STAGES OF REVOLUTION Adapted from Crane Brinton’s book, The Anatomy of Revolution
REVOLUTION: A VIOLENT OVERTHROW OF A GOVERNMENT
PRELIMINARY (Incubation in the Fever Model) Class antagonism –Economic upgrade, which does not reach the people Government inefficiency –Inept ruler—Autocrat with absolute power
People ask for change (justice) Autocrat attempts to stop early protests with force (terror), which fails PRELIMINARY (Incubation)
Intellectuals transfer their loyalty from government to the people PRELIMINARY (Incubation)
FIRST STAGE (Symptomatic) Financial breakdown Protests against government increase dramatically
Moderates gain power relatively peacefully Revolutionary underground (radicals) foment revolution FIRST STAGE (Symptomatic)
Mob psychology –Ignorant –Emotional –Now wants revenge FIRST STAGE (Symptomatic)
CRISIS STAGE Radicals take control –Remove moderates Enemies attempt to stop radicals: –Civil war –Foreign war
Centralization of power in a revolutionary council Council dominated by a “strongman” Use common term of address CRISIS STAGE
Try to kill original autocrat Use terror to rule CRISIS STAGE
RECOVERY (Convalescence) Revolution turns inward Radicals removed –Some killed Charismatic autocrat comes to power
Aggressive nationalism Slow, uneven return to quieter times People trade freedom for security RECOVERY (Convalescence)
FRENCH REVOLUTION
PRELIMINARY Class antagonism –Heavy, increasing taxes on 3 rd Estate Government inefficiency –Autocrat=Louis XVI –Ignored growing bourgeoisie
PRELIMINARY People ask for change –Cahiers de Doleances Autocrat’s failed attempts to stop early protests –National Assembly locked out of meeting place –Ordered NA not to meet
PRELIMINARY Intellectuals transfer their loyalty –Philosophes –Enlightened public
FIRST STAGE Financial breakdown –Wheat famine –High bread prices Protests against government –Storming of Bastille
Moderates –Estates-General –National Assembly –National Constitutional Convention FIRST STAGE
Revolutionary underground –Jacobins FIRST STAGE
CRISIS STAGE Radicals take control –Mobs in Paris took Convention
CRISIS STAGE Enemies –Civil war Louis XVI Nobles/Emigres –Foreign war Austria England
Revolutionary council –Committee of Public Safety Strongman –Robespierre Common term of address –Citizen CRISIS STAGE
Kill original autocrat –Women’s March on Versailles –Flight to Varennes –Louis XVI/Marie guillotined Use terror to rule –Reign of Terror CRISIS STAGE
RECOVERY Revolution turns inward –Thermidorean Reaction –Danton/Robespierre killed Charismatic autocrat –Directory –Napoleon
Aggressive nationalism –Napoleonic Wars Quieter times –End of terror Trade freedom for security –Empire RECOVERY
STAGES OF REVOLUTION Adapted from Crane Brinton’s book, The Anatomy of Revolution