning of the separation of church and state clause. The reason for my including of this liberty, and my stressing of its importance, is that I feel that the government interprets this liberty in a one sided fashion because of the incorrect interpretation of the already in place separation of church and state clause. I also include it because I believe that recently the attacks upon religion have metastasized and tha...
The differences between Thomas Paine and Edmund Burke’s assertions on politics revolve around the two men’s views on the necessity of the French Revolution of between 1789 and 1799. Apparently, the social and political upheaval that shook France in the ten years questioned the absolute Monarchial rule of the French Monarch and in turn, sought to destroy the social hierarchies defined by the aristocrats. In other words, power was subject to the lineage in which an individual is born and for that reason, social infrastructures remained rigid with little to no mobility for the low-class citizens. In answer to the changes sought out by the rebelling French communities, Edmund Burke’s release of the “Reflections on
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.
On August 26, 1789, the assembly issued the “Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen.” Through judicial matters, this document was written in order to secure due process and to create self-government among the French citizens. This document offered to the world and especially to the French citizens a summary of the morals and values of the Revolution, while in turn justifying the destruction of a government; especially in this case the French government, based upon autocracy of the ruler and advantage. The formation of a new government based upon the indisputable rights of the individuals of France through liberty and political uniformity.
“I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to death your right to say it,” were the famous words of Francois Marie Arouet, more commonly known under the pen name of Voltaire. He was known for being very outspoken and rebellious, which got him into trouble with the authorities for most of his life. Voltaire advocated the French bourgeoisie as being ineffective, the aristocracy as being corrupt, and the commoners as being too superstitious. Voltaire’s beliefs on freedom and reason are what ultimately led to the French Revolution, the United States Bill of Rights, and the decrease in the power of the Catholic Church, which have all affected modern western society. The French Revolution was a period of upheaval in France, during which the French governmental structure and Catholic clergy underwent a large change due to Enlightenment ideas.