Cultural Revolution: France, 1789-
by H. Marcuse, Apr. 10, 2003

music: songs of the French Revolution:
La Carmagnole, Cadet Rouselle, Ça ira, Marseillaise

Define "revolution"

"complete overthrow; marked change"
text p. 439 (Amer. rev.): "… an abrupt change in the economic and social structures. But this was not the case in the new U.S. The existing political, economic, and social circumstances of the citizenry, whether white or black, were scarcely changed by independence. …
The real Amer. Rev. was slower to manifest itself and did so only by degrees after 1783."

Theory (quotation L03)

Theory is not "gray."

It is the horizon of the possible, a roadmap that shows new ways of doing old things, and new places to go.

Theory is freedom from the apparently unchangeable way things are, which it unmasks as one possibility among hundreds.

Theory breaks the ruts of coincidence and gives us the courage to undertake voyages of discovery. It makes every step we take an act of free choice.

Theory does not have to be true to inspire great works--most great discoveries were based on false hypotheses!

Theory: "the" French Revolution

Phases (p. 442)

1789-91: Constitutional Monarchy
liberal-aristocratic revolution
1792: egalitarian democracy
"middle class" & intellectual revolution
levée on masse: drafted army
1793-94: Jacobin Terror (5/93-7/94)
extremist revolution (Robespierre)

"After" the revolution

1795-99: Directory (5 members in 2 houses)
1798: Dir. sends Napoleon to Egypt--disaster
1799-1804: Consulate (3 consuls, Nap.=1^st)
coup d'état of 18 Brumaire (windy month=Nov. 99)
1804-1814: Empire (text p. 447)
military innovations
religion: 1801 Concordat: relationship Church & state
new institutions: bureaucracy, education
laws and judicial system (status of women, p. 449)
economics: property redistribution

Napoleon Bonaparte, (1769-1821)

Child of the revolution
young artillery captain
Oct.-Dec. 1793: took British fortress Toulon
promoted by P. Robespierre's bro. Augustin
dismissed after Thermidor (July 1794)
Executor of the revolution
Oct. 1795 "whiff of grapeshot" saved Convention
Gravedigger of the revolution

Announcements

First paper due next Tuesday
Questions on Equiano?
CLAS workshops for 2^nd paper assignment:
Monday, May 5, 3pm
Tuesday, May 6, 4pm
Sign up for office hours next Tues. & Wed.
Paper assignments and Plagiarism …

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is presenting someone else's work as your own, or deliberately failing to credit or attribute the work of others on whom you draw (including materials found on the web)
It is a serious academic offense, punishable by dismissal from the university. It hurts the one who commits it most of all, by cheating them out of an education.
In this course we will report offenses to the Dean of Students for disciplinary action.

Origins of the Revolution

text p. 442: "What started as a French aristocratic rebellion against taxes …"
financing US revolution 1778-83;
"French and Indian War" 1754-1763.
Also: Europe's reaction in 1792
Estates General had 3 chambers:
300 Clergy, 300 Nobles, 600 Others
vote by house, or by head?
Battle of the pamphlets

Battle of the pamphlets [we did not get to this]