#universal suffrage

I see them the same way they were seen at the time; as ridiculous, unhinged and hysterical terrorists, destroying property, assaulting people, planting bombs and making plans to assassinate political leaders.

At the same time they existed, there was also the suffragist movement, consisting of thousands of men and women, all putting forth reasonable arguments that women were capable of understanding the responsibilities of voting and meaningfully participating alongside men. There were fifty TIMES more suffragists than suffragettes, but hardly anyone mentions them today because the mentally ill fanatics were more wacky and newsworthy and the modern day feminists came to hold them up as heroes and role models for their own hysterical, irrational and destructive behaviour.

The French Revolution resulted in several significant constitutional changes, marking the transition from the Ancien Régime to a series of revolutionary governments. Here is a brief overview of the constitutions developed during the French Revolution:

1. The Constitution of 1791

The first constitution of France, adopted on September 3, 1791, established a constitutional monarchy.

Key Features:

Limited Monarchy: King Louis XVI retained the throne but his powers were considerably reduced.

Separation of Powers: The government was divided into three branches: the executive (the King), the legislative (the Legislative Assembly), and the judiciary.

Legislative Assembly: A single-chamber assembly with 745 members elected for two-year terms.

Voting Rights: Limited to "active citizens" who paid a certain amount of taxes, thus excluding a significant portion of the population.

Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen: Incorporated into the preamble, asserting fundamental rights and freedoms.

2. The Constitution of 1793 (Year I)

Adopted on June 24, 1793, but never implemented due to the ongoing war and internal strife, this constitution was more radical and democratic.

Key Features:

Republican Government: Abolished the monarchy and established a French Republic.

Universal Male Suffrage: All male citizens aged 21 and over could vote.

Direct Democracy: Frequent referendums and primary assemblies where citizens could propose and vote on laws.

Rights and Welfare: Strong emphasis on social and economic rights, including the right to work and education.

3. The Constitution of 1795 (Year III)

Implemented on August 22, 1795, this constitution established the Directory, marking a shift to more conservative governance.

Key Features:

Bicameral Legislature: Consisting of the Council of Five Hundred and the Council of Ancients.

Directory: A five-member executive body chosen by the legislature.

Limited Suffrage: Voting rights were restricted to property-owning men, reversing the universal male suffrage of 1793.

Stability Measures: Designed to prevent the rise of another dictatorial power and address the chaos of the previous years.

The Constitution of 1791 (Excerpt Translation)

Here is an excerpt translation from the Constitution of 1791, focusing on key articles that outline the new political structure:

Preamble: The National Assembly, wishing to establish the French Constitution on the principles it has just recognized and declared, abolishes irrevocably the institutions which were harmful to liberty and the equality of rights.

Title III - Public Powers:

Article 1: The sovereignty is one, indivisible, inalienable, and imprescriptible. It belongs to the nation; no section of the people nor any individual may attribute to themselves the exercise thereof.

Article 2: The nation, from which alone emanates all powers, can exercise these powers only by delegation. The French Constitution is representative; the representatives are the Legislative Body and the King.

Article 3: The legislative power is delegated to a National Assembly composed of temporary representatives freely elected by the people to serve for a given period.

Article 4: The government is monarchical; the executive power is delegated to the King, to be exercised under his authority by ministers and other responsible agents, in the manner and to the extent determined by the legislative power.

     If you fill a glass of water halfway, is it half full or half empty? Same goes with the thought of “suffrage”. I’m sure most of us are already familiar with the term, but some are still unused to hearing it since it had fallen out of ordinary usage. It was coined by the Latin word “suffragium” which means “to vote”, specifically the right or privilege to vote. Now, what is suffrage, how did it start and why is it important?

     Notwithstanding the law doesn’t really require citizens to vote, it is still our responsibility somehow to do so. To some, voting may seem useless and illogical to make a difference. Even with that said, it doesn’t mean that one’s vote is not significant. By participating in the elections, you can vote for leaders who are worthy and support the peoples’ interests, and engage in the democratic process as that is one of the key liberties a person can have in his or her life.

     The term “Universal Suffrage” was mostly used to support the right to vote for everyone of legal age, regardless of race and gender. Later in the year 1870, the term “suffrage” equaled generally affiliated with the women suffrage movement. Back then in the United States, despite the term “suffragette” – member of an activist women's organization, Votes for Women, women still continued to fight. Today, National Women’s Party founders Alice Paul and Lucy Burns trooped, protested, and endured hunger strikes to fight for their right to vote.

     As a student, and a Filipino citizen who wants to make this country a better land to live in, I treasure my right to suffrage and plan on exercising it wisely. I’ll just be going straight to the point here. I don’t and am not blaming any politician in particular who’s in position as of the moment, but don’t you just wish that some of them could change their mindset on how they govern our country? The government should set their priorities straight while thinking what the people need.

740 BCE – 1050; Turn 276 – 510; 234 turns

Tech path

Machinery from Oracle – Monotheism from India – Compass – Optics – Literature – Currency from India – Calendar form Mali – monarchy from Portugal – Music – Code of Laws from China – Civil Service – Drama from Mali – Feudalism – Construction from Greece – Theology from Portugal – Guilds – Horseback Riding from China – Banking – Paper – Education

Cities

6th: Hamburg joins the Dutch Republic from Germany 640 BCE (286) 7th: Cuman captured from Barbarians 610 BCE (289) 8th: Rotterdam founded 20 (352) 9th: Aachen captured from Holy Roman Empire 260 (376) 10th: Augsburg joins the Dutch Republic from Germany, after previously being conquered from Holy Roman Empire 585 (417) 11th: Mainz captured from Holy Roman Empire, 830 (466)

Wonders

The Colossus built in Amsterdam, 480 BCE (302) The Pyramids built in Amsterdam, 110 BCE (339) Hanging Gardens built in Amsterdam, 380 (388) with 8 cities Shwedagon Paya built in Amsterdam, 625 (425) Great Library built in Amsterdam, 765 (453)

Great People

1st GP: Great Scientist; Academy of Amsterdam established 730 BCE (277) 2nd GP: Great Engineer; Pyramids built 110 BCE (339) 3rd GP: Great Scientist 390 (389) 4th GP: Great Artist from Music 540 (408); 1st Golden Age 570 (414) 5th GP: Great Scientist 665 (433); Academy of Visigoth built 675 (435)

Wars

War on Holy Roman Empire, at the request of Germany: 80 (358) – HRE destroyed at the Battle of Mainz 830 (466) War on France, to win support of New World civs: 515 (403) – peace from random event 765 (453) War on Ottomans, at the request of England: 760 (452) – peace from random event 880 (472)

Golden Age 1st Golden Age: 570 (414), from Great Artist granted by Music

Revolutions Revolution of 570 (414): Universal Suffrage, Organized Religion, Judaism Revolution of 640 (428): Bureaucracy and Free Religion

Other key events