Editing Political spectrum (section)

== Historical origin of the terms ==
[[File:Estatesgeneral.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|The 5 May 1789 opening of the [[Estates General of 1789]] in Versailles]]
The terms ''right'' and ''left'' refer to political affiliations originating early in the French Revolutionary era of 1789–1799 and referred originally to the seating arrangements in the [[Glossary of the French Revolution#Governmental structures|various legislative bodies]] of [[France]].<ref name="Knapp5ed"/> As seen from the [[Speaker (politics)|Speaker]]'s seat at the front of the Assembly, the [[aristocracy]] sat on the right (traditionally the seat of honor) and the [[commoner]]s sat on the left, hence the terms [[right-wing politics]] and [[left-wing politics]].<ref name="Knapp5ed"/>

Originally, the defining point on the ideological spectrum was the ''[[Ancien Régime]]'' ("old order"). "The Right" thus implied support for aristocratic or royal interests and the church, while "The Left" implied support for [[republicanism]], [[secularism]] and [[civil liberties]].<ref name="Knapp5ed"/>