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 autocratUse terror to rule
CRISIS STAGE
RECOVERY(Convalescence)
Revolution turns inwardRadicals removed
–Some killedCharismatic autocrat comes to power
Aggressive nationalismSlow, uneven return to quieter times
People trade freedom for security
RECOVERY(Convalescence)
FRENCH REVOLUTION
PRELIMINARY
Class antagonism–Heavy, increasing taxes on
3rd EstateGovernment 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