Final answer:
Edmund Burke's main theme in his response to the French Revolution was a critique of the rapid changes it entailed, advocating for tradition and gradualism over radical reforms. Burke's conservative viewpoint clashed with the Enlightenment principles of natural rights, which did not originally include women or non-white persons. Although the Enlightenment and the French Revolution prompted discussions on equality, the actual application was limited.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main theme discussed in response to Edmund Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France is his critique of the Enlightenment-inspired principles and the radical changes brought about by the French Revolution. Burke argued for the importance of tradition and gradual change over sweeping reforms, cautioning against the idea of giving political power to the inexperienced masses. He believed that only traditions that have stood the test of time could preserve the social fabric. Philosophers during the Enlightenment, like John Locke, proposed that natural rights should be a guiding principle for society, suggesting that people are entitled to change a government that doesn't serve their needs. However, even though the era launched discussions about equality and natural rights, most Enlightenment thinkers did not include women or people of color in their vision of who should hold these rights.
Women's roles during the Enlightenment were complex and often contradictory. Figures like Émilie du Châtelet and Germaine de Staël were significantly influential, though broader societal acceptance of women's equality was limited. While the French Revolution's slogan Liberté, égalité, fraternité (liberty, equality, and brotherhood) embodied the spirit of Enlightenment, ultimately, many revolutionaries failed to extend these principles to women and other marginalized groups.