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Title page from Edmund Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France, 1790

Title page from the first edition of Thomas Paine's Rights of Man, 1791

Title pages representing the controversy

The Revolution Controversy was a British debate over the French Revolution from 1789 to 1795.^[1] A pamphlet war began in earnest after the publication of Edmund Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790), which surprisingly supported the French aristocracy. Because he had supported the American colonists in their rebellion against Great Britain, his views sent a shockwave through the country. Many writers responded to defend the French Revolution, such as Thomas Paine, Mary Wollstonecraft and William Godwin.^[1] Alfred Cobban calls the debate that erupted "perhaps the last real discussion of the fundamentals of politics" in Britain.^[2] The themes articulated by those responding to Burke would become a central feature of the radical working-class movement in Britain in the 19th century and of Romanticism.^[3] Most Britons celebrated the storming of the Bastille in 1789 and believed that Kingdom of France should be curtailed by a more democratic form of government. However, by December 1795, after the Reign of Terror and the War of the First Coalition, few still supported the French cause.

Edmund Burke's Reflections

Responding in part to a sermon defending the French Revolution given by the Dissenting clergyman Richard Price entitled A Discourse on the Love of Our Country (1789), Burke published his Reflections on the Revolution in France in an effort to advance arguments for the current aristocratic government. Because Burke had been part of the liberal Whig Party, a critic of monarchical power, a supporter of the American revolutionaries and a critic of government corruption in India, most of Britain expected him to support the French revolutionaries. By failing to do so, he shocked the populace and angered his friends and supporters.^[4] Burke's book sold 30,000 copies in two years.^[5] The Reflections defended "the aristocratic concepts of paternalism, loyalty, chivalry, the hereditary principle" and property.^[5]

Burke criticized the view of many British thinkers and writers who had welcomed the early stages of the French Revolution.^[6] The radicals saw the revolution as analogous to Britain's own Glorious Revolution in 1688, which had restricted the powers of the Stuart monarchy, Burke argued that the appropriate historical analogy was the English Civil War (1642–1651) in which Charles I had been executed in 1649. Burke viewed the French Revolution as the violent overthrow of a legitimate government and contended that citizens do not have the right to overthrow their government. Civilisations and governments, he maintained, are the result of social and political consensus as their traditions cannot be challenged since the result would be anarchy.

Responses

Radicals such as William Godwin, Thomas Paine and Mary Wollstonecraft argued for republicanism, agrarian socialism and anarchism.^[7] Most of those who came to be called radicals emphasized the same themes, namely "a sense of personal liberty and autonomy"; "a belief in civic virtue"; "a hatred of corruption"; an opposition to war because it profited only the "landed interest"; and a critique of the monarchy and the aristocracy and its perceived desire to draw power away from the House of Commons.^[8] Many of their works were published by Joseph Johnson, who was eventually jailed for his seditious activities. The Birmingham bookseller James Belcher was also jailed for seditious writings in 1793 for publishing Paine's Letter addressed to the addressers on the late proclamation.^[9]

Wollstonecraft had been much influenced by the ideas she ingested from Price's sermons at Newington Green Unitarian Church and the whole ethos of Rational Dissent in the village of Newington Green.^[10] Those seeds germinated into A Vindication of the Rights of Men, her response to Burke's denunciation of her mentor. Paine, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, argued in Rights of Man that popular political revolution is permissible when a government does not safeguard its people, their natural rights and their national interests.

The controversy left further legacies. Wollstonecraft's most famous work, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman was written in 1792 in the spirit of rationalism extending Price's arguments about equality to women. Anna Laetitia Barbauld, a prolific writer admired by Samuel Johnson and William Wordsworth and the wife of the minister at Newington Green, alluded to Burke's work and his opponents in her "Sins of the Government, Sins of the Nation" (1793).

References

^ ^a ^b Butt, "Introduction", 1.
^ Qtd. in Butler, "Introduction", 1.
^ Butler, "Introduction", 1.
^ Butler, 33; Kelly, 85.
^ ^a ^b Butler, 35.
^ Butler, 33–34.
^ Butler, 1.
^ Butler, 3–4.
^ "UoB Calmview5: Search results". calmview.bham.ac.uk. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
^ Gordon, p51 passim.

Sources

Butler, Marilyn, ed. Burke, Paine, Godwin, and the Revolution Controversy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1984. ISBN 0-521-28656-5.
Gordon, Lyndall. Vindication: A Life of Mary Wollstonecraft. Great Britain: Virago, 2005. ISBN 1-84408-141-9.

[Butt,_Introduction,_1-1] Butt, "Introduction", 1.

[2] Qtd. in Butler, "Introduction", 1.

[Butler,_Introduction,_1-3] Butler, "Introduction", 1.

[4] Butler, 33; Kelly, 85.

[Butler,_35-5] Butler, 35.

[6] Butler, 33–34.

[7] Butler, 1.

[8] Butler, 3–4.

[9] "UoB Calmview5: Search results". calmview.bham.ac.uk. Retrieved 30 April 2021.

[10] Gordon, p51 passim.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
    | image1    = BurkeReflections.jpg
    | alt1      =
-   | caption1  = Title page from [[Edmund Burke|Burke's]] ''[[Reflections on the Revolution in France]]'', 1790
+   | caption1  = Title page from [[Edmund Burke]]'s ''[[Reflections on the Revolution in France]]'', 1790
    | image2    = PaineRightsOfMan.png
    | alt2      =
-   | caption2  = Title page from the first edition of [[Thomas Paine|Thomas Paine's]] ''[[Rights of Man]]'', 1791
+   | caption2  = Title page from the first edition of [[Thomas Paine]]'s ''[[Rights of Man]]'', 1791
   }}
-The '''Revolution Controversy''' was a British debate over the [[French Revolution]], lasting from 1789 through 1795.<ref name="Butt, Introduction, 1">Butt, "Introduction", 1.</ref> A [[Pamphlet wars|pamphlet war]] began in earnest after the publication of [[Edmund Burke|Edmund Burke's]] ''[[Reflections on the Revolution in France]]'' (1790), which surprisingly supported the [[French nobility|French aristocracy]]. Because he had supported the American colonists in their [[American Revolution|rebellion against Great Britain]], his views sent a shock-wave through the country. Many writers responded, defending the revolution in France, among them [[Thomas Paine]], [[Mary Wollstonecraft]] and [[William Godwin]].<ref name="Butt, Introduction, 1"/> [[Alfred Cobban]] calls the debate that erupted "perhaps the last real discussion of the fundamentals of politics" in [[Great Britain|Britain]].<ref>Qtd. in Butler, "Introduction", 1.</ref> The themes articulated by those responding to Burke would become a central feature of the radical working-class movement in Britain in the [[19th century]] and of [[Romanticism]].<ref name="Butler, Introduction, 1">Butler, "Introduction", 1.</ref> Most Britons celebrated the [[storming of the Bastille]] in 1789, believing that [[Kingdom of France|France's monarchy]] should be curtailed by a more democratic form of government. However, by December 1795, after the [[Reign of Terror]] and the [[War of the First Coalition]], there were few who still supported the French cause.
+The '''Revolution Controversy''' was a British debate over the [[French Revolution]] from 1789 to 1795.<ref name="Butt, Introduction, 1">Butt, "Introduction", 1.</ref> A [[pamphlet wars|pamphlet war]] began in earnest after the publication of [[Edmund Burke]]'s ''[[Reflections on the Revolution in France]]'' (1790), which surprisingly supported the [[French nobility|French aristocracy]]. Because he had supported the American colonists in their [[American Revolution|rebellion against Great Britain]], his views sent a shockwave through the country. Many writers responded to defend the French Revolution, such as [[Thomas Paine]], [[Mary Wollstonecraft]] and [[William Godwin]].<ref name="Butt, Introduction, 1"/> [[Alfred Cobban]] calls the debate that erupted "perhaps the last real discussion of the fundamentals of politics" in [[Great Britain|Britain]].<ref>Qtd. in Butler, "Introduction", 1.</ref> The themes articulated by those responding to Burke would become a central feature of the radical working-class movement in Britain in the [[19th century]] and of [[Romanticism]].<ref name="Butler, Introduction, 1">Butler, "Introduction", 1.</ref> Most Britons celebrated the [[storming of the Bastille]] in 1789 and believed that [[Kingdom of France]] should be curtailed by a more democratic form of government. However, by December 1795, after the [[Reign of Terror]] and the [[War of the First Coalition]], few still supported the French cause.
 == Edmund Burke's ''Reflections'' ==
-Responding in part to a sermon defending the French Revolution given by the [[English dissenters|Dissenting]] clergyman [[Richard Price]] entitled ''[[A Discourse on the Love of Our Country]]'' (1789), Burke published his ''[[Reflections on the Revolution in France]]'' in an effort to advance arguments for the current aristocratic government. Because Burke had previously been part of the [[Classical liberalism|liberal]] [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig Party]], a critic of monarchical power, a supporter of the [[American revolution]]aries and a critic of government corruption in [[Company rule in India|India]], most in Britain expected him to support the French revolutionaries. When he failed to do so, it shocked the populace and angered his friends and supporters.<ref>Butler, 33; Kelly, 85.</ref> Burke's book sold 30,000 copies in two years.<ref name="Butler, 35">Butler, 35.</ref> The ''Reflections'' defended "the aristocratic concepts of [[paternalism]], loyalty, [[chivalry]], the hereditary principle" and [[property]].<ref name="Butler, 35"/>
+Responding in part to a sermon defending the French Revolution given by the [[English dissenters|Dissenting]] clergyman [[Richard Price]] entitled ''[[A Discourse on the Love of Our Country]]'' (1789), Burke published his ''[[Reflections on the Revolution in France]]'' in an effort to advance arguments for the current aristocratic government. Because Burke had been part of the [[classical liberalism|liberal]] [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig Party]], a critic of monarchical power, a supporter of the [[American revolution]]aries and a critic of government corruption in [[Company rule in India|India]], most of Britain expected him to support the French revolutionaries. By failing to do so, he shocked the populace and angered his friends and supporters.<ref>Butler, 33; Kelly, 85.</ref> Burke's book sold 30,000 copies in two years.<ref name="Butler, 35">Butler, 35.</ref> The ''Reflections'' defended "the aristocratic concepts of [[paternalism]], loyalty, [[chivalry]], the hereditary principle" and [[property]].<ref name="Butler, 35"/>
-Burke criticized the view of many British thinkers and writers who had welcomed the early stages of the French Revolution.<ref>Butler, 33–34.</ref> While the radicals saw the revolution as analogous to Britain's own [[Glorious Revolution]] in 1688 which had restricted the powers of the [[House of Stuart|Stuart monarchy]], Burke argued that the appropriate historical analogy was the [[English Civil War]] (1642–1651) in which [[Charles I of England|Charles I]] had been executed in 1649. He viewed the French Revolution as the violent overthrow of a legitimate government, contending that citizens do not have the right to overthrow their government. Civilizations and governments, he maintained, are the result of social and political consensus as their traditions cannot be challenged—the result would be anarchy.
+Burke criticized the view of many British thinkers and writers who had welcomed the early stages of the French Revolution.<ref>Butler, 33–34.</ref> The radicals saw the revolution as analogous to Britain's own [[Glorious Revolution]] in 1688, which had restricted the powers of the [[House of Stuart|Stuart monarchy]], Burke argued that the appropriate historical analogy was the [[English Civil War]] (1642–1651) in which [[Charles I of England|Charles I]] had been executed in 1649. Burke viewed the French Revolution as the violent overthrow of a legitimate government and contended that citizens do not have the right to overthrow their government. Civilisations and governments, he maintained, are the result of social and political consensus as their traditions cannot be challenged since the result would be anarchy.
 {{clear}}
 == Responses ==
-Radicals such as [[William Godwin]], [[Thomas Paine]] and [[Mary Wollstonecraft]] argued for [[republicanism]], [[agrarian socialism]] and [[anarchism]].<ref>Butler, 1.</ref> Most of those who came to be called radicals emphasized the same themes, namely "a sense of personal liberty and autonomy"; "a belief in civic virtue"; "a hatred of corruption"; an opposition to war because it only profited the "landed interest"; and a critique of the monarchy and the aristocracy and its perceived desire to draw power away from the [[House of Commons of Great Britain]].<ref>Butler, 3–4.</ref> Many of their works were published by [[Joseph Johnson (publisher)|Joseph Johnson]], who was eventually jailed for his seditious activities. Birmingham bookseller James Belcher was also jailed for seditious writings in 1793, for publishing Paine's 'Letter addressed to the addressers on the late proclamation'.<ref>{{Cite web|title=UoB Calmview5: Search results|url=https://calmview.bham.ac.uk/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=XMS562|access-date=2021-04-30|website=calmview.bham.ac.uk}}</ref>
+Radicals such as [[William Godwin]], [[Thomas Paine]] and [[Mary Wollstonecraft]] argued for [[republicanism]], [[agrarian socialism]] and [[anarchism]].<ref>Butler, 1.</ref> Most of those who came to be called radicals emphasized the same themes, namely "a sense of personal liberty and autonomy"; "a belief in civic virtue"; "a hatred of corruption"; an opposition to war because it profited only the "landed interest"; and a critique of the monarchy and the aristocracy and its perceived desire to draw power away from the [[House of Commons of Great Britain|House of Commons]].<ref>Butler, 3–4.</ref> Many of their works were published by [[Joseph Johnson (publisher)|Joseph Johnson]], who was eventually jailed for his seditious activities. The Birmingham bookseller James Belcher was also jailed for seditious writings in 1793 for publishing Paine's ''Letter addressed to the addressers on the late proclamation''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=UoB Calmview5: Search results|url=https://calmview.bham.ac.uk/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=XMS562|access-date=2021-04-30|website=calmview.bham.ac.uk}}</ref>
-Wollstonecraft had been much influenced by the ideas she ingested from Price's sermons at [[Newington Green Unitarian Church]] and the whole ethos of [[English Dissenters|Rational Dissent]] in the village of [[Newington Green]].<ref>Gordon, p51 passim.</ref> These seeds germinated into ''[[A Vindication of the Rights of Men]]'', her response to Burke's denunciation of her mentor. Paine, one of the [[Founding Fathers of the United States]], argued in ''[[Rights of Man]]'' that popular political revolution is permissible when a government does not safeguard its people, their natural rights and their national interests.
+Wollstonecraft had been much influenced by the ideas she ingested from Price's sermons at [[Newington Green Unitarian Church]] and the whole ethos of [[English Dissenters|Rational Dissent]] in the village of [[Newington Green]].<ref>Gordon, p51 passim.</ref> Those seeds germinated into ''[[A Vindication of the Rights of Men]]'', her response to Burke's denunciation of her mentor. Paine, one of the [[Founding Fathers of the United States]], argued in ''[[Rights of Man]]'' that popular political revolution is permissible when a government does not safeguard its people, their natural rights and their national interests.
-This Controversy left further legacies. Wollstonecraft's most famous work, ''[[A Vindication of the Rights of Woman]]'' was written in 1792 in the spirit of [[rationalism]] extending Price's arguments about [[Women's rights|equality to women]]. [[Anna Laetitia Barbauld]], a prolific writer admired by [[Samuel Johnson]] and [[William Wordsworth]] and wife of the minister at [[Newington Green]], alluded to Burke's work and his opponents in her "Sins of the Government, Sins of the Nation" (1793).
+The controversy left further legacies. Wollstonecraft's most famous work, ''[[A Vindication of the Rights of Woman]]'' was written in 1792 in the spirit of [[rationalism]] extending Price's arguments about [[women's rights|equality to women]]. [[Anna Laetitia Barbauld]], a prolific writer admired by [[Samuel Johnson]] and [[William Wordsworth]] and the wife of the minister at Newington Green, alluded to Burke's work and his opponents in her "Sins of the Government, Sins of the Nation" (1793).
-== Notes ==
+== References ==
 {{reflist}}
-== Bibliography ==
+== Sources ==
 * Butler, Marilyn, ed. ''Burke, Paine, Godwin, and the Revolution Controversy''. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1984. {{ISBN|0-521-28656-5}}.
 * Gordon, Lyndall. ''Vindication: A Life of Mary Wollstonecraft''. Great Britain: Virago, 2005. {{ISBN|1-84408-141-9}}.