Liberté, égalité, fraternité, French for "Liberty, equality, fraternity (brotherhood)", [1] is the motto of the French Republic, and is a typical example of a tripartite motto.
Origins
One slogan of the French Revolution was Liberté, égalité, fraternité, ou la mort! (Freedom, equality, brotherhood, or death!). This slogan outlived the revolution, and later became the rallying cry of activists, both militant and non-violent, who promote democracy or the overthrow of oppressive governments. [citation needed]
Equality
Second term of the currency of the Republic, the word equality means that the law is the same one for all, that the distinctions of birth or condition are abolished and that each one is held with measurement of its means of contributing to the national expenditure. In 1795, it was known as: “The equality consists of what the law is the same one for all, either that it protects, or that it punishes. The equality admits any distinction of birth, no heredity of capacities.”
Fraternity
Third element of the currency of the Republic, fraternity is thus defined in the Declaration of the rights and duties of the appearing citizen at the head of the Constitution of year III (1795): “Do not do with others what you would not like that one made you; constantly do with the others it although you would like to receive some”. It was coupled with the two preceding rights only in 1848 pennies the influence of the catholic deputies, who wanted to prevent the proclamation of a right to work.
According to Paul Thibaud, philosophical and old directing of the review Spirit [2], “As much freedom and the equality can be perceived like rights, as much fraternity is an obligation of each one with respect to others. It is thus a moral watchword.”
History
“Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité” was not the central motto at the time of the French Revolution even if it expresses its central principles (Pache, mayor of the commune of Paris, painted the formula “Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité, ou la mort”on the walls of the commune). It was under the Second Republic) that it took on its final form and only under Third Republic was the motto made official[3].
Forsaken by the Empire and the Restoration, it is only in 1848 that it reappears under the feather of Pierre Leroux, then representing of the people to the French National Assembly, which takes part largely in her constitutional recognition like principle of the Republic.
History
During the German occupation of France in World War II, this motto was replaced by the phrase "Travail, famille, patrie" (Work, family, fatherland)[2] by Marshal Pétain, who became the leader of the new Vichy French government through a constitutional coup in 1940, supported by Nazi Germany. This new motto was parodied in some circles as "Trouvailles, famine, patrouilles" (Lucky finds, famine, patrols), [citation needed] a reference to the shortages and surveillance that occurred in Vichy France, as well as the efforts people made to survive.
France currently uses the milder version "Liberté, égalité, fraternité" as its national motto, which is incorporated into both the 1946 and the 1958 French constitutions. [1]
Interesting Trivia
The words of the motto were associated with the three colors of the French flag, in the movie trilogy Three Colors,[citation needed] but there is no historical connection. [citation needed]
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French coins have carried this motto since the beginning of the Twentieth century. Even with the introduction of the Euro as the unified currency of the European Union, this motto continues to represent France on her currency. | |||||||||||||
| At one point the motto was used to mark churches which were controlled by the state, rather than the Catholic Church. |
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Some former colonies of the French Republic (such as Chad, Niger, and Gabon) have adopted similar three-word mottos.
The motto also appears on packs of Gauloises cigarettes.
References
1. Wikipedia (France) with Google Translation Link
- ^ a b "Liberty, Equality, Brotherhood". Embassy of France in the U.S. Retrieved 2007-5-1.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Vichy Government". World History at KMLA. Retrieved 2007-5-1.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help)
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