Revolution in Canada: Burke & Locke's Viewpoints - Essay Sample

Introduction

Over the years, historians have debated for centuries to determine whether the country has genuinely benefited from revolution. In Canada, the outcome of the French revolution did not contribute to the destruction of the financial and damages of the lower class. This paper shall expound on Edmund Burke and John Locke's viewpoints on revolution.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Edmund Burke's book on "Reflection on the Revolution in France 1790" gives a lot of explanation about various themes. The book is written after the Paris mol had stormed Bastille. One of the ideas Burke reflects on is the chaos that was experienced in France. Literary, Burkes was steadfast on what he believed was right to the French people.

Equality and Liberty

Burke opposed the values of modern revolutionaries. Burke predicted before his time that French revolutionary leaders wanted powers. The innovative leaders were selfish in the sense that they wanted to benefit themselves. Burke posits that the revolutionary leaders did not care about the people like they were trying to narrate.

Therefore, Burke fully believed in equality, freedom, and every citizen's right. Burke in his books, advocates for the right of every citizen. In essence, Burkes advocated for the rights of a person to own private property. For him, the revolution was a vehicle to take over the government. In that regard, the revolutionary leaders wanted to be in charge of the government for self-ambition (Burke, 2014). Burke has the citizen to partake and agree with the innovative leaders. Arguably, Burke believes that societal tradition was stemmed from holding society together. As the audience reads the book, it can be seen that every argument he posits is against enlightenment. The book encourages the destruction of traditional values.

In spite of having a divergent opinion with traditional leaders, Burke supports the revolution. In his book, Burke argues that he can be reckoned as one of the approvers of specific proceedings in France. Such that from the solemn public seal's sanction they received in London two clubs of gentlemen namely the revolution society and the democratic society.

Power

The French revolution was primarily a battle of conquest under the leadership of the European empires. The quest for power was boosted by the hostility between the Christian clergy, nobles, and the monarch. In essence, the clergy, nobles, and the king feared the republican concept that was to be applied. The Persian and Austrian leaders declared to Pillnnitz in August that they were ready to restore Louis XVII to his position under some conditions. Persian and Australian leaders wanted the other powers to join them (Burke, 2014). The War broke loose immediately after Girondists had taken control over the ministry. For that reason, most of the revolutionists were convinced that the rivalry should indemnify the new order. However, only Robespierre was not convinced. Similarly, royalists wanted Louis XVI's authority to be restored.

Burke submits that power "is the liberty when men are allowed to act in bodies." For a person to distinguish considerate people, the power is given to them can quickly identify them. People who appear to be the most stirring in the various situation are not the best movers (Burke, 2014). Burke asserts that the passing from the civil cementing and the creating public principle of the constitution to the National assembly does not act as sovereign. The power is often taken based on legislative competency.

Significance of Burke Ideas in Canada

Even to date, Canada still suffers from the class struggle of liberty, freedom, and power. In Canadian history, the rebellion between the lower and the upper class in 1837 and 1838 were the most notable episodes. In this rebellion there reach a point in which open confrontation arose among the people. The uprising was fueled by an imperial, unworkable colonial system and undemocratic government in London, which was created by unsympathetic to reform. In Lower Canada, the wealthy British were left untouched. Instead, the colonial system encourages the enrichment of metropolis (Wilson & Cardwell, 2012). The colonial interest of the British on defended Canadian who was rich. They promote the development of capitalism. The movement in the colonies aims at reforming the government in both provinces to favor a real democracy.

Locke's Viewpoints

John Locke supports political rebellion in broader and specific perspectives. In the Book "The Second Treatise of Government," the writer creates the idea of a "social contract." Under this concept, "social contract," Locke outlines the government responsibilities and the consequence for the government to fail to meets its obligations. John Locke agrees that rebellion is good for a nation. Locke believes that revolution should work to a different extent and take a different form

Critical Analysis

From experience fueled in Canada, the texts of social contract hold water. For instance, Louis-Joseph Papineau challenged the powers of the British governor since the 1820s. Papineau demanded that to know how the revenue raised in the colony were spent. In essence, it complied with Locke's Idea of the social contract (Locke, 2018). The rebellion in Lower Canada was fueled by leaders who made political demands that involve democratic rights that were rejected in London. The Upper Canada rebellion lead by Mackenzie opposed the land grants that benefited the British who work closely with the United States

Relevancy

For a person to understand revolution when justified, there is a need to review the responsibility of the government. The government should be governed by a constitution that covers the rights of every citizen regardless of their social status, gender, race, and origin. In modern Canada unlike previous days, some issues have been fueled by the overrepresentation of the aboriginal people in the judicial justice system. Jurors and judges gave been the question of how they handle the aboriginals (Attwood, 2013). The concept of social contract hold, people, must be incarcerated, prosecuted, and punished for breaching the constitutions. In essence, the government must be held responsible for how it conducts itself.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both Locke and Edmund posits that the revolution was based on the government's responsibility to enhance the rights of the citizens. The two authors agree that the revolution had a positive and negative impact. In spite of the negative perception created by the controversial borderline destruction of France, there seems to be a clear, constructive significance of the French revolution. Ideally, the French revolution led to the successful introduction of fraternity, equality, and liberty. From these points, it is true that power "is the liberty when men are allowed to act in bodies." For a person to distinguish considerate leaders, the power is given to them can quickly identify them. People who appear to be the most stirring in various situations are not the best movers. The power is often taken based on legislative competency. Also, the social contract outlines the government responsibilities and the consequence for the government to fail to meets its obligations.

References

Attwood, B. (2013). The founding of Aboriginal History and the forming of Aboriginal history. Aboriginal History Journal, 36. doi:10.22459/ah.36.2013.06

Burke, E. (2014). Revolutionary Writings: Reflections on the Revolution in France and the First Letter on a Regicide Peace. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.

Locke, J. (2018). Two Treatises of Government. Scotts Valley, CA: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.

Wilson, K., & Cardwell, N. (2012). Urban Aboriginal health: Examining inequalities between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations in Canada. The Canadian Geographer / Le Geographe canadien, 56(1), 98-116. doi:10.1111/j.1541-0064.2011.00397.