expand his horizons and friendships, to include many of the philosophers of the time. These friendships helped him to get elected to the House of Commons in 1765. During this period he began to express his ideas on serving as a representative. He felt that representatives should not only consider the views of their constituents but should use their best judgment even if it disagrees with those they serve. The following describes this in Burkes own words. “It is his duty to sacrifice his repose, his pleasures to theirs; and above all, ever and in all cases to prefer their own interest to his own. Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgement; and he betrays instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion,”.6
An important event for Burke as he expanded his political philosophies was the American Revolution. He felt they should stay English colonies, but that England should give them more respect and representation. When England did not provide the colonies with the independence they wanted, he supported their revolution. Burke delivered a speech in March of 1775 to articulate his feelings on how the English Government should handle the American Colonies. He wanted peace with them and felt that England should more or less give them what they wanted. He much admired their philosophies of government and their fortitude. The following gives some indication of how he felt from that speech. “Their idea of liberty was specific and concretely expressed in their popular assemblies and resistance to taxation, and was invigorated by dissenting religion... The American people as a whole, and especially their legislators, were imbued with a study of the English common law.”7 This speech continued to put forth his philosophies on when nature takes over and helps to form governments.
In 1790, he wrote Reflections on the Revolution in France. This publication is considered his defining writing that details...