What Do Hierarchy and Equality Mean?

The terms left and right enter our political vocabulary with the french revolution, which kicks off in 17 89. The king of france had lost much of his authority as a result of succession of bungled crises, wars and famines. Delegates from all three of the traditional feudal era social orders gathered to make decisions about the present and future of France. Two major orientations emerged: those who wanted to maintain the monarchy and the traditional social order as much as possible, and those who want to move towards liberal enlightenment principles. And voila, the political left and right are born.