French Revolution Blog #2
Due by 10pm on Monday,
1-29
Read the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen (located in packet)
and post (as your social class):
To what extent do you agree or
disagree with these articles and why?
How do you predict they will affect change in France? Specifically
reference AT LEAST 3 articles in your entry.
You must submit your original post and comment on at least 1 other persons post.
Respond as one of the following based on your last name:
Respond as one of the following based on your last name:
Peasants/ Urban Workers (A - D)
Bourgeoisie (E - H)
Noble (I - L)
Clergy (M - P)
Queen Marie Antoinette (Q - T)
King Louis XVI (U - Z)
As a King, I do agree with some of these articles as they go along with the enlightenment ideas that I am trying to incorporate into France. For example, article 8 states that no one should be punished unless the person has violated a law. This reminded me of one of my enlightenment reforms I have just introduced which was to prohibit torturing. Both of them goes with the enlightenment ideal that no one should suffer more than they should. Another article that I agree with is article 11 which states that all men have free communication of ideas and opinions. This goes with the enlightenment ideal of the ruler having religious tolerance. In my kingdom of France, I tolerate the Jews and Protestant. Religious tolerance goes along with article 11 because my people are free to believe in whatever religion they would like to believe in. I will not be the one to tell them that they cannot believe in their own religion since I would not be a good king if I did so. I do agree with the articles that are linked to enlightenment, however, I highly disagree with the articles concerning about the government. Article 3 states that the power resides in the nation, not in a single ruler. As a King, this angers me because it is stating that I cannot be the ruler of my Kingdom because one individual should not rule. I do not see another reason why the National Assembly of France would get rid of my position other than they think that the king does a horrible job ruling France. I would like to argue that I do my best to help France. It is just that the people of my nation do not know what would be good for them as a nation. Only I know what is best for France, not the people. My decisions might look horrible and based off of poor judgement but I promise it is what’s best. The declaration will advance France forward in bringing more prosperity into the kingdom by relieving the commoners about their problems concerning their rights. This serves as a constant reminder of their rights which might help them obey me more. However, France’s government will decline because the declaration states that there should not be a single ruler. The new government officials will not know what is best because they do not have a lot of experience.
ReplyDelete-King Louis XVI/ Jenna Wang
As a member of the clergy, I do not agree with your statement that religious freedom should be allowed. This would draw power from the Catholic Church! We clergy believe that increased religious fervor will solve France's problems, with an increase in the tithe. The statement that you, King Louis XVI, would be a bad king if you didn't allow the freedom of religion is shocking to us clergy. A decline in the religious fervor and devotion to the Church would cause corruption in the religious and moral orders in France. As one of the Enlightenment reforms, which I am quick to point out that we clergy completely disagree with, that is apart of the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen would be harmful to France. Religious freedom should not be allowed because it would increase the power of the Catholic church, which has already suffered from your policies of tolerance towards other religions. Overall, as a member of the Catholic clergy in France, I disagree with your position on the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen.
Delete- Clergy / Emerson Meeks
As the King of France, I do not agree with most principles highlighted within the French Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen, however I feel that policies to taxes and religious freedoms may be necessary for our nation to prosper. Within the document many articles violate the rights set about by our heavenly Father and seek to disrupt what has given this country order in the past, specifically Article Three. This is absolutely dangerous to our nation as it violates both the system which allowed France to be stable for hundreds of years and, more importantly, it violates God’s rules who has assigned me and the other nobles to lead this nation. This may eventually lead to the destabilization of France as our hierarchy may devolve into a reign of terror by those God does not see fit. Furthermore, Article One denies all inequality, this time targeting the entire Three Estates system. This can not be so as the duties assign to all individuals in society differ due to God’s plan, these differences then differ to different rights. Furthermore, it shall impose a horrible injustice upon the honorable nobility and clergy who worked to earn their places in society fairly through the grace of God. If brought into full effect this Article would also spell a clear collapse in order of our Three Estates and Manorial Systems which would lead to an unstable society without any social differentiations at all. Although I find many of the Articles dangerous to society, I do see a few necessary like Article Thirteen. This is as it is extremely necessary within French society as all members of society must be taxed if we can succeed this debt problem which is enveloping the nation. Previously I tried to pass laws like this which failed in the Three Estates System, therefore it is helpful that this article exists because the tax can fund France to escape the dangers of economic ruin. Furthermore, Article Ten is also a needed as opening religious freedom laws, which were previously hindered by the first and second estates will also help to make our country more open and provide stability. Thus, most of the laws within the French Declaration of Man and Citizen are harmful to society as they disrupt the laws of god and our forefathers, however many laws are necessary for reform to maintain needed stability in the country.
ReplyDelete-King Louis XVI/ Aaron Ullman
I agree with you my king. Clause three violates the plan that god has for us all. It is also putting too much power in the hands of the uneducated peasants of the Third Estate. That could lead to our country, or even all of Europe, devolving and descending into chaos. God chose a place for us all and we should all be satisfied with it.
Delete-Queen Marie Antoinette/ Zach Solomon
DeleteI do agree with your statement of how Article One is threatening our Three Estates system. I find it naive for people to believe that we are all equal when it should be clear that some people are just more superior than others. Some people are born to be followers while others leaders and threatening to disrupt our system is not going to change that fact. However, I find article thirteen, which you found necessary, to be unjust and something that must be changed. While I understand that France is in debt, what good does it do to tax us nobles and the clergy? The debt that fell upon our kingdom is something that the Third Estate and you should be fixing, not the First and Second Estate. We were not taxed previously and what should be done is to put more strain on the Third Estate to fix this problem.
DeleteNoble/Cathleen Liang
For the most part, as a member of the Catholic clergy, I disagree with the articles in the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen. For example, I disagree with Article 10. This article states that no one will be quieted based on their opinions, especially religious ones. I disagree with this idea because that would be detrimental to the power of the Catholic Church, as well as to our ideology. Us clergy are allowed to censor books and artistic expression, ultimately creating how the history will be remembered. If the freedom of opinion and speech were allowed, that would be a threat to the world as we know it. In addition, I also disagree with Article 11. Article 11 states that the free communication of ideas and opinion are precious to man and should be allowed, similar to Article 10. Once again, the power of the Church would be endangered. One tragic time where the public was allowed to have public opinions, Martin Luther posted his 95 theses, creating the Protestant Reformation and the Protestant Church, which still to this day, is a danger to us Catholics. On the other hand, I do agree with Article 1, which states all men are born free and equal in rights. Going along with the idea of all people being equal in the eyes of God in Christianity, this Article reinforces this teaching. To go even further, some of us clergy might argue that all humans should be equal since all souls are equal in the eyes of God. These new articles will have a variety of impacts on France. Since these articles are being formed on Enlightenment ideals, ideals which we clergy disagree with, further deviation from the Church will occur. Although these articles will bring some good changes, such as the equality of all men, the changes for the worse will make France a weaker nation. The free speech and opinion articles are a threat to the dominance of the Church and are harmful for undermining religious and moral order. Overall, I, a member of the Catholic clergy in France, mostly disagree with the articles in the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen.
ReplyDelete- Clergy / Emerson Meeks
Honorable member of the clergy, I can not disagree more on your approach to this French Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen. For you explain that all within this society should be labeled equal by Article One of the declaration. However, this law is wrong on all accounts, for you know that our Divine Father has instructed me and the nobility to high rank out of our familial virtue. It would then be utterly erroneous that all should be equal for not only God disagrees, but the entire estate system does as well. A system which I would like to express, you were apart of. The fall of this system would not only be a catastrophe for our nation and God, but your power as well. However, I must also disagree with your remarks to Article Ten. As you should know, this country is within economic ruin and one of the reasons why is that we push out too many resources persecuting the poor Jews who inhabit our land. So it is not only beneficial morally as we should prescribe to at least some Enlightened beliefs to remain competitive, but it is an economic burden to continue your holy war, so I must agree that it is time for it to come to an end. However, I do agree that Article Eleven should not exist, for the lower citizens have no right to challenge the previous ideas of our forefathers and the beliefs of authority. So I must digress and agree that this atrocious article should be forgot for the good of society. Although I agree that Article Eleven is dangerous to society, I must disagree with your remarks to the dangerous Article One and the needed Article Ten for the good of our society.
DeleteKing Louis XVI/ Aaron Ullman
i am just going to call it as i see it. I do not agree with many of the policies in the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen. For example, I do not agree with #3. I don't agree with it because it limits the power of my husband which means it too limits my power as a sovereign leader. I also disagree with Article #1. If there were no social classes than everyone would be equal and there would be no distinction between the rulers and their subjects. I also think that no social classes would bring chaos to France. However, I do agree with some of clauses, but only for the benefit of the first estate. I agree with the innocent until proven guilty in #9. I wouldn't want to just be assumed guilty and punished right away. I think this will change France negatively because it is giving power to the uneducated peasants who would be better of making food for the first and second estate. This could lead to revolution and a totally unorganized and destroyed country. Overall, I think the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen will bring France in the wrong direction, which of course is one that does not benefit me.
ReplyDelete- Queen Marie Antoinette / Zach Solomon
My queen, even though you may have a limited amount of power, it is clear that this benefits society as it did to England after the Magna Carta was put into place. If the king and queen were to have an excessive amount of power, as you do, there would be peasant outbreaks and conflict between the lower and upper classes. With this, the unnecessary costs that would be needed to be focused on these disputes would ruin the economy of the nation. After all, rule fifteen still shows that the clergy, nobles, and king and queen still have to monitor the ranks below them and what they are doing with their businesses. These laws also don’t give the lower classes, including myself enough power to jump ranks and suddenly be capable of overthrowing you and the king. Even though the articles give us equal rights, we suddenly aren’t given the power of the government and everything within it, so there is nothing to worry about. If anything, there will be positive adjustment in society, as peasants won’t complain and riot about unequal rights between upper and lower classes, which will save you money and time that could be invested in other tasks, such as warfare and luxury goods.
Delete- Bourgeoisie / Lauren Feldman
I disagree with you because as a peasant and being at the bottom of the social class, I feel like we deserve to be thought of as equal as everyone else. We work the hardest and we are the reason France is still hanging on. I also agree with your statement saying that article 9 is a good article. I also wouldn't want to be punished immediately after being accused guilty. Finally, if you don't trust us peasants, then why do you trust us to make your clothes, provide you food, and participate in these large construction projects.
Delete-Peasant/Diego Chavez
I completely agree with you! Most of these articles are biased to men and is not supporting us, women. I also believe that if there was no social class, everyone would be equal and that would be great because that would cause less revolts and riots. With an equal society, everything would go smoothly. I also agree on how this declaration will bring France into the wrong direction because I feel like this declaration will bring France's social status down and that will no help France.
DeleteFor the most part, I am against the articles listed within the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen due to the equality it proposes and the power it takes away from us nobles. Firstly, I disagree with article three and its declaration of popular sovereignty or the involvement of the nation within sovereign rule. The spread of the Third Estate in our political situation is unneeded and uncalled for. While this system may stop absolutism, it also threatens our hold on politics. In addition, in article six, it states of how every citizen is equal in the eyes of the law and how they are all equally eligible to all dignities. I find this repulsive as some people are simply better than others. The Third Estate is inferior in comparison to us and they should not be allowed the same positions as us. We have occupied key roles of the government and military since the very beginning and we deserve to be treated as the superior social group that we are. Continuing on, in article thirteen, it declares a common distribution of taxes on all social classes. As a noble, I disagree with this. Prior to this, I was not taxed and I do not see the necessity of having to be taxed now. While France is in a bit of a financial struggle, the Third Estate should be the people to fix this and not the nobles and clergy who were previously exempt from such. Some of us nobles already are limited in finances and what is left is needed to support our lifestyle, not to give away. I believe that the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen will affect France by giving more rights to the Third Estate and hinder the power of the First and Second. These new articles will only create more want and desire for change within the lower social classes, creating more mayhem and madness. This will allow more power in politics to the Third Estate and remove our strong political power, shaking our political system in its core. Further revolution and change is bound to happen and France will not be the same as it is now due to such.
ReplyDeleteNoble/Cathleen Liang
As a King, I do agree with some of your beliefs. For instance, the third article is trying to take power away from us and I do not like it. The people of France do not know what is best for them so there is no reason that they should be involved in France's government. However, I disagree with your statement concerning the taxes. The first estate and second estate need to be taxed in order to solve the financial crisis that France is in. The first and second estate are the people who can afford to pay the taxes. The third estate can barely pay for theirs which is not helping economy. The First and Second estate should be able to pay the taxes with no problem if they would just be willing to be less selfish and give up some of their money. The taxes are the only way to pull France out of its debt.
Delete-King Louis XVI/Jenna Wang
I agree with this as I think that there are certain things that should stay with France. I believe that the third estate is unfit to make political decisions as they don't know how to rule France at all. I believe that they should continue to pay tribute towards the economy and let us second and third estate continue what we do. The Rights are all in favor of the third estate, and that is only because there is more of them. If the common people have control over what happens then the country shall be in shambles because they are just trying to help themselves, not the country.
DeleteQueen Marie Antoinette/Brandon Shelton
I completely agree with you that these articles will bring France into quite a predicament with the rise of the Third Estate. Most of the articles were promoting the equality of all citizens, but that pretty much means that we as clergy, nobles, kings, and queens will all have to sink to the level of the peasants. The diversity in our social classes is what keeps our society running the right way. I especially agree with your take on article #13 about paying taxes. The peasants do society's grunt work...anyone could do it! My work as a member of the Catholic clergy requires me to not only be educated, but to be alert enough at all times to supply sufficient amounts of information that don't overload the common folk's brains and leave them wanting more. I work so hard in my class and should be exempt from taxes for this! The Third Estate think that since they are putting on a big show and making these laws that they will someday rise to our level. The truth is, our society would not thrive the way it needs to if there is a shift in the social class. Everyone is right where they need to be right now and these new amendments threaten that.
Delete-Clergy/Macy McPherson
As a peasant/urban worker I am very happy with the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen. I agree heavily with article 1 stating that all men and born equal and free. This article finally gives us peasants to be as equal as all the other estates. Although, we should be higher being that one, we make the majority of France's population, and two, we are the hardest working class of all the estates. The next article that I agree with is article 13. This article states that the maintenance and cost for administration for every pubic force must be distributed equally. This will benefit us peasants so that all the pressure isn't on us. Finally, some of the other classes will help out will these hard, long, and tiring projects. This article goes along with article 1 in a way that both say that all men are equal in a way. Finally, the last article I agree with is article 15. This article states that everyone has the right to now what goes on in our government. We finally have a right to know what is happening to all of our money and where it is being thrown away. This should have been a law before, after all, we are the ones that provide most of the money for France, we should know where it's all going. These articles will definitely benefit our country causing less peasant revolts and more peace within our country.
ReplyDeletePeasant/Diego Chavez
I strongly agree with you, us peasants will benefit greatly from this Declaration. We will now get equal rights, as stated in article 1. We work the hardest, and now we are finally getting what we deserve after many years. We will not be taxed excessively like before, and now the people that make more money will have to pay more taxes. This is fair for us because we will not have to give away lots of our earnings to the government. Hopefully this will bring change to the upper class so they could stop spending money on useless things.
DeleteAs an estate member higher than you, (a noble) I strongly disagree with your opinion. How can you say that the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen has beneficial impacts? If all men were born and free, 25% of the entire population would experience a drop in power and if governing wasn't focused on you third estate members, how would the French gain money? We need a source of funds somewhere and the easiest source is you peasants, who already gain a fair price, which is work for me, and I will provide you property, protection, and many other benefits. If you move away from my centralized order, how are you going to protect yourselves? It is also a given that you provide the most money for France, as we upper estate members are exempt from taxes. Therefore, to counteract the drop in our economy from parties, *ahem* I mean wars with foreign countries, you will just need to pay more money in taxes.
Delete-Noble/William Jiang
Overall, as a bourgeoisie, I agree with the laws that everyone should be treated equally, especially since I provide work for all of the peasants in our country. The queen and king shouldn’t have all of the privileges, since the country wouldn’t exist without the factories that I look over. With the ability to have more rights, I may be able to raise in the ranks as well as keep the peasants below me as I become more wealthy. With these laws, I believe that France will be more centralized and the social statuses of people in France will be closer and give us the ability to raise in the ranks. As a large amount of my rank work as factory owners, rule seven in the article helps prohibit me from going to jail for any illegal doings that may occur within my business unless the law states so. As an upper middle class men, our corrupt businesses need to be proven guilty in order for it to be considered illegal or against the law. This law will affect France through allowing higher classes to get away with more illegal crimes and lead to more corruption in society. Law four allows for me to do whatever I please as long as I don’t injure people, which will let my factory business prosper with the amount of paid labor I provide the peasants. This ties in to rule eleven as I am able to speak my mind, in terms of political views as well as what is published in products in my factory. This law will affect France because the more people speak their opinion, the more people will be swayed and civil wars could outbreak. These laws give lower classes more rights and help me make more money as well as try to work my way around the law to have access to more freedoms as a higher section of the middle class.
ReplyDelete- Bourgeoisie / Lauren Feldman
I strongly agree with the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen. This document allows us to gain much better rights and finally be treated right. I was being treated poorly, not getting what I deserve from all of the hard work that I put in for this country. The first article, "Men are born and remain free and equal in rights." The third estate that I am currently in will get equal rights with the rest of society which I think we deserve. Us peasants paid the extra taxes for France's debt and we give most of our crops and money to the higher classes, so we fully deserve this. The higher classes had more rights than us, when they did not even do as much hard work that the us, the Third Estate did. I am glad for this right because we were getting taken advantage of, so now we will have equal rights under the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen. Another article is 6, "Law is the expression of the general will. Every citizen has a right to participate personally, or through his representative, in its foundation. It must be the same for all, whether it protects or punishes. All citizens, being equal in the eyes of the law, are equally eligible to all dignities and to all public positions and occupations, according to their abilities, and without distinction except that of their virtues and talents." This means that everybody will have equal rights no matter what their financial situation is like, so you could move up the estates if you are rich or poor. I agree with this right, it allows me to have the same opportunity as somebody else for a job, and to become more successful than before. This right is very helpful for me, because before I did not have much opportunity, and now I do. Another article I agree with is number 13, " A common contribution is essential for the maintenance of the public forces and for the cost of administration. This should be equitably distributed among all the citizens in proportion to their means." I strongly agree with this, we will no longer be taxed excessively. We will be taxed on how much we make, so that means that we will be able to keep more money than before and not have to pay a ridiculous amount. This is much more fair than before, and I totally agree with this. These rights will certainly affect change in France, for my estate will get better treatment and rights. We will now not have to give away most of our earnings, allowing us to keep more of it. These rights are the best thing that have ever happened to me.
ReplyDeletePeasant/ Jared Chavez
DeleteUnlike you, I totally disagree with the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen. I especially think that the clergies like myself should continue to not pay taxes as we provide a lot for the Third Estate just like you. In reality we educate people like you, we censor what we feel isn't right for you, and we teach you the faith of Catholicism. The tithes that you pay us go to the improvements of the Church and without it we couldn't help you in return. So if us clergy are now forced to pay taxes, then we can't help you and we will lose influence on you guys. This then leads to a struggle for sense of direction and will result in wars and that is what nobody wants. However on the upside I do believe that you, the Third Estate should have the same or similar rights to the Second and First Estates. If all of us are the same in the eyes of God, then we all should be the same in the eyes of the law.
Delete-Clergy/Raul Perez
Just looking at the Declarations of Rights of Man and Citizen, automatically make me disagree because most of these rules are dominant to men and only certain rights are equal to us women. For Article 1, I disagree because men and women should remain free not just men. Both women and men haves should have the right to be equal, our social structure should be made that way. The court laws and politics are towards men, most of the rules only go towards men. All of men's right succeed women, since men will always be dominant. But there are some things that I agree with such as Article 7, because this shows that without evidence no one should be proven guilty. I also agree with Article 6 because the right of speech, should always be allowed. Overall, I disagree with this declaration.
ReplyDelete- Queen Marie Antoinette / Myah Shaikh
DeleteOverall, I see that there are some problems with "The French Declaration of the Rights of Men and Citizens." The very first problem that I see is that now the King has limited power. This is a problem because if his power is being limited, then my power gets cut of off too. We rule this kingdom and without us France would be in shambles, looking for a leader. The sixth law is wrong for states that everyone has equal say in law, then everyone would be trying to get personal gains for themselves. I believe that everyone shall have the right to try to join law offices, but that they should be considered by the king and I, and looked at through our nobles and clergy, to make sure they are worthy. I do however, agree with fourteenth proclaim as that shall help stable the economy of France. We are need of supervision and with that I feel like we could get more money through the power of special superimposed taxation. I predict that the changes will help France if you guys continue to let us rule you even though you guys have "equal rights". You guys are so desperate for a figure head that if you make everyone equal/get rid of your monarch, then you will be back in shambles lost at what to do with the country.
ReplyDeleteQueen Marie Antoinette/Brandon Shelton
DeleteLooking over at the French Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen of 1789 as a member of the clergy, I see future conflict, war, rebellions, and revolutions. I and other clergy highly disagree with Article 10 where it says,"No one shall be disquieted on account of his opinions, including his religious views, provided their manifestation does not disturb the public order established by law". Here it gives everyone the right to practice their own religious preferences which will become an endangerment to the Catholic Church and France. This is because now we will have less followers who will pay tithes to us and then it will result in us having no money to improve the Church. In addition, the faiths the citizens begin to follow may have a threat to society and government as they will turn on us believing that our society is a threat to them and then this will lead to wars. In addition, reviewing article 11 it states, "The free communication of ideas and opinions is one of the most precious of the rights of man. Every citizen may, accordingly, speak, write, and print with freedom, but shall be responsible for such abuses of this freedom as shall be defined by the law." This means that this article supports the previous one and will help in the destruction of our influence on the entire population. If citizens are able to have freedom to print whatever they like, this would give them an opportunity to spread whatever faith they follow against ours. This will then lead to many different types of faiths in all of France and they will all conflict each other and will end up no longer united as one. Finally another article that I worry about is article 6. In the last line it states, " All citizens, being equal in the eyes of the law, are equally eligible to all dignities and to all public positions and occupations, according to their abilities, and without distinction except that of their virtues and talents." Though I agree that everyone is equal according to Catholicism, I do believe that anyone is eligible to become a public position such as the clergy like myself, could mean the uprising and formation of other types of churches other than Catholic ones. Overall, us clergy believe that the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen will ruin the government structure of France and will create many internal wars based off of a formation of a variety of religions/faiths.
ReplyDelete-Clergy/Raul Perez
I, a noble, agree with your negative view on the French Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen, but for different reasons. I am not as against article 10 as you are. This would give me a right to practice my own beliefs and opinions, though I understand the threat of those low-life peasants gaining power. This would allow them to think for themselves, instead of follow us, their rightful leaders. A few of the peasants own their own land, proving they are already beginning to do this. Like you, I disagree with article 11. It seems to be very similar to the power American colonizers had in their revolution, which can be very dangerous for us. They can use it to attack the Catholic Church, but they can also rally forces against sources of power such as us nobles or even the royal family. I strongly disagree with giving them the freedom and resources to successfully revolt. I also totally agree with your point on article 6. We deserve those positions, though for you it is in the church and for us it is in the government and military. Overall, we both disagree with the articles in the French Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen for different reasons.
Delete-Noble/Nicola Lai
As a member of the First Estate Catholic clergy, I do not agree with these articles in the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen at all. I believe that they will put France into a spiral of negative change that will have catastrophic events on our stable government. I am a very religious-oriented person, having power over religious outlook and knowledge is how I make my living, so seeing an article like #10 really sets off some red flags for me. This article prohibits any religious discrimination because they are “opinions.” Catholic Christianity is the religion of the state. It is one of the main things that has held France together all these years. My fellow clergy and I have full power right now to give people the information that we want them to know, and if people can practice any religion and obtain any kind of knowledge at any time, the Catholic church and clergy are left with little support and funds. This religious barrier is going to divide France and I honestly don’t see us recovering from such a blow. I also am in strong opposition to the next article, article #11, stating that everyone may speak freely of their opinions. This, in conjunction with article #10, will be detrimental to the Catholic Church because people will be able to speak freely against us without punishment. It just takes one free spirit to start a revolution, dividing the church, separating us from the greater forces, and breaking down the religious aspects of France beyond repair. Third, I oppose article #14, stating that citizens or representatives of their class should decide their needed contributions. The system that we have right now is working, with the peasants working the grunt work and all of us administrators doing what is important. If the peasants demand a higher class, the whole social structure could be thrown off, sending us clergy to the bottom and having the peasants with their lack of experience in power. Essentially, these articles are targeted to improve the lives of the lower class, which is good because everyone deserves a good life before God, but they have no idea about how to run an empire. If these articles go into effect, the lower class will gain enough power to start uprisings based off of their Enlightenment ideals, throwing whatever nation we had left into turmoil. As a religious representative of the clergy, these articles will harm France in both political ways as well as destroy the church that has kept us connected for so long, and I strongly oppose them.
ReplyDelete-Clergy/Macy McPherson
DeleteI agree with your opinion to disagree with the articles of the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen, especially with article 14. In addition to your argument against peasant having power, the peasants will be able to have an advantage over the First and Second Estate because of their large number of people. With little experience of how to run an empire, like you said, and little experience with money they will most likely drive France further into debt. Not only will the clergy be sent to the bottom of the social structure, but we nobles will be seen as equals, or lower, than the despicable peasants. Their new ability to own power is relatable to their ability to own land. They don’t know how to run either one, and have no experience. They should leave it to the more experienced.
DeleteNoble/Stacey Lai
As a noble, I disagree with these articles in the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen, but I don’t disagree completely. This is because they will lower my power and give it to the peasants. On the other hand, if the peasants to revolt, the articles will hopefully protect me from being killed in a riot. For instance, in article 1, it states, “Men are born and remain free and equal in rights.” This would mean that those poor people in the third estate would be equal to me. I disagree with this because I am better than the peasants. In the feudal ages, my ancestors once controlled them. I deserve better rights than them. Also, in article 6 it states, “… All citizens, being equal in the eyes of the law, are equally eligible to all dignities and to all public positions and occupations, according to their abilities, and without distinction except that of their virtues and talents.” This article means I have to share my high positions in the government and military with those peasants. We nobles are already losing the positions once reserved for us in the middle parts of the government. Now, we will have to fight people in the lower classes, when we clearly have more experience in those jobs through our families. Lastly, article 13 means that all people will be taxed, and people with more wealth will be taxed more. I have no large source of income to pay those taxes. Although some of us nobles have great wealth, others of us are as poor as the peasants, despite our great background. We strongly disagree with being taxed. On the other hand, I agree with article 7 because in the case where peasants successfully revolt, they hopefully won’t be able to kill me immediately. Of course, if they do end up controlling the government, the laws that would be created or the judges would probably be against me, and I might end up dying anyway. I would rather revoke these articles so that the peasants don’t have much power to successfully revolt in the first place. Overall, as a noble I disagree with the articles in the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen because it would lower my power and give it to the lower classes.
ReplyDelete-Noble/Nicola Lai
I strongly disagree with these articles, especially 2, 14, and 17. These articles, specifically the ones listed, give the incompetent Third Estate power. This takes power away from the experienced, skilled nobles, like myself. Article 2 references the rights of man, one of them being property. As a long time owner of a large portion of property, I do not want to give my property away to someone who is less experienced and is under my status. The lowly peasants should not have the right to have property. They work under ME and rely on ME for protection and work; therefore, I should get the most land. Anyways, who would work on the fields if everyone had property? This article will affect change in France, by lowering my amount of land, giving more land to the third estate, and less workers working on large estates. Another problemsome article (14) states that all citizens will be able to decide how much tax is collected. I find this unfair since the majority of the population is peasants. This gives them an unfair advantage as to who will pay taxes. They could then abuse this power and pay less tax than anyone else. In addition to the equal amount of land (mentioned in article 2), me and my fellow nobles will have even less money to pay these taxes as we do not have a income. The article will change France by promoting tax in all levels of the social distinctions and give the peasants an advantage of the tax rate. Finally, article 17 states that everyone should have property. I believe that only the most “noble” and high class should receive land. The Third Estate should not get land because they work on the land and do not have the proper education to own land. The higher class have owned land while the lower class has worked on it for centuries. We, the higher class, have experience and knowledge of how to run and own property. The subordinate peasants do not know how. If enacted, this article would mean that all peasants, and everyone, would own land. My land would be taken and redistributed and I would have to work on my own land. All these changes blend the lines between the social classes despite the higher classes superiority in knowledge and contribution to France through military work.
ReplyDeleteNoble/Stacey Lai
Being a noble from the second estate, I disagree with these articles from the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen. The articles I most disagree with are 1, 2, and 3. Article one states "Men are born and remain free and equal in rights. Social..." and I disagree with this article because peasants will always be lower than our upper classes. Only the ones who weren't born in a prestigious family are complaining, while us first and second estate members are living just fine. The second article states that every man has rights to property, liberty, security, and oppression to resistance. I disagree with this because if my subjects want these rights, why just give it to them when I can make them work for it. It would be much more effective to keep the system I have now where they can work for me to gain some, but not all, of these rights. I would let them have security and property if I'm being generous. The third article states that "No body nor individual may exercise authority..." which is basically calling out the regional rulers out there because it is saying that no one should have absolute power unless directly agreed on by the nation. I disagree with this simply because too many people will disagree with my many forms of rule due to only 25% of the population residing in the first and second estate. The other 75% will not like how I rule and stop me, reducing my power and influence. I think these articles will change in the future because there is no way the king would let this declaration that is gaining a lot of popularity go by. I think we are going to shut it down and change the articles to govern and tax the third estate even harder. That would teach them to rebel against the crown.
ReplyDelete-Noble/William Jiang