Christopher Hill: Marxist Historian

Background British historian who examined the history of the 17 th C. Born to a middle class Methodist family in York, Studied at Oxford, but joined the communist party in the 1930s. 1935: Spent a year living in the USSR. Very left wing in his approach to history Died in 2003.

Middle class England to Marxist historian? Consider the world situation in the 1930s.

The works of Hill Prolific writer, with the main body of his work centred on his analysis of the history of Britain in the 17 th C. 1940: Famous essay, ‘The English Revolution 1640’ Wrote a short biography of Lenin.

What WAS the English Revolution? In a Marxist context, the term ‘English Revolution’ describes the period of the English Civil Wars (armed conflicts between parliamentarians and royalists during the reigns of Charles I and II. This conflict resulted in a Parliamentary victory in 1651.

English Revolution Continued … Following the Royalist defeat, a bourgeois republican government known as the Commonwealth ruled England. The monarchy was restored in 1660 by Charles III. "The Civil War was a class war, in which the despotism of Charles I was defended by the reactionary forces of the established Church and conservative landlords, and on the other side stood the trading and industrial classes in town and countryside... the yeomen and progressive gentry, and... wider masses of the population whenever they were able by free discussion to understand what the struggle was really about."

The Purpose of history for Hill? The object of this article is to suggest an interpretation of the events of the 17th century different from that which most of us were taught at school... This interpretation is that the English Revolution of was a great social movement like the French Revolution of Opening words of 'The English Revolution 1640', by C. Hill

And again … The English Revolution took place in a culture dominated by religious ideas and religious language, and Christopher Hill recognised that he had to uncover the social context of religion in order to find the key to understanding the English Revolution, and as a Marxist to ascertain the interrelationships between the intellectual and social aspects of the period. Article in Socialist Review, March 2000, by Brian Manning.

So: Hill aims to present the past from a Marxist perspective. His embrace of Marxism was a result of the times in which he lived.

Thoughts on Marxist Historiography Marx argued that history was heading towards the creation of an ideal communist society. During each stage of history, class conflict developed between the haves and the have-nots, oppressors and oppressed. The end result of this class conflict would be the creation of a new society, thus progression along the road to communism.

Slave society Feudal society Capitalist society Socialism: The dictatorship of the proletariat = End of class conflict Ideal of communism: Stateless and classless.

Influence of Marxist analysis on historiography Social class and the struggle of the classes are central to historical development. The key factor affecting historical development and change is economics. Economic materialism determines the nature of the class struggle, which determines…..?

Influence of Marxist analysis on historiography “The ruling ideas of each age have been the ideas of the ruling class.’ (Communist Manifesto) All aspects of society are determined by economics. Marxist history gives a direction to history which ends in the creation of a classless society.

Further thoughts on Hill … Hill later claimed the opening to his 1940 essay was simply the work of an angry young man, upset about the failure of capitalism, the rise of fascism and concerned about his life being cut short in the war. 1940: Hill stated that the English Revolution was the result of the actions of the growing bourgeoisie, represented by parliament, which sought to remove a tyrannical monarchy.

Further thoughts … 35 years later, Hill modified his views, claiming… “The English Revolution was brought about neither by the wishes of the bourgeoisie, nor by the leaders of the Long Parliament, but its outcome was the establishment of conditions far more favourable to the development of capitalism than those which prevailed before 1640.”

Was he right? Following the English Revolution… The enclosure movement made possible the development of capitalism in the countryside. Feudal dues were abolished. Ireland was now under the control of Protestant (capitalist) landowners. The slave trade took off and became a feature of British colonies.

Thinking about C. Hill. Adoption of Marxism within context of Hill’s time. Evolving view of Marxist history. Class conflict. Economic determinism.