France before the revolution was a country of hierarch, aristocracy and monarchy; people were overwhelmed by the social inequalities and oppressions. Aristocrats taxed the lower class population higher and higher. A revolution happened to save the population from this unfairness, the declaration of human rights happened “Humans are born free and remain equal in right”. England being so close to France had a concerned government because of the way things were going: The killing of the king and his families, the invasion of countries in Europe by the emperor Napoleon of France (P 1347). Edmund Burke, a political writer published his horrors in the revolution in France, even though he supported the revolution in America, urged the emancipation of Irish trade, argued for better treatment and greater autonomy for the American colonies, sided for the abolition of the slave trade. (P1356)
Mr. Burke believes that the French revolution is the most chaotic, ridicule and absurd event that happened in the history of the world. For Burke, the freedom of the people of France, the declaration of the human right did not deserve to take place at the cost of the brutality that happened. Burke is a fervent supporter of government and tradition, he does not like changes. He thinks “ the succession of the crown has always been what it is now, an hereditary succession by law.” (P1358) I wish Burke could have been here now and see how unlivable those countries in Africa who followed his suggestions are. He is against competing and democratic movement “those who attempt to level, never equalize.” (P1358) He believed that wealth and power should stay in the family and it should be the same for governing. That people should do everything in their power to grow their industry and become wealthier without trespassing upon others. However, Mr. Burke, I believe that those aristocrats were tress passing upon the people of France, since they were taking what was not rightfully theirs (unexplainable taxes) from others in order to be richer. If Burke was here he will see today that rich people (Donald Trump, Robert Kiyosaki and others) in USA are educating lower and middle class people to be rich like them. Burke is astonished by the atrocity by which the ‘generous and great’ king, his wife and children were taken then killed; he questioned the celebration (thanksgiving) of this event and called it homicide. (P1359) I think that they king has killed and oppressed enough people to deserve what came to him. The people of France wanted to end this family who made them suffer so much. Also the execution of the king was supposed to serve as an example so when another king or president comes he will not dare act like that ever again; some countries in Africa should follow that lead I suggest.
In my opinion Burke was a confused writer, was full of emotion when writing about the French revolution. He said that when ancient opinions and rules of life are changed there is a big loss, that we will not have any base, (to some extent I agree with him there), he pointed that Europe depended for ages on the sprit of a gentleman and the spirit of the religion. Then he said, “We must presume that on the whole their operation was beneficial”(P1362): Is he saying that the revolution of France was beneficial?
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Kassia,
Good first blog posting--it is clear that you have read and thought about the cultural events in France and Burke's response to it. Don't feel it necessary to give such an extended summary of events prior to your discussion section, though; I would prefer you to get more quickly to the main focus, so you can discuss your observations in more depth. I also like the way you connect the events in 1790s France to our society today. Good start, and good selection of quotations to discuss.
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