It was the best of times, It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of it was the age of foolishness, foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of it was the epoch of incredulity…incredulity…

-- Charles Dickens-- Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities A Tale of Two Cities

The French Monarchy:The French Monarchy:1775 - 17931775 - 1793

Marie Antoinette & Louis Marie Antoinette & Louis XVIXVI

Marie Marie AntoinetAntoinet

te te and the and the Royal Royal

ChildrenChildren

Marie Antoinette’sMarie Antoinette’s“Peasant Cottage”“Peasant Cottage”

Marie Antoinette’sMarie Antoinette’s“Peasant Cottage”“Peasant Cottage”

The Necklace The Necklace ScandalScandal

1,600,000 1,600,000 livreslivres

[$100 million today][$100 million today]

““Let Them Eat Let Them Eat Cake!”Cake!”

Y Marie Antoinette NEVER said that!Marie Antoinette NEVER said that!

Y ““Madame Deficit”Madame Deficit”

Y ““The Austrian Whore”The Austrian Whore”

Crane Brinton’s Crane Brinton’s Anatomy of a RevolutionAnatomy of a Revolution

Y He compares a revolution to a He compares a revolution to a fever or a disease:fever or a disease:

The revolutionary “fever” The revolutionary “fever” begins with the appearance of begins with the appearance of certain “symptoms.”certain “symptoms.”

It proceeds by advances and It proceeds by advances and retreats to a crisis stage, or retreats to a crisis stage, or “delirium.”“delirium.”

The crisis ends when the The crisis ends when the “fever” breaks.“fever” breaks.

A period of convalescence A period of convalescence follows, interrupted by a follows, interrupted by a relapse or two before the relapse or two before the recovery is complete.recovery is complete.

Let us describe the progression of an illness like the flu.

If we look at the specific traits that these stages could share with other illnesses…?

What differences are there between the beginning, theheight of, and the end, of the flu?

If we use illness as a metaphor for revolution we may be able to understand better the mechanism for change..

Convalescence

Crisis Stage

Symptomatic Stage

Incubation Stage

FEVER MODEL OF REVOLUTION

Much like an illness, revolutions can also be studied in stages

Convalescence

Crisis Stage

Symptomatic Stage

Incubation Stage

This stage in an illness is when the cause of the sickness first comes

into contact with the individual, infecting them, but not yet causing

any symptoms to present themselves.

What would this stage be like in a revolution?

In a revolution, this stage would involve the political, social, intellectual,

or economic causes. In some cases, these causes could fester for

many years before showing themselves in the form of actualrevolutionary action.

This stage in an illness is when sickness starts to affect the person

in observable ways…temperature may rise, a cough might present

itself. The individual might become weak and queasy.

What would this stage be like in a revolution?

Convalescence

Crisis Stage

Symptomatic Stage

Incubation Stage

In a revolution, this stage would be the first to involve directaction resulting from the social, political, intellectual, or

economiccauses of the incubation stage. This stage might involve the

publicationof works calling for a change, street level riots by the

common people,or more direct attempts at changing the society.

Crisis Stage

Convalescence

Symptomatic Stage

Incubation Stage

In a revolution, this stage would be the make or break part of the

struggle. It may involve conflict where sides for and againstthe revolution compete. This competition could take the form

of debate or full-scale war. Successful revolutions survive this

stage.Those that do not are usually considered failed rebellions.

This is the critical stage in an illness where two things can happen.

The individual either breaks the fever after a heightened stage

of illness or the individual gets progressively worse and does not

recover.

Convalescence

Crisis Stage

Symptomatic Stage

Incubation Stage

This stage involves recovering from the illness. The individual might

be weakened from the experience, but he or she will eventually

emerge healthy and with new knowledge and experience that might

prevent the illness from occurring again.What would this stage be like in a revolution?

In a revolution, this stage would involve recovering from the extreme

disruptions of the crisis stage. In general, the political, social,

intellectual, or economic causes of the revolution must be addressed in

some way, though not necessarily to the satisfaction of allrevolutionaries.

Crane Brinton: Conditions Crane Brinton: Conditions Present Before a Revolution Present Before a Revolution

OccursOccurs1.1. People from all social classes are People from all social classes are discontented.discontented.

2.2. People feel restless and held down by People feel restless and held down by unacceptable restrictions in society, religion, unacceptable restrictions in society, religion, the economy or the govt.the economy or the govt.

3.3. People are hopeful about the future, but they People are hopeful about the future, but they are being forced to accept less than they had are being forced to accept less than they had hoped for.hoped for.

4.4. People are beginning to think of themselves People are beginning to think of themselves as belonging to a social class, and there is a as belonging to a social class, and there is a growing bitterness between social classes.growing bitterness between social classes.

5.5. The social classes closest to one another are The social classes closest to one another are the most hostile.the most hostile.

Crane Brinton: Conditions Crane Brinton: Conditions Present Before a Revolution Present Before a Revolution

OccursOccurs6.6. The scholars and thinkers give up on the way The scholars and thinkers give up on the way their society operates.their society operates.

7.7. The government does not respond to the The government does not respond to the needs of its society.needs of its society.

8.8. The leaders of the government and the ruling The leaders of the government and the ruling class begin to doubt themselves. Some join class begin to doubt themselves. Some join with the opposition groups.with the opposition groups.

9.9. The government is unable to get enough The government is unable to get enough support from any group to save itself.support from any group to save itself.

10.10. The government cannot organize its finances The government cannot organize its finances correctly and is either going bankrupt or trying correctly and is either going bankrupt or trying to tax heavily and unjustly.to tax heavily and unjustly.

Socio-Economic Data, Socio-Economic Data, 17891789

The French Urban PoorThe French Urban Poor

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

% of Income Spent on Bread

1787

1788

a Urban Commoner’sUrban Commoner’sBudget:Budget:

– Food 80%Food 80%– Rent 25%Rent 25%– Tithe 10%Tithe 10%– Taxes 35%Taxes 35%– Clothing 20%Clothing 20%– TOTAL 170%TOTAL 170%

a King’s Budget:King’s Budget:– Interest 50%Interest 50%– Army 25%Army 25%– Versailles 25%Versailles 25%– Coronation 10%Coronation 10%– Loans 25%Loans 25%– Admin. 25%Admin. 25%– TOTAL 160%TOTAL 160%

Financial ProblemsFinancial Problemsin France, 1789in France, 1789

French Budget, 1774French Budget, 1774

Where is the tax Where is the tax money?money?

Ancien Regime… Map, Ancien Regime… Map, 17891789

Commoners3rd Estate

Aristocracy

2nd Estate

Clergy1st Estate

The Suggested Voting Pattern:The Suggested Voting Pattern:Voting by EstatesVoting by Estates

1

1

1

Louis XIV insisted that Louis XIV insisted that the ancient distinction of the the ancient distinction of the three orders be conserved in its entirety.three orders be conserved in its entirety.

Commoners3rd Estate

Aristocracy2nd Estate

Clergy1st Estate

The Number of The Number of RepresentativesRepresentatives

in the Estates General: Vote by in the Estates General: Vote by Head!Head!300

300

648

Emmanuel Joseph SieyesEmmanuel Joseph Sieyes

11stst What is the Third What is the Third Estate? Estate? Everything!Everything!22ndnd What has it been What has it been heretofore in the heretofore in the political order? political order? Nothing! Nothing!33rdrd What does it What does it demand?demand? To become To become somethingsomething therein! therein!

Abbé SieyèsAbbé Sieyès1748-18361748-1836

Convening the Estates Convening the Estates General General

May, 1789May, 1789

Last time it was called into session was Last time it was called into session was 1614!1614!

““The Third Estate The Third Estate Awakens”Awakens”Y The commoners finally presented their credentials The commoners finally presented their credentials

not as delegates of the Third Estate, but as not as delegates of the Third Estate, but as “representatives of the nation.”“representatives of the nation.”

Y They proclaimed themselves the They proclaimed themselves the “National “National Assembly”Assembly” of France. of France.

““The Tennis Court Oath”The Tennis Court Oath”by Jacques Louis Davidby Jacques Louis David

June 20, 1789June 20, 1789

Europe on the Eve of theEurope on the Eve of theFrench RevolutionFrench Revolution

Storming the Bastille, Storming the Bastille, July July 14, 178914, 1789

Y A rumor that the king was planning a military A rumor that the king was planning a military coup against the National Assembly.coup against the National Assembly.

Y 18 died.18 died.

Y 73 wounded.73 wounded.

Y 7 guards 7 guards killed.killed.

Y It held 7 It held 7 prisoners prisoners [5 ordinary [5 ordinary criminals & 2 criminals & 2 madmen].madmen].

Crane Brinton: The Course Crane Brinton: The Course that Revolutions Seem to that Revolutions Seem to

TakeTake1.1. Impossible demands made of Impossible demands made of

government which, if granted, would government which, if granted, would mean its end.mean its end.

2.2. Unsuccessful government attempts to Unsuccessful government attempts to suppress revolutionaries.suppress revolutionaries.

3.3. Revolutionaries gain power and seem Revolutionaries gain power and seem united.united.

4.4. Once in power, revolutionaries begin to Once in power, revolutionaries begin to quarrel among themselves, and unity quarrel among themselves, and unity begins to dissolve.begins to dissolve.

5.5. The moderates gain the leadership but The moderates gain the leadership but fail to satisfy those who insist on further fail to satisfy those who insist on further changes.changes.

Crane Brinton: The Course Crane Brinton: The Course that Revolutions Seem to that Revolutions Seem to

TakeTake6.6. Power is gained by progressively more Power is gained by progressively more

radical groups until finally a lunatic radical groups until finally a lunatic fringe gains almost complete control.fringe gains almost complete control.

7.7. A strong man emerges and assumes A strong man emerges and assumes great power.great power.

8.8. The extremists try to create a “heaven-The extremists try to create a “heaven-on-earth” by introducing their whole on-earth” by introducing their whole program and by punishing all of their program and by punishing all of their opponents.opponents.

9.9. A period of terror [extreme violence] A period of terror [extreme violence] occurs.occurs.

10.10. Moderate groups regain power. THE Moderate groups regain power. THE REVOLUTION IS OVER!REVOLUTION IS OVER!

The Great Fear: Peasant The Great Fear: Peasant Revolt Revolt (July 20, 1789)(July 20, 1789)

Y Rumors that the feudal aristocracy [the Rumors that the feudal aristocracy [the aristosaristos] ] were sending hired brigands to attack peasants were sending hired brigands to attack peasants and pillage their land.and pillage their land.

The The PathPath

of theof the“Great“GreatFear”Fear”

Night Session of August Night Session of August 4, 17894, 1789

Y Before the night was over:Before the night was over: The feudal regime in France had The feudal regime in France had

been abolished.been abolished.

All Frenchmen were, at least in All Frenchmen were, at least in principle, subject to the same principle, subject to the same laws and the same taxes and laws and the same taxes and eligible for the same offices.eligible for the same offices.

Equality & Meritocracy!Equality & Meritocracy! Equality & Meritocracy!Equality & Meritocracy!

National Constituent National Constituent Assembly…1789 - 1791Assembly…1789 - 1791

August DecreesAugust DecreesAugust 4-11, 1789August 4-11, 1789

(A renunciation of aristocratic (A renunciation of aristocratic privileges!)privileges!)

Liberté!Liberté!Egalité!Egalité!

Fraternité!Fraternité!

The Tricolor (1789)The Tricolor (1789)

The WHITE of the The WHITE of the Bourbons + the RED Bourbons + the RED

& BLUE of Paris.& BLUE of Paris.

Citizen!Citizen!

The Tricolor is the The Tricolor is the Fashion!Fashion!

The “Liberty Cap”: The “Liberty Cap”: Bonne Bonne RougeRouge

Revolutionary SymbolsRevolutionary Symbols

CockadeCockade

Revolutionary Revolutionary ClockClock

La RepublicLa RepublicLibertéLiberté

Revolutionary Playing Revolutionary Playing CardsCards

The Declaration of the The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Rights of Man and of the

CitizenCitizenAugust 26, August 26,

17891789

V Liberty!Liberty!

V Property!Property!

V Resistance to Resistance to oppression!oppression!

March of the Women,March of the Women,October 5-6, 1789October 5-6, 1789

We want the baker, the baker’s wife We want the baker, the baker’s wife and the baker’s boy!and the baker’s boy!

A spontaneous demonstration of Parisian A spontaneous demonstration of Parisian women for bread.women for bread.

The “October The “October Days” Days” (1789)(1789)

The king was thought to be surrounded by evil The king was thought to be surrounded by evil advisors at Versailles so he was forced to advisors at Versailles so he was forced to move to Paris and reside at the move to Paris and reside at the Tuileries Tuileries

PalacePalace..

Planting the Tree of Planting the Tree of LibertyLiberty

17901790

Sir Edmund Burke Sir Edmund Burke (1790):(1790):

Reflections on the Revolution in Reflections on the Revolution in FranceFrance

The conservative The conservative response to the French response to the French

RevolutionRevolution

How to Finance the New How to Finance the New Govt.?Govt.?

1.1. Confiscate Church Lands Confiscate Church Lands (1790)(1790)

One of the most controversial decisions of the One of the most controversial decisions of the entire revolutionary period.entire revolutionary period.

2.2. Print Print AssignatsAssignats2.2. Print Print

AssignatsAssignats

V Issued by the National Constituent Assembly.Issued by the National Constituent Assembly.V Interest-bearing notes which had the church lands Interest-bearing notes which had the church lands

as security.as security.

Depreciation of the Depreciation of the AssignatAssignat

V Whoever acquired them were entitled to Whoever acquired them were entitled to certain privileges in the purchase of church certain privileges in the purchase of church land.land.

V The state would retire the notes as the land The state would retire the notes as the land was sold.was sold.

V They began circulating as paper currency.They began circulating as paper currency. Government printed more Government printed more INFLATIONINFLATION [they [they

lost 99% of their value ultimately].lost 99% of their value ultimately]. Therefore, future governments paid off their Therefore, future governments paid off their

creditors with cheap money.creditors with cheap money.

Louis XVI “Accepts” the Louis XVI “Accepts” the Constitution Constitution

& the National Assembly. 1791& the National Assembly. 1791

Constitution of 1791Constitution of 1791

The French Constitution of The French Constitution of 1791:1791:

A Bourgeois GovernmentA Bourgeois GovernmentV The king got the The king got the “suspend” veto“suspend” veto

[which prevented the passage of laws [which prevented the passage of laws for 4 years].for 4 years].

He could not pass laws.He could not pass laws. His ministers were responsible for their His ministers were responsible for their

own actions.own actions.

V A permanent, elected, single chamber A permanent, elected, single chamber National Assembly.National Assembly.

Had the power to grant taxation.Had the power to grant taxation.

V An independent judiciary.An independent judiciary.

The French Constitution of 1791:The French Constitution of 1791:A Bourgeois GovernmentA Bourgeois Government

V ““Active” CitizenActive” Citizen [who pays taxes [who pays taxes amounting to 3 days labor] could vote amounting to 3 days labor] could vote vs. vs. “Passive” Citizen“Passive” Citizen..

1/3 of adult males were denied the 1/3 of adult males were denied the franchise.franchise.

Domestic servants were also Domestic servants were also excludedexcluded..V A newly elected A newly elected LEGISLATIVE LEGISLATIVE

ASSEMBLYASSEMBLY..

GOALGOAL Make sure that the Make sure that the country was not turned over to country was not turned over to

the mob!the mob!

GOALGOAL Make sure that the Make sure that the country was not turned over to country was not turned over to

the mob!the mob!

83 Revolutionary 83 Revolutionary DepartmentsDepartments

February 26, 1790February 26, 1790

The Royal Family Attempts to The Royal Family Attempts to FleeFlee

Y June, 1791June, 1791

Y Helped by the Swedish Count Hans Helped by the Swedish Count Hans Axel von Fusen [Marie Antoinette’s Axel von Fusen [Marie Antoinette’s lover].lover].

Y Headed toward the Headed toward the LuxembourgLuxembourgborder.border.

Y The King wasThe King wasrecognized atrecognized atVarennes, nearVarennes, nearthe borderthe border

Olympe de Gouges Olympe de Gouges (1745-(1745-1793)1793)

Declaration of Declaration of the Rights of the Rights of

WomanWomanand of the and of the

Citizen Citizen (1791)(1791)

Declaration of Declaration of the Rights of the Rights of

WomanWomanand of the and of the

Citizen Citizen (1791)(1791)

V Women played a Women played a vital role in the vital role in the Revolution.Revolution.

V But, But, The Declaration The Declaration of the Rights of Manof the Rights of Man did NOT extend the did NOT extend the rights and rights and protections of protections of citizenship to citizenship to women.women.

The First Coalition against the The First Coalition against the revolution… &revolution… &

TheThe Brunswick ManifestoBrunswick Manifesto(August 3, 1792)(August 3, 1792)

FRANCEFRANCE1792

-1797

1792-

1797AUSTRIAAUSTRIAPRUSSIAPRUSSIABRITAINBRITAINSPAINSPAINPIEDMONTPIEDMONT

Duke of BrunswickDuke of Brunswick if the Royal Family is if the Royal Family is harmed,harmed, Paris will be leveled!! Paris will be leveled!!

This military crisis undermined the new This military crisis undermined the new Legislative Assembly.Legislative Assembly.

French Soldiers & the French Soldiers & the Tricolor:Tricolor:

ViveVive Le Patrie!Le Patrie!V The French armies The French armies were ill-prepared for were ill-prepared for the conflict.the conflict.

V ½ of the officer ½ of the officer corps had corps had emigrated.emigrated.

V Many men disserted.Many men disserted.

V New recruits were New recruits were enthusiastic, butenthusiastic, butill-trained.ill-trained.

V French troops often French troops often broke ranks and fled broke ranks and fled in disorder.in disorder.

French Expansion: French Expansion: 1791-17991791-1799