How Did Edmund Burke Think The French Revolution

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Edmund Burke, a political thinker and member of British Parliament, wrote a book, Reflections on the Revolution in France, to proclaim his opinion on the French Revolution. Though Burke supported Americans in the American revolution, he opposed the French Revolution. Burke wrote the book in 1790, a year after the French revolutionaries stormed the Bastille and at the beginning of the revolution. Burke did not think the French revolution was justified because of how the French people attempted to fix their government and constitution, also leading Burke to believe the revolution will fail as the nation couldn’t stand on its own feet without a foundation. Burke see tradition as part of everything, especially the government, as it has not been previously unsuccessful. Burke’s critique of the French Revolution extends from the people and government to their constitution and political system.
Burke thought the purpose of a revolution was to restore or reclaim something lost like people’s rights and freedom, which is why he partially agreed …show more content…
He observed by, “preserving the method of nature in the conduct of the state… in what we retain we are never wholly obsolete.” Meaning they must not wander too far from the path of tradition if they want to continue with what “works” for them as a society. He also sees tradition with natural rights as they should also not be changed or missed. Natural rights, “render deliberation a matter, not of choice, but of necessity; they make all change a subject of compromise.” Burke sees discarding natural rights as a necessity not a choice.
Burke’s observations on the French Revolution were that it was not a justifiable revolution because of how the people implemented a renew of the nation instead of a gradual change, causing Burke to see the revolution’s failure. Burke expresses the only way to have a healthy society is to adhere to
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