Reflections on the Revolution in France

by

Edmund Burke

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The National Assembly was the new legislative body formed during the French Revolution, tasked with creating a new constitution for France. Burke extensively critiques the composition and actions of the Assembly in Reflections.
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National Assembly Term Timeline in Reflections on the Revolution in France

The timeline below shows where the term National Assembly appears in Reflections on the Revolution in France. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Section 1
Revolution and Reform Theme Icon
Theory vs. Practicality Theme Icon
...The Revolution Society, by contrast, has attracted more notice in France. In fact, France’s National Assembly has established contact with the Revolution Society, and the Society seeks to extend Revolutionary principles... (full context)
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...and England, but to draw England “into an imitation of the conduct of the National Assembly.” As time goes on, the true nature of the Assembly becomes more evident, giving good... (full context)
Section 6
Nature, Tradition, and Wisdom Theme Icon
Revolution and Reform Theme Icon
Burke argues that another problem is the composition of France’s newfound National Assembly, which he sees as composed of men unsuited to this new dignity—lacking the natural abilities... (full context)
Nature, Tradition, and Wisdom Theme Icon
Revolution and Reform Theme Icon
...of that multifarious thing called a state.” The problem with the makeup of the National Assembly is that it has “no fundamental law, no strict convention” to restrain its actions. They... (full context)
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Revolution and Reform Theme Icon
Burke argues that the majority of the Assembly, in its efforts to destroy the French nobility, will be led by the worst qualities... (full context)
Section 10
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...that though nothing about France’s earlier government has been upheld as valid by the National Assembly, except for its financial engagements. Meanwhile, people have been denied the money they are owed... (full context)
Section 13
Revolution and Reform Theme Icon
...democracy, as he had first intended. Burke says that he cannot think of the National Assembly as anything other than a body of men who have taken advantage of the current... (full context)
Revolution and Reform Theme Icon
Theory vs. Practicality Theme Icon
...wisdom. He observes that, in all he has observed among those of the new National Assembly, there appears to have been a desire “to evade and slip aside from difficulty.” There... (full context)
Revolution and Reform Theme Icon
...from scratch, should be uncommonly wise. He decides to look closely at what the National Assembly has done in order to determine if its members are of such a character. He... (full context)
Section 14
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Theory vs. Practicality Theme Icon
Burke looks at the journals of the Assembly of September 29, 1789, and its subsequent proceedings, to examine the “spirit […] tendency, and... (full context)
Revolution and Reform Theme Icon
Theory vs. Practicality Theme Icon
...the communes elect someone to the department, and the department elects deputies to the National Assembly—each deputy needing to pay a mark of silver. While Burke does not object per se... (full context)
Revolution and Reform Theme Icon
Theory vs. Practicality Theme Icon
...which affect the number of representatives a canton will be able to send to the Assembly, as Burke demonstrates through several mathematical comparisons. The end result, he says, is a “fantastical... (full context)
Section 15
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Burke next discusses the National Assembly, which he says is constituted with “every possible power, and no possible external control.” Because... (full context)
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...“a degraded king.” He is really just “a channel” to convey information to the National Assembly. He is not viewed as “the fountain of justice.” He is now entrusted with only... (full context)
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...have no real discretion or choice, but must carry out what committees of the National Assembly tell them to do. (full context)
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...they have no settled jurisprudence, but are to be supplied with rules from the National Assembly from time to time. (full context)
Section 16
Revolution and Reform Theme Icon
...past year, France’s national revenue has diminished by more than one-third of the whole. The Assembly has blamed this on such things as the public monopoly of salt, which they publicly... (full context)