The Debate about the French Revolution
About this Collection
The publication of Richard Prices sermon on “A Discourse on the Love of Our Country” in November 1789, in which he praised both the American and the French Revolutions, prompted Edmund Burke to write his critique of the French Revolution Reflections on the Revolution in France in 1790. This began a debate about the nature of the French Revolution which continues to this day: was it a step towards individual liberty and constitutional government or towards chaos and tyranny? Burkes critique was quickly replied to by supporters of the Revolution such as Thomas Paine (1791) and William Godwin (1793). Burke, in turn, returned to the topic in numerous other writings.
For additional information about the Debate about the French Revolution see the Timeline on the Debate about the French Revolution.
Members:
- BOLL 33: Mary Wollstonecraft, “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman” (1792) (Mary Wollstonecraft)
- A Discourse on the Love of Our Country (Richard Price)
- An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice, Vol. I. (William Godwin)
- An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice, Vol. II. (William Godwin)
- An Historical and Moral View of the Origin and Progress of the French Revolution (Mary Wollstonecraft)
- Letters to the Right Honourable Edmund Burke (Joseph Priestley)
- Reflections on the Revolution in France (Catharine Macaulay)
- The Origins and Principles of the American Revolution (Friedrich von Gentz)
- The Rights of Man Part I (1791 ed.) (Thomas Paine)
- The Rights of Nature against the Usurpations of Establishments (1796) (John Thelwall)
- Select Works of Edmund Burke, vol. 2 (Francis Canavan)
- Select Works of Edmund Burke, vol. 3 (Francis Canavan)
- The Spirit of Despotism (Vicesimus Knox)
- A Vindication of the Rights of Men (Mary Wollstonecraft)
- Vindiciae Gallicae and Other Writings on the French Revolution (Sir James Mackintosh)
- The Works of Vicesimus Knox, vol. 5 (Desiderius Erasmus)
- The Writings of Thomas Paine, Vol. II (1779-1792) (Thomas Paine)