CPR FOR A NATION - CONSTITUTION PROTEST REVOLUTION

George Washington, first President of The United States was born today 22nd February 1732. His election as first president was the result of an extraordinary collection of people who had come together to institute and conduct a revolution, and thereafter deal with forming a system of governing what had been acquired by that revolution. How to deal with the spoils of war.

At the very beginning a convention of delegates from the thirteen colonies was called together to act as a governing body of the United States during the revolution. The idea had been first proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1773, but the first Continental Congress came together in 1774. George Washington, then a Colonel of the Virginia Volunteers, was a member of that first convention. It convened between the 5th of September and 26th of October. There were 56 delegates from the 13 colonies. Amongst them Patrick Henry (Give me liberty or give me death), John Adams, who became the 2nd President (There is no good government but what is republican. That the only valuable part of the British constitution is so; because the very definition of a republic is 'an empire of laws, and not of men'.) and Samuel Adams (If taxes are laid upon us in any shape without our having a legal representation where they are laid, arewe not reduced from the character of free subjects to the miserable state of tributary slaves?)

A pretty bolshy group to say the least, but quite well set up: P Henry -J Adams - S Adams

The second Continental Congress met on the 10th May 1775. This led to the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation. They established the Continental Army in June 1775, appointed Washington - one of its members - as commander of the Army, established a Continental Navy in October 1775, the Continental Marines in November 1775 and as we know the final text of the Declaration of Independence was approved on July 4th 1776. The Articles of Confederation don't actually go into effect until March 1881. Congress has convened and moved around quite a lot during this period, all the while putting together the Constitution. It finally convenes at Philadelphia between 25th May and 17th September 1787 and produces the Constitution of The United States.

This was 14 years after the first convention in 1774 although rumblings of discontent began much earlier. Making up a democracy is clearly not something that happens overnight.

Nor should it be. The seeds of the French revolution began long before 14th July 1789, although matters did happen slightly quicker than in the United States. From the Day of the Tiles in Grenoble on the 7th June 1788, a meeting called to assemble a parliament in defiance of government order put down by soldiers. That same month there was an outcry across France over certain enforced so called reforms, and courts across the country refused to sit. On the 17th June a National Assembly is declared. On the 20th June there is a declarative vow by the National Assembly, known as the "Serment au Jeu de Paume" (The Tennis Court Oath) not to dissolve until a constitution has been declared. Meetings take place at various locations. There is continuing general unrest.

Jeu de PaumeRights of man

On 30th June large crowds storm the left bank prison and free mutinous French Guards, and on 9th July the National assembly reconstitutes itself as the National Constituent Assembly. 14th July the Bastille is taken and by the 17th July the peasants across the country are in full revolt which is the beginning of 'The great fear'. On 26th August 1789 the Assembly adopts The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen. Thereafter there is a turbulent political history culminating in 1799 with Napoleon. A Brief time-line gives an idea of the history leading to an adopted Constitution in 1795 some 7 years after the Day of the Tiles:

30-9-1791: Dissolution of the national Constituent Assembly

1-10-1791: Legislative Assembly meets

19-9-1792: Dissolution of Legislative Assembly

20-9-1792: First session of The National Convention

21-9-1792: Abolition of royalty and proclamation of the First French Republic

11-3-1793: Revolutionary Tribunal established in Paris

6-4-1793: Committee of Public Safety Established

24-6-1793: Ratification of new Constitution by National Convention, but not yet proclaimed

5-9-1793: Reign of Terror begins

22-8-1795: Constitution ratified - bicameral system, executive Directory of five.

26-10-1795: National Convention dissolved

2-11-1795: Executive Directory takes on Executive Power

9-11-1799: Coup d'Etat - end of Directory

24-12-1799 Constitution of the Year VIII - leadership of Napoleon established under the Consulate. Revolution considered ended.

It took the National Convention 6 months to produce the Constitution which did not go into effect for another 2 years and lasted for only 4 years. It's not that the Constitution was wrong, it could not sustain itself against so much strife, opposition and the ambition of certain men.

So what chance have the people demonstrating in Egypt and Libya. In fact all across North Africa and the Middle East. What is happening is the beginning of a long process of change. One can only wish them well and trust that civil authority and the rule of law will prevail over the military and police forces. We can but hope.

Although what is David Cameron doing selling weapons in Arabia?!?*?