Anatomy Of A Revolution

Anatomy of a Revolution American and French Revolution

Crane Brinton’s Anatomy

of He a borrowed his terms from pathology.

Compares a revolution to a fever or a disease: § The revolutionary “fever”

begins with the appearance of certain “symptoms.”

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

§ The crisis ends when the “fever” breaks.

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

Crane Brinton: Conditions Present Before a Revolution Occurs People from all social classes are 1.

discontented.

2.

3.

4.

5.

People feel restless and held down by unacceptable restrictions in society, religion, the economy or the govt. People are hopeful about the future, but they are being forced to accept less than they had hoped for. People are beginning to think of themselves as belonging to a social class, and there is a growing bitterness between social classes. The social classes closest to one another are

Crane Brinton: Conditions Present Before a Revolution Occurs The scholars and thinkers give up on the way 6.

their society operates.

7.

8.

9.

10.

The government does not respond to the needs of its society. The leaders of the government and the ruling class begin to doubt themselves. Some join with the opposition groups. The government is unable to get enough support from any group to save itself. The government cannot organize its finances correctly and is either going bankrupt or trying to tax heavily and unjustly.

Crane Brinton: The Course that Revolutions Seem to Take 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Impossible demands made of government which, if granted, would mean its end. Unsuccessful government attempts to suppress revolutionaries. Revolutionaries gain power and seem united. Once in power, revolutionaries begin to quarrel among themselves, and unity begins to dissolve. The moderates gain the leadership but fail to satisfy those who insist on further changes.

Crane Brinton: The Course that Revolutions Seem to Take 6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Power is gained by progressively more radical groups until finally a lunatic fringe gains almost complete control. A strong man emerges and assumes great power. The extremists try to create a “heaven-onearth” by introducing their whole program and by punishing all of their opponents. A period of terror [extreme violence] occurs. Moderate groups regain power. THE REVOLUTION IS OVER!

American & French Revolutions Impossible demands made of government American  Colonial lawyers

protested the Stamp and Tea Acts, leaders such as Thomas Paine and Patrick Henry, encourage conflict with British authorities.

French  Rousseau and Voltaire

spread enlightenment ideas.  Third Estate calls for a National Assembly and Constitutional Monarchy  Angry mobs storm the Bastille & Tuileres.

Unsuccessful government attempts to suppress

American French The British pass the King orders the Intolerable Acts, Estates General follow troops are sent to stop medieval rules. rebellion, war breaks Third Estate locked out. out of the Assembly

Once in power, revolutionaries begin to quarrel among themselves, and unity begins to dissolve. American Weak National government, Articles of Confederation, Shay’s Rebellion

French National Assembly strips the church of land. Peasants alienated by Revolutionary changes, split with bourgeoisie. Assembly splits into radicals, moderates, & conservatives.

The moderates gain the leadership but fail to satisfy those who insist on further changes. American Constitutional Convention, New Jersey Plan, Virginia Plan, three-fifths compromise.

French Mods form a limited monarchy and creates the Legislative Assembly. Radicals demand further action.

Power is gained by progressively more radical groups until finally a lunatic fringe gains almost complete control.

American Federalist defeat the Anti-Federalists, Constitution, new form of government. No Lunatic fringe.

French Mods dissolve the National Assembly, abolish the Monarchy, and declare France a republic. Louis XVI is executed. Jacobins gain control.

Moderate groups regain power. THE REVOLUTION IS OVER! American French Moderates gained the Mods of the National addition of a Bill of Convention turn on Rights. Robespierre and execute him. Anti-Federalists Draft a new eventually regain power with Jefferson constitution giving (Democraticpower to the middle Republican) class. Two House legislature and Directory.

Differences 6.

7.

8.

A strong man emerges and assumes great power. The extremists try to create a “heaven-onearth” by introducing their whole program and by punishing all of their opponents. A period of terror [extreme violence] occurs.

 Never occurs in America  Robespierre and the

Reign of Terror.

 New Calendar, The

Committee of Public Safety

 The Great Terror,

Revolutionaries executed by The guillotine

Describe the progression of an illness like the flu. What differences are there between the beginning, the height of the flu, and the end? Describe specific traits that these stages could share with other illnesses?

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.

Crisis Stage

Symptomatic Stage

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

Convalescence

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?

Crisis Stage

Symptomatic Stage Convalescence Incubation Stage

In a revolution, this stage would be the first to involve direct action resulting from the social, political, intellectual, or economic causes of the incubation stage. This stage might involve the publication

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 What would this stage be like in a

Crisis Stage 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 against the revolution compete. This competition could take the form of

Convalescence

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. Crisis Stage

Symptomatic Stage

Convalescence

Incubation Stage

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