HOLLAND
Holland was then a Republic and federation of the separate states. Each elected representatives to the ruling legislature, however, many states had not been pleased that their representatives did not reflect the desires and public opinion in the individual states and in some cases took bribes to vote in favor of special interests. The Dutch did NOT want their representatives to use their own judgment but wanted them to seek and follow the instructions of the legislatures of each state.
This clause is an interesting combination of liberal and conservative ideas. The former was the fact that it was the society’s obligation to provide jobs for the willing workers and welfare for the needy. At the same time, there was to be no assistance to the people who would not work—a classic conservative welfare reform.
The Dutch had a specific view that the more affluent or educated citizens had more obligations to society and duties than others less fortunate or talented. Modern America recognizes this general concept by means of having a progressive income tax, but America and almost no other nations have this concept of progressive duties of citizenship.
As early as the beginning of the 19th century the Dutch Republic had a sophisticated mechanism for encouraging affluent people to reside on the less affluent areas of the country. They realized that with all the amenities of wealthy cities like Amsterdam or the Hague, the affluent would tend to leave the other areas taking their spending, business, and cultural influence away from the communities that needed them the most. So they gave a tax credit to the affluent who would stay on the poorer regions and communities.
The French demand for land The French had demanded that the new Dutch Republic pay them an indemnity of 100 million florins to pay for the army expenses and that the Dutch cede France some territory at near the border and some of the Dutch Islands. The French had sent a small army to help the Dutch Revolution. The Dutch were ethically and morally outraged and sent this resolution on to France who were very surprised that their weak ally would even protest to them. The result was that the French compromised in the land and limited it to Maastricht, Venlo and Flanders and money.
There is an close similarity between the Dutch revolutionary statements and that of the Founding Fathers of America. The Dutch rebels were very well aware of the American Revolution and the subsequent establishment of a republic, and emulated much of the American experience. They were the first foreign people to be inspired by the American Revolution. Many followed.
Compare to the language of Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson and his colleagues were familiar with this document.
Contrast this with the French Revolution treatment of the ex-aristocratic criminals. There were kept in miserable conditions for a few days, tried and executed. The Dutch wanted justice but the leadership kept the process focused on that and not vengeance. Although the aristocrats were treated very well physically, it was very hard on them. They were not allowed to have any visitors—friends or relatives—for fear that they would be involved with plots to return the monarchy.
Holland is a geographical region and former province on the western coast of the Netherlands. The name Holland is also frequently used informally to refer to the whole of the country of the Netherlands. This usage is commonly accepted in other countries and is also commonly employed by the Dutch themselves. However, some in the Netherlands, particularly those from regions outside Holland, may find it undesirable, misrepresentative, or even offensive to use the term for the whole country.
