Primary Source
Active Citizen/ Passive Citizen
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