Modern European Revolutions/What you need to know: (1) Chronology (2) Key Concepts: Ideology, Gender, Class (3) Interpretation What is a revolution? Revolutionary tradition in Europe: (1)From Absolutism to Liberalism, (2) From Absolutism and Liberalism to Socialism, (3) From Socialism to Liberalism.

Revolutionary time-lines Chronology: When do revolutions begin? When do they end? How does the timing of revolutions reflect the general and prevailing historical conditions of the contexts in which they develop? French Revolution = Enlightment of 17 th and 18 th centuries. Stages of F.R. ? E.g., … 1848 Revolutions = (Legitimacy/Conservatism, Liberalism, Socialism.) – Revolutionary events of this year?

Key Concepts: Ideology: what makes a set of ideas ideological? Why are ideologies associated with revolution? French Revolution = Monarchism, Absolutism, Liberalism; 1848 Revolutions = Monarchism, Liberalism, Socialism, Nationalism Class: What constitutes a class of individuals? (Economic, political, cultural attributes of a specific class…) French Revolution = First, Second, Third Estates 1848 Revolutions = Ruling classes (aristocracy), middle classes, working classes/peasantry.

Key Concepts Gender: What roles do men and women play in revolutionary processes? French Revolution = examples of prominent women, e.g., Olympe de Gouges, Mary Wollstonecraft Revolutions?

Revolutions: An explanatory model Main features of revolutions: A. Economy – Existing types of economic relations. Old vs. New economic ideas and practices (e.g., mercantilism vs. laissez-faire). National resources (taxes, potential for economic growth/decline, etc. Population numbers and demographic patterns.

Explanatory model, cont. Social classes (estates): relations within and between these groupings. Gender status; dominant vs. up-and- coming, vs. downtrodden. Political: Ruling factions; disenfranchised (but potentially powerful) elements (middle-classes, workers, peasants…) Forms of political rule (monarchy, republic, dictatorship )

Explanatory model, cont. Ideological: Arguments for and against prevailing system. Types of political arguments (Divine rights; Social contract; sovereignty of the individual, historical processes, etc.) Subjective factors: Major actors (politicians, statesmen, political bosses, writers (men and women). Crowds and public pressures (actions taken spontaneously and via social/political organizations.)

Citing examples from texts/lectures Review lecture notes and notes taken during assigned readings. Use specific events/personalities, etc. to illustrate the points you want to make. Review chronology of events so that you know the contextual relationship they hold to one another. e.g., First stage of French Revolution vs. “Reign of Terror” (Contrast/Compare the features of these phases.)

Emphasis on Assigned Readings Familiarize yourself with the main arguments of the different authors of the texts that have been assigned for the course. What are they stressing in their studies? How do they interpret the events under review? What sorts of questions do they raise in their narratives? In these, review footnotes and/or bibliographies to gain a greater sense of the literature produced in each subject area.