Britain and her Constitution: Edmund Burke V Thomas Paine

Question 1

Who was Edmund Burke?

Answer 1

MP (Wendover) regarded as defender of constitutional settlement of 1688 - he originally aligned himself with the Old Whigs; he sympathised with the American Colonies but he was more conservative than the New Whigs, e.g. Charles Fox, who welcomed the French Revolution. Burke was strong believer in hereditary monarchy whose priority = protect GB from dangers of democracy.

Question 2

What was Burke’s central ideas?

Answer 2

Published ‘Reflections on the Revolution in France’ (1790):

• Revolutionary change always accompanied by violence
• Government derives authority from custom and tradition, not consent of governed
• Liberty (of the “swinish multitude”) needs to be restrained
• Britain’s government is “stable and wise” - the ideal combination of monarchy, aristocracy and the House of Commons

Question 3

Who was Thomas Paine?

Answer 3

Famous early radical, spent 13 years in America from 1774 where he published ‘Common Sense’ - urged the American colonies to seek independence. By 1787 he had travelled to France where he supported the French citizens in their struggle to oppose monarchic rule.

Question 4

How did Paine respond to Burke’s defense of the constitution?

Answer 4

He published “The Rights Of Man” as a reply to Burke and a defense of Richard Price, this became the principal text inspiring political radicalism in Britain from the 1790s onwards. Part 2 was published in 1792 by which time Paine had returned to France as he feared arrest in Britain for his views. He fled France in 1794 to escape the Terror, returning to the US. Both parts inspired radical reformers well into the 1800s.

Question 5

Explain the key ideas of the radical Thomas Paine

Answer 5

• Strong belief in equality and liberty (e.g. opposed slavery in all forms)
• Society should be based on individual freedom + shared outlook of common good
• Land (private property) should be shared or that those without land should receive payment from the Government

Question 6

What were the key ideas of ‘The Rights Of Man’?

Answer 6

• “Tradition” is not always a good thing; don’t always respect + follow tradition
• Government should protect all citizens equally. aristocrats and unearned (inherited) wealth should not rule the country
• Rights should be introduced to improve the lives of ordinary citizens - universal male suffrage, free education + welfare payments (e.g. pension for elderly)

Question 7

What was the impact of ‘The Rights Of Man’?

Answer 7

The book sold cheaply and became a bestseller: 200,000 copies of part “ were sold within a year. No longer was political debate limited to the propertied classes - Paine had succeeded in questioning the legitimacy of GBs political institution