Reflections On The Revolution In France

In the last section, Burke states the main purpose of his letter: to compare what France loses in revolting versus what it gains by its revolution, or, as Burke states, “to compare the whole of what you have substituted in place of what you have destroyed” (164). Burke quantifies this as the Assembly’s ability to provide a stable, sustainable, and defendable government and economy for its citizens. To this claim, Burke believes France was in a better position prior to the French Revolution. He claims that the Assembly provides no clear role for their king, provides no constitution, disproportionately and indiscriminately divides the country, inconsistently and arbitrarily creates laws, devalues the national currency, and undermines the very character that once made France a great nation.

Another chief complaint, and one that bears heavily on France’s ability to defend itself domestically and abroad, is the status of France’s military. According to Burke:

The army (le corps militaire) threatens to fall into the most turbulent anarchy. Entire regiments have dared to violate at once due to the laws, to the king, to the order established by your decrees, and to the oaths which they have taken with the most awful solemnity (212).