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|  French Revolution Paper :
10-03-2007
Yes, it's insanely horrible, but I just though I'd post it since it's my first paper of the year.
Question: Based on whatever information you feel necessary, can you conclude that Edmund Burke was a critic or supporter of the French Revolution? Do you agree with any or all of what Edmund Burke speaks about in his writings?
Cite specific information or quotes to proves points.
Through his words, actions, and writings, you can tell that Edmund Burke was one of the foremost critics of the French Revolution. He continually criticized it for it's lack of order and uniformity to other European nations at the time. He promoted customs and traditions as the best foundations for society, and that old laws developed and tweaked over hundreds of years should not be so quickly discarded for new governments that lack the aforementioned "best foundations for society". He wrote books criticizing the French Revolution as well. A quote from one, "Reflections on the French Revolution" emphasizing his hatred of the idea of elected officials: "(A declaration should) not (be drawn up) by warm and inexperienced enthusiasts, not one word is said, nor one suggestion made (in the Declaration of Right) of a general right "to choose our own governors, to cashier them for misconduct, and to form a government for ourselves."
Edmund Burke was born on January 12th, 1729 in Dublin, Ireland. He was born to a middle class family, with and Anglican father and a Roman Catholic mother. He was taught about religious tolerance at a young age. He attended a Quaker school in Kildare, Ireland, and eventually attended Middle Temple to study law. He quickly dropped these law studies and was no longer supported by his father. He withdrew from society for 6 years in 1756, and wrote his first book, which gained him considerable popularity in Europe. He married in 1757 and had 2 children later. He then pursued a career in politics, becoming the private secretary of William Hamilton. He and Hamilton had a rocky relationship, and Burke quit his job in 1764 to become Marquis of Rockingham's private secretary. Burke had gained large amounts of political connections while working these two jobs, and also had the time to develop his views on the way governments should be run.
Some of his political views, evident from his writings and sayings, were that "theory" and "reason" should not be used in the governing of countries. He did not accept the ideas of Enlightenment thinkers. He published a work entitled "Reflections on the French Revolution" and became one of the most influential critics of the revolution as this gained popularity. He said that "The French Revolution is inherently flawed; it seeks to discard the lessons of the past and to create a new society according to a theoretical plan that had no basis in reality". He also claimed that France was "doomed to chaos and anarchy". When the Reign of Terror began and the French Revolution became bloody, he was hailed for his accurate hypotheses.
Throughout the French Revolution, Burke criticized and hypothesized about it. Most times he was right, but in some cases, his arguments lacked theory and reason, two ideas which Burke rejected. Since most people at this time had never thought with reason or theory either, things seemed absolutely correct to them, as the thought of doing some things that happened in the French Revolution, such as arresting and imprisoning the king and electing church officials bewildered and angered them. Some of Burke's arguments seem silly now, because we are so used to such things as elected officials. However, many of Burke's other statements still are considered very well thought out and somewhat agreed with today. Even though Burke was a critic of the French Revolution, and I consider myself a supporter, I still agree with some of what he says because of his logic, intelligence, and great writing skills.
Supposed to be 1 page long.
It's really bad. Hoping for a B- at least. I hate History, especially the "Important Changes in Governmental History" course I'm taking.
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