Crane Brinton’s Stages of Revolution

The revolution begins with a moderate phase led by the upper middle class and some elements of the aristocracy, during which a liberal, constitutional government is formed. That is, a constitution and a bill of rights are usually written, and a legislature is elected. The legislature shares power with a monarchy or an elected executive. After, unless there are already existing institutions and experience related to representative government, there is a loss of control to more ruthless leaders; demagogues who appeal to popular sentiment. More radical, and republican forms of government are attempted. The legislature, while usually elected, is dominated by a dictator or a dictatorial faction. This is the radical phase, which is usually accompanied by violence and terror, which evoke fear, conflict, and, sometimes, provoke foreign intervention. Lastly, instability and a demand for order lead to the counter-revolutionary phase, usually involving a return to power of the upper middle class and some elements of the aristocracy. If this government is unstable, the demand for order may result in the establishment of a dictatorship.

Stage 1 The state is economically weak.

The central government is ineffective and is not able to enforce rules.

New ideas circulate which challenge previous traditions.

Stage 2 The old social elites attempt to reassert their privileges.

Some disaster rallies the forces who oppose the revolution.

Some short-term event sparks a conflict.

Government is weak to revolt due to becoming too divided.

Stage 3 The moderates come to control and initiate changes.

Electorate expanded and constitution liberalized.

Stage 4 Moderates stop reforms at some point having achieved what they sought.

Radicals feel the moderates are not moving too far.

Radicals mobilize their supporters.

Stage 5 The radicals take control of the state and of the revolution.

The radicals initiate sweeping changes eliminating old institutions completely.

Stage 6 Opposition both foreign and domestic arise to challenge the radical control.

The radicals remove their opposition through violent methods.

Radicals seek to institutionalize their ideologies.

Stage 7 Moderates overthrow the radicals and reestablish a moderate regime.

Moderates repress the more radical element.

Moderates abandon many of the more radical reforms of the revolution.

Moderates lose touch with most of the population.

Stage 8 A leader, usually from the military, arises and focuses opposition to the moderates,

The leader seizes control of the government, often ruling through the army.

The leader establishes new, and effective institutions.

The revolution ends.

American Revolution and The Stages of Revolution Crane Brinton, an American historian during the early to mid 20th century, wrote about the 3 stages of revolutions, plus a pre-stage. These stages relate very well to most of the Atlantic revolutions, and here we will be discussing the American Revolution and how it relates to Brinton's stages of revolution.

Preliminary Stage

Taxes

Brinton stated that one of the factors contributing to a regime that will inevitably be overthrown is if it has economic issues and must tax its citizens more. This is evident in the American revolution because the British government was in debt from the French and Indian War. They decided to obtain money for this debt by introducing new taxes in the colonies, which contributed many colonists to be discontent with British rule.

Poor Ruler Brinton also stated that an inadequate ruler is another element of old regimes in which revolutions take place. The colonists felt that King George III was not a fair ruler. As he started to lose consent of the people, this led to the eventual start of the American Revolution.

Rallying support of intellectuals who transfer loyalty and reformers.

Another important sign of a regime about to endure a revolution is when intellectuals or other socially high ranking people begin to support causes against the current government. Many of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America were relatively wealthy landowners.

Quiz Who was the main author of the Declaration of Independence?

a. John Adams b.Thomas Jefferson c.George Washington d.Donald Trump

Symbolic Actions

Additionally, symbolic actions that represented the people's resentment of the old regime was another important part of the preliminary stage. In the American Revolution, these actions included the boycotting of British goods, the Boston Tea Party, and more.

Did you know? The amount of tea thrown into the Boston Harbor on December 16, 1773, was around 340 chest of tea, weighing a collective total of about 92,000 pounds. That tea would be worth over $1,500,000, by today's standards.

Stage 1: Rule of the Moderates

Protests and Dramatic Events Arise At this point, many colonists are frustrated with British rule and are willing to do something about it. This leads to protests, boycotts, and dramatic events such as the Boston Massacre.

Did you know? In the famous Boston "Massacre", only 5 people were killed. However it was named the Boston Massacre in order to scandalize the British and rally support for the revolutionist movement.

Moderates Gain Power

Moderates are revolutionaries that are fighting for a change but do not desire the complete upheaval of the nation. In the beginning stages of the American Revolution, not many radicals were present and most were fighting for change rather than the complete abandonment of British rule and identifying as British people.

Radicals and Radical Ideas Emerge

During this time, many people start to realize that they would rather completely separate from Britain than simply force changes to be made. Later these ideas would become more prominent.

Revolutionaries Turn to the Mob

At this point, the majority of the colonists were supporting revolutionary movements. Many of them taking the next step and moved from simply protesting to joining state militias or the Continental Army.

Quiz Volunteer soldiers that were known for being ready in a minute's notice

a. Minute fighters b. Continental Militiamen c. Minutemen d. The Jonas Brothers

Stage 2: Rule of the Radicals Radical Ideas Become Dominant

In many revolutions, the moderates/conservatives were disposed of violently and replaced with more radical leaders. This was not the case with the Founding Fathers of America however, as they simply shifted their attention from reforms to independence

Civil War

The next important step in a revolution is civil war. The conflict transitioned from small, unorganized uprisings in the colonies to full-out warfare, with two organized armies going head-to-head.

Quiz Who was the leader of the Continental Army?

a. George Washington b. John Hancock c. Thomas Jefferson d. Kanye West

Council Takes Control

In the American Revolution, many councils were held to help guide the young nation including the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention.

Conflict and Punishment of Non-Patriots Many loyalists, (colonists loyal to the British crown) received terrible treatment from Patriots and for Loyalists who did not fight with the British, they and their families were always at risk.

Stage 3: Decline of Radical Ideas?

In any other revolutions, radicals would eventually be killed or overthrown, but it played out a little differently for the United States. After the conclusion of the war, the Founding Fathers kept most of their radical ideas in mind when forming the new country. Focusing on localized and smaller-scale government was very radical at the time.

Political Instability

In the years following the American Revolution, there was a struggle to create a government that fit with the ideas of the revolution while still being effective. An example of this struggle would be the Articles of Confederation, the first universal document of law for the United States. This plan gave too much power to states and created a federal government that was too weak to function properly.

Newfound Nationalism

Americans had a new sense of nationalism and pride for their nation. This nationalism is still evident today,

Return to Peace/Stability, and a New Way of Life The Constitutional Convention was held to create a new system of government for the United States. The Constitution brought its doubts, but in the end proved itself effective and is still the USA's most important document. Share

French Revolution (1789 - 1815) Stages of Revolution The French Revolution went through four stages according to Crane Brinton: the Preliminary Stage, the First Stage, the Second Stage, and the Third Stage.

The Preliminary Stage: The Old Regime

Economically Weak - The Government Has Deficits and Must Tax

The state of France during the second half of the 18th century was not in good shape. France was on the brink of bankruptcy and was drowning in debt due to involvement in international events (i.e. American Revolution).

Inflation was becoming a threat to those of the lower social classes with little social mobility.

The government begins to create new tax reforms after King Louis XVI called to make the tax system more efficient.

Government Inefficiency; Cannot Enforce Policy

Certain inefficiencies existed in France at this time, and these included the fact that the members of the upper classes and nobility (clergy, nobles, etc.) did not have to pay taxes even as they held most of the wealth.

The king called the opening of the Estates General (meeting of the three estates) in 1789 to allow each estate to vote on a final tax reform.

The first two estates (clergy and nobility) outvoted the Third Estate, even though the Third Estate consisted of 98% of the population.

This caused social unrest between the Third Estate and the king.

Symbolic Actions - There Is A Rallying Point Against The Old Regime As the Third Estate rallied against the king and the rest of the estates, they broke

away and formed the National Assembly. The National Assembly created and agreed upon the Tennis Court Oath - an oath

that enforced that they wouldn't give up until they created a new constitution for France. The National Assembly created the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen in

the August of 1789.

Did you know? The Tennis Court Oath was actually signed within an indoor tennis court!

The division of the Three Estates of France (18th century).

First Stage: Rule Of The Moderates

Revolutionary Underground Exists

Since the drafting and spread of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen (1789), the revolutionary spirit was spreading within the majority of the population (90%+).

Government stress and/or shutdown was imminent as King Louis XVI sent troops throughout Versailles to stop any protests.

The Enlightenment ideals that were interpolated in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen were spreading and being believed.

Turning To The Mob

The Fall of Bastille (a prison) occurred in the July of 1789 when a mob stormed the building not only to free any prisoners, but to gain weapons and riot material from a nearby armory.

During The Great Fear, peasants began to attack the homes and properties of their landowners and many civilians kept arming themselves for more revolution.

The March on Versailles was a protest mainly led by women that occurred due to unrest about food and money shortages.

Moderates Gain Power "Peacefully"

The French Constitution of 1791 set up a unicameral legislation, but it still set kept a constitutional monarchy.

King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were detained for treasonous acts.

In 1792, the French Republic was established as a democratic society. During this time period, universal male suffrage was passed.

Did you know? Marietta, Ohio is a location in the U.S. that was named after the French queen Marie Antoinette in 1788!

Second Stage: Rule Of The Radicals

Attempt Is Made To Kill The Original Ruler

After King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were arrested in 1791, they were forced to move back to Paris.

The king feared further spread of violence and he still did not accept the Declaration or the Constitution.

After the French Republic (est. 1792) formed under another new constitution, it had placed the king and queen under trial and they were later declared guilty.

King Louis XVI was accused of treason and was executed in public by guillotine in 1793. The queen, Marie Antoinette, would eventually be executed by guillotine in the following years.

Forced Conformity Or Punishment

The Committee of Public Safety, led by Maximilien Robespierre, was intended to unite the population and prevent further dangerous breakout of conflict (1792 - 1794).

Traitors and loyalists were executed or exiled during this timeframe by guillotine.

At least 40,000 people were killed.

Foreign War

As France is still trying to stabilize itself from major internal unrest, a military leader by the name of Napoleon Bonaparte seizes control of the government by what is known as a coup d'etat in 1799.

Napoleon's conquests from 1799-1815 occurred due to his aim to spread the ideals of the French Revolution. France goes to war with Austria, Britain, and Russia.

By 1812, France's empire controlled most of Europe.

Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo in 1815 resulted in an "end" to the French Revolution. Over time, conquered countries earned their freedom and prominence back.

Did you know? Napoleon House is a house in New Orleans that was built after Napoleon Bonaparte.

Third Stage: Recovery Slow, Uneven Return To Quieter Times

Nobles return to France, however they have less power than the nobles that existed before the revolution.

Return of the Catholic Church with less involvement in government and less access to representative rights.

Restore of constitutional monarchy after Napoleon's end in 1815.

Aggressive Nationalism

Consistence of universality of rights from the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen.

French Revolutionary ideals that were spread by Napoleon

(end of feudalism, school, liberty, religion) were still kept within the society.

France remained a major power in Europe within the 1800s

and influenced the Haitian Revolution.

Radical's Are Put Down And Suppressed

Execution of tyrant Maximilien Robespierre after he was accused of leading France into autocracy.

Exile of Napoleon Bonaparte after his defeat at Waterloo to an island in the South Atlantic.

The Moderates get rid of the National Assembly.

In summary, the French Revolution was a crucial series of events that shaped what France would be

Haitian Revolution (1791 - 1804) Stages of Revolution