History Courses For Dr. Christopher C. Lovett
|
History Courses For Dr. Christopher C. Lovett |
|
Updated as of 2 October 05 Today in History: On October 2, 1780, Major John Andrι, a British spy associated with Benedict Arnold, was executed on this day in history. Quote of the Day: "In my view we are much worse off now than when we went into Iraq. This is not a partisan position. I voted for these guys." A senior figure at a military-sponsored think tank as told to James Fallows in "Bush's Lost Year" in The Atlantic Monthly (Oct. 2004) Take the Ann Coulter Quiz Where are you politically? Take the Neocon Quiz and find out. "History is Far too Important to be left to History Professors" Teaching isn't such a novel idea
Bibliography:
History of Disease Contemporary Terrorist Organizations Map of Islamic Terrorist Cells in the U.S.A.
|
The Fall of the MonarchyModern World CivilizationSpring 2009The Situation Before The Fall of the Bastille The National Assembly met while France faced a series of popular disturbances. They were the result of the economic situation. Also there was fear in the air of a counterrevolution led by the king and aristocracy. Troops did maneuver in and around Paris. The popular distrust of the king increased with the kings dismal of the popular finance minister Necker.The Fall of the Bastille The new city government was established. A National Guard was organized loyal to the National Assembly. Crowds roamed the city looking for cheaper bread. On July 14 mobs broke into govt buildings looking for arms. The attacked the Invalides, a military hospital in Paris. Then they attacked the Bastille, a prison in Paris and only seven prisoners were freed.The Great Fear The peasants feared that the Brigands would return. The brigands were to destroy crops and force a return to the pre-Revolutionary period. In reality, there was no such threat. The rural population just went hysterical. They attacked chateaux and destroyed documents. If they nobles didnt leave, they were lynched.The Revolutionary Events of the Summer of 1789 A Constitutional Revolution with the creation of the National Assembly. The Paris Revolution culminating in the storming of the Bastille. Revolutions in Provincial Capitals throughout France. The Great Fear.The Last Crisis of 1789 The 1789 Harvest was good, yet the lack of rain crippled milling operations. The public had to que up for bread. A rumor spread that the queen said: let them eat cake. On Oct. 5, a band of women march from Paris to Versailles. They demanded the baker, the bakers wife, and the bakers son. They returned the king to the Tuileries Palace.The Achievements of the National Assembly Equal taxation. Church give up the tithe. Aristocracy gave up their feudal rights. Abolished serfdom. Ended venality of office. Issued the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen. Seized church lands and issued money on the land. The currency was called Assignats.Other Changes Banned strikes and labor organizations. Nationalized the Church. The Church was nationalized by The Civil Constitution of the Clergy (1790)The Civil Constitution of the Clergy Reduced the number of bishoprics. Turned the clergy into civil servants. Clergy had to swear and oath of loyalty to the State. Reduced the power of the Pope in France.The Constitution of 1791 Departments replaced old provinces. Each was subdivided into further administrative units. Established an independent court system. Established a unicameral legislature. The king was now King of the French, not King of France. Took over functions of the church. Created two classes of citizens -- Passive and Active -- only active citizens could vote.Enemies of the Constitution The Society of Friends of the Revolution, better known as the Jacobins. The Society of the Friends of the Rights of Man, the Cordeliers. The King, the Nobles, and those of the Clergy that refused to swear the oath.Power of the Jacobins Planted rabble rousing articles in the press. Established a network of political clubs. Captured the city governments. The former two Estates fled France providing the Jacobins with a cause. Then the king fled France in June of 1791, but was captured at the border.The Composition of the Legislature under the Constitution of 1791 The Right composed 265 delegates [Constitutional Monarchists] The Center composed 345 delegates [Swamp or the Plain] The Left composed 130 members [Jacobins and their allies]The Problems for the Plain The Plain had power and they were indecisive. The capable political leaders of the Left intimidated them. The Plain/Center had no strong commitment to either the king or the republic. This made them vulnerable to the Left.The Leadership of the Gironde Most came from Bordeaux in the Gironde Department. They were excellent in Political oratory. They depicted France as a victim of the Emigres and Non-Juring Clergy. They argued that they were enemies of France and in league with Francis I of Austria. They were indistinguishable from the Jacobins.The War with Austria On April 20, 1792, the Girodins managed for France to declare war on Austria. But the war went badly because so many officers of noble birth defected to the enemy. Then the Prussians entered the conflict on July 25. The Duke of Brunswick issued the Brunswick Manifesto.The Impact of The Brunswick Manifesto Paris would pay a dear price if anything happened to the King and Queen. It also contained the war aims of the Allies. The Brunswick Manifesto didnt frighten the French. But the Jacobins were planning a coup and won the working class sections of Paris to their cause. This was the result of the deteriorating economic problems.The Jacobin Coup Quickly the 48 sections fell under the control of the Jacobins. The night of August 9-10, 1792 the leaders of the Jacobins toppled the Paris government. Then they attacked the Tuileries forcing the King to flee with his family to the National Assembly. The mobs proceeded to massacre the Swiss Guards. The National Assembly and the King were prisoners of Paris.The Lower Social Orders violently disliked the Upper ClassesThere was Tension in the Air France was facing one crisis from August 10 to September 21, 1792. The value of the Assignat dropped by 40%. The Jacobins were still inciting the public. The Prussians had invaded Northern France. Danton, the Justice Minister, then made the declaration: Boldness, more boldness, always boldness.DantonThe September Massacres Started on September 2, 1791. Mobs traveled from prison to prison and held impromptu courts followed by immediate executions. The number of victims may have reached 1,000 The greatest horror involved the Princesse de Lamballe. She was the Queens maid of honor and the mob took her head to the Temple.The Miracle of Valmy The French managed to stop the invasion. This reduced the threat to Paris. But by 1793, France found themselves at war with nearly everyone. Then there was the election to the Convention.The Election to the Convention This brought real political democracy to France. Only 10% of the possible electorate voted. The rest failed to participate. The Republicans were victorious. But there was split in the Jacobin ranks between right and left. The right were the Girondins and the Left the Mountain.The Split between The Girondins and The Jacobins. Mountain represented Paris. Gironde represented the rural regions. Both were influenced by the Philosophes. The Girondins wanted to relax the Revolutionary spirit. The Jacobins wanted to increase it. The Girodins wanted Federalism. The Jacobins wanted Centralization.Meet Maximilien Robespierre (1758-94) He didnt look like a revolutionary. He was a fanatic. He wanted to turn the Social Contract into political reality. He believed he knew what the people wanted. He thought he knew the General Will. He wanted to establish a Republic of Virtue. If the French didnt like it, the would force it on them.RobespierreThe Execution of Louis Capet This was the first victory of the Jacobins. The Gironde attempted to delay and even wanted the people to decide. But that was blocked. Instead, the King was executed on Jan. 21, 1793. With this defeat the Gironde was seen as counter-revolutionary. The Gironde was doomed and with the arrest of 21 of their leaders, the Terror was on.The Execution of the KingThe Constitution of 1793 Universal manhood suffrage. Single legislature. Committee of Public Safety served as executive body. Police functions fell to the Committee of Public Security. The Courts were in the hands of the Revolutionary Tribunals.Eliminating Enemies The Terror moved into the rural regions with the Deputies on Mission. About 20,000 people were killed. Potential enemies were eliminated too. Rebels in the Vendee were eliminated as well. The Guillotine was not the only method. So was the Noyades [drownings].Marie Antionette BeforeMarie Antionette AfterAchievements of the Terror The introduction of the Levee-en-Mass. Introduced the Maximum: Wages set at 50% of 1790 wages and food prices 33% of 1790 levels. Law of Ventose, authorizing seizure of emigres properties. Stabilized the Assignat. Abolished Slavery. Altered the calendar. Introduced the metric system.The Guillotine, No. 1 Dr. Joseph-Ignace Guillotine, a delegate to the National Assembly proposed a more humane form of Capital Punishment. He advocated a form of surgical instantaneous death. Decapitation would reduce pain, but would give the criminal a noble sense of purpose.Guillotine, No. 2 The nickname was the Machine. In 1792, a piano maker, Tobias Schmidt, received a contract to build a prototype, which he completed in a week. He tested the machine on corpses.Robespierre on TerrorThe Fall of Robespierre Robespierres Republic of Virtue caused fear among many in the Convention. Many already thought that the Revolution had gone too far. Then Robespierre took a vacation. When he reappeared on June 26, 1794 he made a number of threats. For example traitors must be punished. On the following day, Robespierre and his allies were arrested and immediately executed.The Elimination of Robespierre and his AlliesThe Thermidorian Reaction Disbanded the Revolutionary Tribunals. Recalled the Deputies on Mission. Reduced the power of the Committees of Public Safety and Security. Closed the Paris Jacobin Club. Allowed Catholic priests to hold mass. The press was freed.The White Reaction A White Terror took place after the fall of the Jacobins. It was also directed at those who purchased church and noble lands.Economic Situation Prices soared as the Maximum was phased out. The Assignats collapsed to all time new lows.The Constitution of 1795 Denied the right to vote to the poor. Required office holders to own considerable amounts of property. It established a bicameral legislature -- Council of Five Hundred and the Council of Elders. The Elders had to be at least 40 and married or widowed. The Council of Five Hundred selected the Elders. The Elders selected the Directors, which served as the executive branch.Enemies of the Directory The Directory made enemies on the Left. Because it supported the Middle Class at the expense of the working class. The Directory had to defeat the Conspiracy of Equals. And beat off the Jacobins with a whiff of grapeshot.Women and Revolution Women marched on Versailles during the October Days. Women managed to make men take decisive action. Some women had influence over their husbands. Some women even went to the Guillotine with their husbands such as Mme. Roland.It is Not Nice to Anger a Lady This was Charlotte Corday. An aristocratic woman, but from the lower aristocracy. She was a devoted Catholic. She came from Normandy. She was a Girondist. When Marat in the Committee of Surveillance ordered the arrest of 22 Girondists. She decided to kill him especially after the arrest of another Girondist Jacques Pierre Brissot.Marat Was a Swiss-born scientist and physician. Spent considerable time in England. But is better known as a French Revolutionary. He helped launch the Reign of Terror. He advocated the end of the monarchy. And thought the September Massacres would cleanse France. But more important, he composed the death lists of those going to the guillotine.The Deed Carrying a copy of Plutarchs Parallel Lives she traveled from Caen to Paris on July 9, 1793. She stayed at a local hotel. But first she purchased a knife. Then she wrote Speech to the French Who are Friends of Law and Peace. Explaining the reasons for her act. She then went to Marats residence to see the demon. She was initially turned away. Her entry was to tell Marat of a Girondist plot in Caen.Her Fate Once in. She told him of the plot. And Marat started writing down the names. She then pulled out the knife and began stabbing Marat. Piercing his chest and cutting his aorta and lung and left ventricle. Crying out, Oh my, my dear friend. She was arrested, tried, and went to the guillotine.Women Revolutionaires Theroigne de Mericourt sat with the men in the Jacobin Club and wore the National Guard Uniform. She even helped storm the Tuileries on Aug. 10, 1792. Some women even organized the club Revolutionary Republican Citizenesses to combat the women that ran the markets. These women were so revolutionary that the Conveniton banned them.The Case of Olympe de Gouges She was a playwright and pamphleteer who wrote the Rights of Women and Citizen. She attacked Robespierre. Offered to defend the king. Failed to avoid the Guillotine, despite feigning pregnancy at the age of 45.How did Men Think about this? Men of the French Revolution believed that a womans place was that of wife and mother, bearing the children for the Homeland. Leave the politics to the guys.The Words of Pruhomme Be honest and diligent girls, tender and modest wives, wise mothers, and you will be a good patriots. True patriotism consists of fulfilling ones duties and valuing only rights appropriate to each according to sex and age, and wearing not the [Liberty] Cap and pantaloons and not carrying the pike and pistol. Leave those to men who are born to protect you and make you happy.The State of Slavery on Saint Domingue Only a small number of slaves were actually born on the island. The slaveholders were even worse than American slaveholders. The French constantly imported more slaves. The slaves came from 10 or 12 African tribes. The slaves spoke a Patois, a creole language. While many were Christian, they practiced Voodoo.Triangular Trade or The Atlantic CrossingThe French Revolution in Haiti Haiti was divided into two classes -- Grand Blancs and Petite Blancs. The Grand Blancs owned the most of the wealth. The Grand Blancs were known as the Pompons Blancs. The Petite Blancs were known as the Pompons Rouge.The Situation in Saint Domingue in the 1780s Was the wealthiest colony in the Carribean. It was called the Pear of the Antilles. The population was broken down to included 500,000 Slaves; 40,000 Europeans; and 30,000 free persons of color. The islands whites were united racially but were divided along class lines. Planters were united against the bourgeoisie and both were united against the poor whites.Gens de Coleur The free people of color were wealthy and populous. Some even became planters too. They may even own slaves as well. Even though they were wealthy, they suffered discrimination too. They were never accepted by the white population. Yet they had to serve in the militia and do all the things that whites did, but that they did not have equal rights.The Slaves With the 500,000 slaves, Saint Domingue had the largest slave population in the Caribbean. The slaves did not have much in common other than their skin color. On any given plantation, a listener could hear up to 20 different languages. Slaves were then divided by their origins, such as Bantus were called Congoes. Native born slaves composed only one third of the slave population. They were called Creoles.Persons of Color in Haiti Another class was the Mulattoes, mixed ancestry -- White and Black. They had wealth but no power. They sought help from Les Amis Des Noirs. Then there were the slaves.Impact of the French Revolution in Haiti The fall of the Bastille mobilized the petite blancs into a form of Sans Culottes. In France the Amis de Noir championed the end to Slavery. Gens de Coleur sought equal rights with the Colons. In Oct. 1790, Vincent Oge, a gens de coleur returned from France and championed for equality. He then recruited a group of 300 to fight for their rights.The Start of the Slave Insurrection In Aug. 1791 around the town of Le Cap, the slaves revolted. Looting, raping and murder was common. Soon the revolt spread throughout the island. Arms came from the Spanish half of the island. What was amazing was that it escaped detection. The role of gens de coleur as complex. But at first it was contained.The Revolt was ViolentThe Slave Revolt in Haiti Like the French Revolution, it was a social conflict. Slaves attacked their masters. Mulattoes lost their civil rights. The slaves found a remarkable leader -- Toussaint L Overture, who managed to keep the French at bay. When the French sent troops, the slaves were not awed.Meet Toussaint LOvertureToussaints Background Born on the Breda Plantation. He was the oldest of eight children. Took the name LOverture in 1793. Was influenced by the Histoire Philosophique of Abbe Raynal, who attacked the institution of slavery. He was more intelligent of other slaves and worked in the big house. Later becomes a Brig. General who served the Spanish and the French. By 1801 was a master of the whole island.Why were the French Defeated? The French were defeated by Yellow Fever. Napoleon then decided to sell Louisiana to Jefferson in 1803, since he could not pacify the island.You Can Read More About It
|
