Edmund Burke French Revolution Analysis

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Andrea Draper Modern Political Thought Farid Abdel-Nour February 10, 2015 Burke Close-reading Paper Assignment In Edmund Burke’s book Reflection on the Revolution in France Burke agreed that even though the French monarchy and aristocracy had many flaws it was a mistake for the French citizens to carry out a revolution against the established system. Burke stated that the king had been stripped of his inherited birthright and replaced with democracy, and the representatives in the National Assembly were nothing more than a bunch of country lawyers and members of the lower clergy that had no real experience in government only theories. Burke states the original government was based on trial and error not on theory but on experience. Democracy…show more content…
The system seem effective to Burke the way it was originally had been constructed. Throughout the passages that I read Burke stated that the French revolutionists didn't take into account that there are three different kinds of levels for building a sufficient government but different levels within government that need to be in place. They had no system of checks and balance in their original model. Burkes states “ whole local and general legislature on three bases of three different kinds; one geometrical, one arithmetical, and the third financial; the first of which they call the basis of territory; the second, the basis of population; and the third, the basis of contribution” which contributed to the division between the poor and the rich. Burke stated that democracy within the region would be poorly structured based off of unequal representation since it would give more power to the lower classes on account of wealth to preserve the balance and the peace of the commonwealth. Burke basically states that the object of the commonwealth is to protect the poor from being crushed by the strong. The strong are the wealthy. He mentions that it is not the poor who need to be protected but the rich because the poor or more like to become resentful of the rich which could lead to…show more content…
He stated that aristocratic make up direct contribution to society while the poor contribute indirectly. He continues to state the at representation within the government needs to be passed and assessed on wealth. He criticized the idea of democracy by stating that the system has not been set up to discuss how representation will be appointed. He ask will it be based of taxation, or a constitution. He also address how votes will be counted within the district and how election will take place. Burke felt that the structure in Paris was based on the province which will cause revenues to arise. In early passages he stated the government requires wisdom for knowing how to act without guidance which is not found in national assembly. He addressing the issue of hierarchy and how hierarchy is natural within the world. Democracy is not going to change it. The rich will always dominant due to resources, property and
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