REVOLUTION DEFINITION? A radical change caused by irresistible forces that overturns an established order Cultural, Economic, Religious, Political, Intellectual, Technological “Politics, economics, church government, and theology are inextricably mingled in the minds and hearts of seventeenth-century Englishmen” Examples?

CAUSES? What are the irresistible forces? Crane Brinton (1898-1968) 1923 Ph.D. Oxford Taught at Harvard Anatomy of a Revolution (1965) Studied American, French, Russian, English Revolutions

CAUSES THAT SEEM TO BE PRESENT The masses rise up and revolt “THE MASSES DO NOT MAKE REVOLUTIONS” Is the tyranny and brutality of government the cause of revolutions? People from all social classes are discontent?

WHO REVOLTS? Intellectuals? Class who has gained wealth and feels shut out from political power Government favoring one set of economic interests over another “The actual revolution is always a surprise” - Brinton

ACTUAL COURSE Key – Vacillation – Sway, Waiver\Rulers inability to take a stand, or appear strong and then weak Transfer of power usually occurs before any act of violence King tries to get power back People are unaware that power shifted People believe power was not transferred far enough “..in all revolutions there is a tendency for power to go from Right to Center to Left…”

STAGES OF REVOLUTION Preliminary Stage Government inefficiency – weak ruler Economic problems People / Reformers speak out against government Intellectuals transfer loyalty Rights and privileges associated with money Class antagonisms Symbolic action – point of revolt

PATTERNS OF REVOLUTION RULE OF THE MODERATES THE ACCSESSION OF EXTREMISTS THERMIDOR – LUNATIC FRINGE “When the “silken threads” of habit, tradition, legality are broken, men must be held together in society by the “iron chains” of dictatorship From extreme Left back to Right