Crane Brinton’s Model of a Revolution The Anatomy of a Revolution Historian Crane Brinton developed a model of the stages that revolutions often go through. In other words, Brinton is suggesting that revolutions follow a typical pattern and order much like the generalized stages of an infection. Let’s see how it works using the French Revolution, as he did, as our model. Remember when France sneezes all of Europe catches a cold! You say you want a Revolution…
STAGE I: FALL OF THE OLD ORDER/PRELIMINARY (1774-1789) Incubation: Class Antagonism Govt. Inefficiency Inept Ruler Challenging Intellectual Ideas Economic Crisis Events: Unfair Old Régime System Weak Rule of Louis XVI Rise of Democratic & Enlightened ideas American Rev. Debt
STAGE II: RULE BY MODERATES ( 1789-1792) Prodromal / Mild Symptoms: Financial Breakdown Govt. Protests Increase Dramatic Events Moderates Attain Power Honeymoon Period Events: Estates General to National & Legislative Assemblies Bastille / Bread Riots Const. Monarchy Established Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
STAGE III: THE TERROR / RULE BY RADICALS (1793-1795) Boo! STAGE III: THE TERROR / RULE BY RADICALS (1793-1795) Full Illness / Infection: Problems Persist Radicals Take Control Revolutionary Council /Strong Man Domination Extreme Changes Foreign War Events: National Convention Robespierre Reign of Terror /Executions Republic Established Nobles Flee Wars w/ Foreign Coalitions
STAGE IV: TURN FROM RADICAL TO MILITARY RULE (1795-1815) Decline: Turn from Radicalism Doubt Revolutionary Ideals Moderates Return Rule by Tyrant Aggressive Nationalism Events: Thermidorian Reaction Directory Established Napoleon’s coup d’etat of 1799 Plebiscite 1800/Concordat of 1801 Crowned Emperor 1804 Napoleonic Code Napoleon’s Empire
STAGE V: RESTORATION (1815 -?) Vive la France! Mon Dieu! Did I really just say that? Convalesence: Dictatorship Ends Power Vacuum Old Order is Restored Events Napoleon Defeated Nobles Return Louis XVIII Rules Congress of Vienna What’s Changed?