The French Revolution and Edmund Burke

On the topic of the French Revolution, I found the background information that was provided to be very interesting. The French Revolution completely changed French society, though only for a brief period of time. I found it interesting how much the French Revolution and the American Revolution had in common. The American Revolution was over taxation without representation and likewise the French Revolution was over harsh taxation and the social inequalities that were present in France. I had no idea that France was a country of such injustice during that period of time and now I see the reason for the revolution. Revolution moves things in a society along, it forces change, but that may not always be a good thing. The French Revolution overthrew the hierarchy, the monarchy, and the aristocracy almost entirely and out of that came great change such as a new government, new street names, and even a new calendar. All of this change seemed to be for the betterment of French society, but things took a drastic turn when King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette were put to death. William Wordsworth said of the time before these executions "Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive!" (p. 36) After the executions of the King and Queen, France plunged into to turmoil. In a retrospective writing Wordsworth said of this period of the revolution "The scenes that I witnessed during the earlier years of the French Revolution when I was resident in France...come back on me with appalling violence" (p. 36)

Edmund Burke had his own ideas about the French Revolution as well as French society in general. Burke was a member of Parliament for nearly thirty years and was probably best known for his oratory skills. Burke, though allied with the Whigs, was essentially very liberal in his views of society. He was against the slave trade and was a strong supporter for the emancipation of Irish trade, Irish Parliament, and Irish Catholics. Though Burke was liberal in most views, he was a strong supporter of taxation of those in France, whether they felt it was fair and just or not. I feel that Burke supported this taxation and was an opponent of the revolution for one reason, he was a member of Parliament. He saw all of the benefits of the taxation and he also stood to lose a great deal if the French Revolution brought about too much extreme change.