What is a Revolution?

Why do people Rebel ?

When is a Revolution successful?

Revolution

‘A drastic, sudden substitution of one group in charge of a territorial political entity by another group hitherto not running that government.’ (Crane Brinton,The Anatomy of Revolution, p. 4)

Crane Brinton’s Anatomy of a Revolution

• He borrowed his terms from pathology.

• Compares a revolution to a disease.

FEVER MODEL OF REVOLUTION

Crisis Stage Symptomatic Stage Convalescence Incubation Stage

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

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?

Crisis Stage Symptomatic Stage Convalescence Incubation Stage 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 actual revolutionary action.

Sickness



affects person in observable ways



Temp may rise; cough might present ; individual might become weak & queasy. What would this stage be like in a revolution?

Crisis Stage Incubation Stage Symptomatic Stage Convalescence 1 st part to involve direct action resulting from social, political, intellectual, or economic causes of incubation stage. Might involve the publication of works calling for a change, street level riots by common people, or more direct attempts at changing society.

Critical stage



2 things can happen



individual either breaks the fever after a heightened stage of illness OR gets progressively worse & does not recover. What would this stage be like in a revolution?

Crisis Stage Symptomatic Stage Convalescence Incubation Stage Make or break part of struggle. May involve conflict where sides for & against revolution compete. (could take the form of debate or full-scale war) Successful revolutions survive this stage those that don’t are failed rebellions.

Recovery from illness. Individual might be weakened from experience, but he or she will eventually emerge healthy & w/ new knowledge & experience that might prevent illness from occurring again.

What would this stage be like in a revolution?

Crisis Stage Symptomatic Stage Convalescence Incubation Stage Recovery from the extreme disruptions of crisis stage. Political, social, intellectual, or economic causes of revolution must be addressed in some way, though not necessarily to satisfaction of all revolutionaries.

Conditions Present Before a Revolution Takes Place

1) People from all social classes are discontented.

2) People feel restless & held down by unacceptable restrictions in society, religion, & the economy or gov’t 3) People are hopeful about the future, but are being forced to accept less than they had hoped for 4) People are beginning to think of themselves as belonging to a social class, & there is bitterness b/t social classes 5) Social classes closest to each other are the most hostile

Conditions Present Before a Revolution Takes Place

6) Scholars & thinkers give up on the way their society operates 7) Gov’t does not respond to needs of its society 8) Leaders of gov’t & ruling class begin to doubt themselves  some join w/ opposition groups 9) Gov’t is unable to get enough support from any group to save itself.

10) Gov’t cannot organize its finances correctly & is either going bankrupt or trying to tax heavily & unjustly.

The Course that Revolutions Seem to Take

1) Impossible demands made of government which, if granted, would mean its end 2) Unsuccessful gov’t attempts to suppress revolutionaries 3) Revolutionaries gain power & seem united 4) Once in power, revolutionaries begin to quarrel among themselves, & unity begins to dissolves 5) Moderates gain the leadership but fail to satisfy those who insist on further changes

The Course that Revolutions Seem to Take

6) Power is gained by progressively more radical groups until finally a lunatic fringe gains almost complete control 7) Strong man emerges & assumes great power 8) Extremists try to create a “heaven-on-earth” by introducing their whole program & punishing all of their opponents 9) Period of terror or extreme violence occurs 10) Moderate groups regain power.

THE REVOLUTION IS OVER!!!!

Inciting Revolution

Camille Desmoulins was a French revolutionary leader and journalist who wrote pamphlets and journals to express his views on the revolution. He also spoke to Parisian crowds and his stirring speeches in 1789 were a cause of the storming of the Bastille prison on July 14, 1789. This excerpt is from one of his speeches, “Better to Die than not Live Free”:

“In a democracy, though the people may be deceived, yet they at least love virtue. It is merit which they believe they put in power as substitutes for the rascals who are the very essence of monarchies. The vices, concealments, and crimes which are the diseases of republics are the very health and existence of monarchies.”

The French Revolution

Application of the Fever Model

Social Classes

• In 1789, France’s society was based on a system created in the Middle Ages. • The ancien régime separated everyone in French society into one of three estates

Estates 1 and 2

• The first two estates enjoyed most of the wealth and privileges of France.

The Church

• Owned 10 percent of the land • Collected tithes • Paid no direct taxes to the state

The nobility

• Had right to top jobs in government, the army, the courts, and the Church • Paid no taxes

Causes - Incubation

• Social Inequality - three estates – Three estates – First Estate (upper clergy) - 1% of population, taxed peasants – Second Estate (nobles) - 2-3% of population, paid no taxes, taxed peasants – Third Estate (Bourgeoisie, peasants, workers) - paid up to 1/2 of income in taxes

Socio-Economic Data, 1789

People in Estate High Clergy & Priests People in Estate Nobility People in Estate Bourgeoisie (Middle Class) Peasants Doctors Merchants Professionals

The Estates

Firs t Esta te 1% Second Estate 2% Third Estate 97% Rights Paid NO Taxes Rights Paid NO Taxes Rights Paid ALL Taxes NO Privileges

The French Urban Poor

30 20 10 0 80 70 60 50 40 % of Income Spent on Bread 1787 1788

Financial Problems in France, 1789

Urban Commoner ’ s Budget: – Food 80% – Rent 25% – Tithe 10% – Taxes 35% – Clothing 20% – TOTAL 170% King ’ s Budget: – Interest 50% – Army 25% – Versailles 25% – Coronation 10% – Loans 25% – Admin. 25% – TOTAL 160%

Third Estate Resents Existing Social Order

• As Enlightenment ideas spread among the Third Estate, many began to question the ancien régime.

• Even wealthy members of the bourgeoisie did not have access to the best government positions.

• Urban workers earned pitiful wages and faced starvation whenever the price of bread rose.

• Rural peasants owed fees and services that dated back to feudal times.

Economic troubles lead to social unrest and heightened tensions.

• Bad harvests in the 1780s made it harder to recoup this money.

• Years of deficit spending had put the government deeply in debt. • The money had been spent on: – Louis XIV’s lavish court – the Seven Years’ War – support for Patriots in the American Revolution – rising costs of goods and services

Financial Crisis Worsens

• To solve the financial crisis, the government had to increase taxes, reduce expenses, or both.

• The first two estates resisted any attempts to make them pay taxes.

• Louis XV ran up more debt.

• Louis XVI was weak but attempted some economic reforms.

Causes - Incubation

• Economic Crisis – French economy bankrupt – Wars, Louis XVI lifestyle – Nobles not taxed – Crop failures – Debt - 1/2 budget goes to interest – Bourgeoisie begin questioning King

The Estates-General

• The pressure for reforms mounted, but the powerful classes demanded that the king summon a meeting of the Estates General.

• The nobles hoped that the Estates General could bring the absolute monarch under their control and guarantee their own privileges.

Third-Estate Meets

• Many delegates from the Third Estate wanted to solve the financial crisis, but insisted on reforms.

• Before the meeting, Louis had all the estates prepare cahiers listing their grievances.

– Fairer taxes!

– Freedom of the press!

– Regular meetings of the Estates General!

Modern Stage – Symptoms

• King Louis XVI was a weak leader – Called a meeting of the Estates General – Representatives from all three estates – To change unfair tax system – Fight over voting system

The Suggested Voting Pattern: Voting by Estates Clergy

1st Estate

Aristocracy

2nd Estate

Commoners

3rd Estate

Louis XIV insisted that

the ancient distinction of the three orders be conserved in its entirety.

Estates Vote

• The voting system created a stalemate, because each estate traditionally met separately and had one vote. • The Third Estate moved to create a fairer system in which the three estates met together and votes were counted by heads rather than estates.

1 vote First Estate 1 vote Second Estate 1 vote Third Estate

How the Revolution started

• Third Estate has little power in the Estates General – always outvoted – Want a change in the government • More political power for the 3 rd Estates • Third Estates delegates are locked out of the meeting – Decide to meet across the street

Tennis Court Oath

• In June 1789, after weeks of stalemate, members of the Third Estate declared themselves to be the National Assembly and the true representatives of the people.

• They were locked out of their meeting hall and moved to a nearby tennis court.

• The members of the National Assembly took the Tennis Court Oath. • They pledged to continue meeting until a constitution was established.

How the Revolution started

• Tennis Court Oath-set up a constitution – Members of the Third Estate formed the National Assembly

Moderate Stage - Symptoms

• National Assembly declared (June 20, 1789)

Reforms Are Made

• Some reform-minded clergy and nobles joined the Third Estate in the National Assembly.

• Louis XVI was forced to accept the new body.

• But when royal troops gathered in Paris, rumors spread that the king planned to dissolve the National Assembly.

Moderate Stage - Symptoms

• Bastille stormed (July 14, 1789) in response to king mobilizing Swiss troops

The Bastille is Stormed!

• A crowd gathered outside the prison to demand weapons they thought were stored there.

• The commander fired on the crowd, killing many. • The mob broke through, freeing prisoners but finding no weapons.

• The fall of the Bastille challenged the existence of the ancien régime.

Moderate Stage - Symptoms

• Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen (Aug., 1789) – Influenced by America – Equality of all men, sovereignty resided in the people, and individual rights to libery, prosperity, and security • March of the Women (Oct., 1789) – Food protests turn into march to Versailles – King forced to move to Paris

Moderate Stage - Symptoms

• Reforms on National Assembly – “Liberty, equality, fraternity” - motto – Dismantled feudal system – Seized Church lands – Abolished estates – Creates Constitution of 1791 - limits power of king (constitutional monarchy) – Men of property could vote

Radical Stage - Crisis

• Prussian and Austrian invasion of France • French Republic established - King dethroned, the Convention set up • Large scale draft • King tried and executed

Radical Stage - Crisis

• Robespierre / Jacobians take control of the Convention • Committee of Public Safety oversees the Reign of Terror (40,000 people executed, 300,000 arrested) • Tried to eliminate influence of the church

Moderate - Convalescence

• Convention arrests Robespierre - executes him • The Directory takes over – Committee of five conservative men – Tries to find middle ground – Military successes outside of France – Domestically, still many problems • Napoleon stages

coup

, imposes new constitution - declares himself first consul • What do you think is the reaction of the French?