Dutch Revolution Quotes

Vreede wanted to create a Republic instantly. However some representatives of the old regime and affluent conservatives wanted the old laws and governmental structure less the monarch, William V. They argued that this would be temporary until the area was quiet and orderly unlike the passionate operations that was the result of the Dutch Revolution. To Vreede, delay was a trap (snare) to allow the aristocrats to reestablish their power and privileges.

After the Dutch Revolution, there were many factions—all against the others in a hyperpartisanship that made constructive politics almost impossible.

“The enemy were the Dutch revolutionists and the French who had sent a small army to assist the Dutch rebels. The Count had his Castle right near the border of Holland in the Austrian controlled part of the Netherlands.

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.

the Dutch monarchy supported by England The French fear of course was that the revolutionary fervor spreading to the bourgeois could easily spread to France, and that is exactly what happened 4 years later. See {639769} for more of his view on the Dutch revolutionary spirit that might infect France.

The revolutionists were disorganized and unfocused after the Coup that brought them to power. This speech provided some focus for a while. Early in his career, as a Journalist working in Leiden, Holland, he was very active and helpful to the Dutch Patriots and Revolutionaries in their takeover of the government. He helped draft the New Dutch Constitution and participated in most of the new governments conventions.

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.

See {639757} for more of his view on the Dutch revolutionary spirit that might infect France. It did a few years later.

Claude-Henri de Rouvroy. He had married a Dutch Countess and settled in Utrecht so he knew the situation in Holland well. The Dutch Revolution was very much like the American Revolution in the it pitted one half of the establishment against the other.

The “Revolutionary Government” were the Patriot Coup leaders who had seized part of the country but the monarch still had many supporters including his soldiers. This proclamation, with the French troops to back it up, assured that the coup would succeed. Daendels had earlier fled to France when his first Dutch revolutionary efforts failed and he had a price on his head. He was in Paris during the French Revolution and was an enthusiastic supporter. For his support and with his military experience not associated with royalty, he was made a General of the Revolutionary French Army. When the Dutch Patriots tried again to revolt, the new French Government took their side and sent Daendels to Holland at the head of a small French Army to protect the Patriots. This was his position when he issued this proclamation to the great distress of William V and his supporters. William’s troops were particularly intimidated and many deserted and would not protect the monarch against the Patriots.

The French had agreed that once the Dutch started the uprising, they would send French troops to support the revolution. The French Revolutionary government was ideologically opposed to the Dutch Monarchy of the House of Orange on their border nor did they want the British influence which existed by virtue of the support England gave to William V and the Orangists. When the uprising started, the French kept their word and sent in an army of invasion to support the revolutionary government. See {639776}.

Daendels had in earlier years fled to France when his first Dutch revolutionary efforts failed and he had a price on his head. He was in Paris during the French Revolution and was an enthusiastic supporter. For his support and with his military experience not associated with royalty, he was made a General of the Revolutionary French Army. When the Dutch Patriots tried again to revolt, the new French Government took their side and sent Daendels to Holland at the head of a small French Army to protect the Patriots. This was his position when he issued this proclamation to the great distress of William V and his supporters.

Hunting and fishing had been much restricted to aristocrats for whom it was a sport. But for common people it was part of subsistence. Just like so many corporations and wealthy people end up paying lower tax rates than the average person in modern American society, in Holland then it was the aristocrats who paid little or no taxes. And much of the tax revenue went to provide them with an opulent lifestyle. Ending their tax exemptions and their subsidies, would lower taxes on everyone else. And democracy would give the people control over the government. Daendels had in earlier years fled to France when his first Dutch revolutionary efforts failed and he had a price on his head. He was in Paris during the French Revolution and was an enthusiastic supporter. For his support and with his military experience not associated with royalty, he was made a General of the Revolutionary French Army. When the Dutch Patriots tried again to revolt, the new French Government took their side and sent Daendels to Holland at the head of a small French Army to protect the Patriots. This was his position when he issued this proclamation to the great distress of William V and his supporters.

Actually, these revolutionists were quite moderate and what they wanted was his abdication and for him to go to England but they used the fear of trial and beheading to induce him to leave rather than have a pitched battle. He did.