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You say you want a revolution. . .

You say you want a revolution. HUM 2052: Civilization II Spring 2014 Dr. Perdigao February 10-12, 2014. Evolutions and Revolutions. History of ideas, texts, contexts, ideologies Candide (1759): French Revolution (1789)

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You say you want a revolution. . .

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  1. You say you want a revolution. . . HUM 2052: Civilization II Spring 2014 Dr. Perdigao February 10-12, 2014

  2. Evolutions and Revolutions • History of ideas, texts, contexts, ideologies • Candide (1759): French Revolution (1789) • Enlightenment ideologies articulated in theory, put into practice with reforms, leading to revolution in France; impact of philosophes on French government • Changes in systems of beliefs—religion, science, politics, identity (including gender, women’s rights), education • Human liberty • Changing modern state, from dynastic or absolutist to modern state; role of the individual changes from subject: citizen • American Revolution and Enlightenment as key factors leading to the French Revolution • Connection between Enlightenment and French Revolution—attack on “the pillars of the established order and their appeals for a freer, more tolerant society” (Perry 461)

  3. England • England’s national unity achieved earlier than any other major European state (Perry 385) • Elizabethan period—national identity—as “golden age” • Elizabeth “secures” England for Protestant cause (Perry 387); Shakespeare’s plays during the period • English Revolutions 1640-1660, 1688-1689 • Glorious Revolution changes “political and constitutional reality” • Parliament gains right to assemble and vote on taxation, rights to trial by jury (for men of property and social status), Bill of Rights in 1689, religious toleration to Protestants (Perry 391) • Led to parliamentary government and rule of law (Perry 391) • English revolutions give freedom to propertied, property issues factor in failure of absolutism in England • Models adopted by France and US, alternative to absolutism

  4. America • American Revolution—Locke’s theory of natural rights—power from consent of the government (Perry 447) • July 4, 1776, Declaration of Independence • American government—rejecting monarchy and hereditary aristocracy (Perry 448) • Limitations of liberty and equality—slavery and women denied vote and equal opportunity

  5. Crisis in the French Monarchy • Shift from absolutist to republican, constitutional states by 1800 • With absolutist state, power to collect taxes, power over foreign policy, control publication of books, regulating dress (Perry 371) • Louis XIV’s statement “L’etat c’est moi” • Flaws in Louis XIV’s system—no check on his power and ideas for international conquest; no limit on “State’s capacity to make war or spend money”; policies turn violently aggressive; underestimates England and the Dutch Republic (Perry 382) • With the death of Louis XIV in 1715, the treasury is bankrupt • Louis XV’s reign marked by political confusion, military defeats, squandered money • Led to popular discontent, distrust of the monarchy, desire to limit king’s power and guarantee freedom of thought, fair trial, religious toleration • Movement to limit royal absolutism leads to violent upheaval, over ten years of revolutionary activity • Leads to end of feudalism and proclamation of religious freedom, individual freedom, and legal equality for all Frenchmen

  6. Class Struggle • French Revolution in 1789—shift from Old Regime: three Estates (clergy, nobility, commoners) • First Estate: the clergy; 100,000 French clergy who owned 10% of the land in France • Second Estate: the nobility, 400,000 nobility controlling about 20% of the land in France • Third Estate: everybody else; 24.5 million peasants and bourgeoisie; 8 million were poor; 2-3 million more during bad times • Categories determined legal rights and social status • Louis XVI’s attempt to solve financial troubles lead to the calling of an “assembly of notables,” failed attempt • Attempt to levy tax on all landowners declared illegal, sent to Estates General • Third Estate denied voice in Estates General, wanted full meeting rather than separate voting • June 17, 1789: Third Estate calling itself a National Assembly, calling for constitution; take Tennis Court Oath which marks beginning of the Revolution

  7. Revolutionary Ideas • July 14, 1789: reaction to escalating bread prices and military presence leads to rioting, search for weapons leads to Storming of the Bastille, liberation of prisoners and burning the fortress to the ground • August, 1789: move to reform • Reforms of the National Assembly in 1789: abolition of special privileges; statement of human rights (Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, modeled on the United States’ Declaration of Independence); subordination of church to state; constitution for France; administrative and judicial reforms; aid for business (Perry 467) • Influence ofAmerican government: no hereditary aristocracy, no serfdom, no state church (461) • Radical stage—1792-1794; sans-culottes wanted to reduce economic inequality, higher taxes for wealthy and redistribution of land (468) • Legislative Assembly succeeds National Assembly in 1791; declared war on Austria in April 1792 • September 21 and 22, 1792, National Convention (which succeeded Legislative Assembly) abolished monarchy and established republic (469)

  8. Revolutionary Ideas • December 1792, Louis XVI placed on trial, executed • Change of power • Jacobins: new constitution (1793), new Declaration of Rights, giving all adult males the right to vote, was never put in effect because of threat of invasion and revolts (Perry 470), but abolished slavery in French colonies and imprisonment for debt, making plans for free public education

  9. New Regime • Rise of nationalism • Robespierre (1758-1794), served in National Assembly and was a Jacobin • Ideas of reason, good citizenship, and patriotism; men free, equal, and educated (Perry 471) • Republic of Virtue to Reign of Terror • “To what extent did the feverish passions and the lust for violence demonstrated in the mass executions in the provinces and in the public spectacles in Paris—with vast crowds watching and applauding the beheadings—indicate a darker side of human nature, beyond the control of reason?” (Perry 474) • “Did 1793 mark a change in the direction of Western civilization: a movement away from the ideals of the philosophes and the opening of an age of political coercion and ideological fanaticism, which would culminate in the cataclysms of the twentieth century?” (Perry 474) • Robespierre guillotined in 1794; new republican government • 19th century France: examples of liberalism, socialism, conservatism

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