Question

Discuss the effects of the abolition of censorship in France.

Answer 1

(i) The Declaration of the Rights of Man and citizen proclaimed freedom of speech and expression to be a natural right.

(ii) Newspapers, pamphlets, books and printed pictures flooded the towns of France from where they travelled rapidly into the countryside. They all described and discussed the events and changes taking place in France

(iii) Freedom of press also meant that opposing view of events could be expressed. Each side sought to convince the others of its position through the medium of print.