Comparing Revolutions

Revolution – Comparing and Contrasting

The goal of this unit has been to look at the shaping of nationalism. Nationalism is shaped by a variety of factors, and there is no more drastic reshaping of nationalism than revolution.

This project is an exploration of revolutions. The purpose is to discover parallels and contrasts between two different revolutions. Certain questions will guide this exploration:

1. What were the circumstances that led up to the revolution?
2. What was the spark that lit the fire of revolution?
3. What were the goals of the revolution?
4. What were the methods of the revolutionaries?
5. Was the revolution successful?
6. Are there parallels between the revolutions?
7. Are there contrasts?

Presentation:
- Visual & Informative: Showing the relationship between the revolutions (parallels and contrasts)

- Written: Explaining your findings.

- Bibliograph/Works Cited. – specific information needs to be cited specifically.

The Scarlet Pimpernel

We left off in class at about 9:45, on this video - other parts to follow on YouTube. Sink me, if we didn't have enough time to finish it in class.

Symbols of Nationalism

Assignment: Write a short composition which comments on the value of symbols to national identity. Reflect on the storming of the Bastille, and compare or contrast it to another well known symbol of nationalism. (Maximum Length: 1 page, single-spaced)

Storming The Bastille

French Revolution Presentation

French Revolution

What is the Third Estate

Today we looked at Abbe Sieyes' pamphlet, "What is the Third Estate?" Below you will find the excerpt that we read. Your task is to comment on this post with a reaction from the perspective of an Aristocrat or Noble of the time period. Put yourself in their shoes. How would you react? Fear? Anger? Outrage? You may respond to Sieyes directly, and you may also respond to other "nobles."

Abbe Sieyes: What is the Third Estate? (January, 1789)

Paraphrased Excerpts – adapted from Modern History Source book: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/sieyes.html

What is needed for a nation to survive and do well?

Individual effort and public functions.

[Individual Efforts]

All individual efforts can fit into three categories:

1. Since the earth and the waters give us basic products for the needs of man, the first category, in logical order, will be that of all families which devote themselves to agricultural labor.

2. Between the first sale of products and their consumption or use some work is done that adds value to these products. In this way human work makes the gifts of nature even better. The value of the crude or raw material that the earth gives us is increased two-fold, ten-fold, one-hundred fold by the efforts of this second category of individual efforts or labour.

3. Between production and consumption there is another category of individuals. These are called merchants and brokers, a group of middle-men who buy and sell. Motivated by profit they buy, transport and distribute products. This category of worker is my third category.

4. Finally outside of these three there is another category of productive and useful citizens. This fourth category includes all those people who provide services that are useful and agreeable to individuals. From household servants to professionals.

These categories taken together sum up the efforts which keep society going. Who puts them forth? Who accomplishes them? The Third Estate.

[Public Functions]

Does not the Third Estate also attend to nineteen twentieths of the public functions as well? Does not the Third Estate carry all that is really painful, all the burdens that the privileged classes refuse to carry. Do we give the Third Estate credit for this? The only way that this would happen is if the Third Estate refused to fill these roles and stopped exercising their functions. The facts are well known. Meanwhile those in power have stopped members of the Third Estate from moving up. They have said: “Whatever may be your services, whatever may be your abilities, you shall go thus far; you may not pass beyond!” Any rare exceptions to this are only a mockery and only further insult the Third Estate.

If this exclusion is a social crime against the Third Estate; if it is a true act of hostility, could it perhaps be said that it is useful to the public good? No! The public, the third estate, is only further discouraged by this exclusion and rejection. They are made less able. Is it not understood that every employment from which free competition is removed becomes less effective?

Now the government only looks after the privileged. The government only looks after a particular class and now that class has become fat beyond all measure. The system is structured not based on the necessities of the governed, but in the interests of the governing. When we study examples of this oppression in the History of Ancient Egypt or the accounts of Voyages to the Indies, we see it as despicable, monstrous, destructive of all positive work, the enemy of social progress; above all degrading to the human race in general, and particularly intolerable to Europeans. But forget all this and lets look at our own French situation and put some light on it.

It is enough if I have made it clear that the pretended usefulness of a privileged order for the public service is nothing more than a dream, and illusion, a mirage. We have this privileged class but all that is burdensome in this service is performed by the Third Estate; that without it the places of privilege would be better filled by those who work hard. We should give the position in exchange for recognized ability and service. To give it to “nobles” and keep down the public is a crime.

Who shall dare to tell me that the Third Estate does not have within itself all that is necessary for the formation of a complete nation? It is the strong and healthy man who has one arm still tied behind his back. What is the Third Estate? Everything; but an everything shackled and oppressed. What would it be without the privileged order? Everything, but an everything free and strong. Nothing can succeed without the Third Estate. Everything would be infinitely better without the others.

Not only are the privileged persons not useful to the nation but they can actually weaken and injure it. I need to prove that the noble order does not enter at all into the social organization; that it may indeed be a burden upon the nation.

What is a nation? A body of associates, living under a common law, and represented by the same legislature.

The Third Estate embraces all that which belongs to the nation; and all that which is not the Third Estate, cannot be regarded as being of the nation.

What is the Third Estate?

It is the whole.