Primary Source

Active Citizen/ Passive Citizen

Cartoon compaaring different types of citizen engagement

Annotation

This cartoon mocks the distinction between active and passive citizens. Many revolutionaries hated this difference, essentially dividing those with property from those without. The propertied (active) were the only ones who could participate in the political process.

Transcription

Title in French
No. 1 Citoyen actif. Ta noblesse est donc dans ton habit. No. 2 citoyen passif. Prenez garde que ma patience ne m'échappe. No. 3 Vois tu que je suis noble No. 4 Je suis sous le rideau et je reponds de tout

Credits

Bibliothèque nationale de France, département Estampes et photographie, RESERVE QB-370 (22)-FT 4

How to Cite This Source

"Active Citizen/ Passive Citizen ," in World History Commons, https://worldhistorycommons.org/active-citizen-passive-citizen [accessed March 17, 2024]