Article
French
ID: <
10.4000/lrf.4572>
·
DOI: <
10.4000/lrf.4572>
Abstract
Judging that the French Revolution is a cosmopolitan revolution, we will study the specificities of the republicans’ colonialism during the French Directory. We will particularly focus on the case of Eschassériaux and his ideas to establish a durable peace. He insists on the independence of nations in both the Old and New Worlds, but refutes that they can be considered as isolated. For him, trade freedom is necessary to connect the nations together, as they have to coexist. As a matter of fact, Eschassériaux proposes instituting the organic law of the constitution in the colonies as a way to ensure the isonomy between the Metropole and the colonies, and citizenship for black people. However, Eschassériaux does not forget to underscore the duties of emancipated Africans in addition to their rights. Besides, he is in favour of colonising Egypt as, according to him, the new colony would be useful for humanity and commerce, it would be a communication node, people from many origins would live together in this colony, and there would be an important quantity of information and goods transiting through it.