The French Revolution and National Regeneration Essay

Introduction

Throughout history, revolutions have been a common occurrence, and some of them are greatly recalled. One of the most known was the French Revolution, which lasted from 1789 to 1799.¹ These years provide a pivotal and historical epoch of radical social movements, the demolition of monarchy, and political upheavals. As a result of the tumultuous social and political overhauls, many stances have been used to interpret the French Revolution. The ideas presented by the interpretations of the effects and consequences of the revolution are important in offering knowledge of new political ideologies. The purpose of this essay is to outline major interpretations of French Revolution and to give a reflection on the most convincing analysis.

Adolphe Thiers Interpretation

Adolphe Thiers provided the first interpretations on the French Revolution. It was written during the restoration when singing Marseillaise and the tricolor flag was forbidden. His works praise the revolution’s accomplishments, principles, and leaders, with the heroes being persons such as Mirabeau, Lafayette, and others². Thiers condemned aristocracy, monarchy, and clergy for inability to bring change by encouraging to be genuine in their efforts to seek equality for all. Thiers’ works play a major role in undermining the legitimacy of the Bourbon regime of Charles X.³ Thiers’s history is less appropriate for British critics due to his positive views of Napoleon Bonaparte and the French revolution.

The Third Republic and Aulard Interpretation

Alphonse Aulard was the first professional historian of the French revolution who promoted scholarly editions. The Republicans in Paris and the national government funded and promoted his appointment to the Sorbonne.⁴ Aulard promoted the bourgeois, republican and anticlerical view of the French revolution. He indicated that from a social point of view, the revolution resulted in the suppression of the feudal system in the emancipation of people, and privileges of birth abolition. The revolt stifled matters related to land division, the establishment of equality, and life simplification. Aulard’s histography was based on positivism and favored the study of parliamentary debate.

Marxist/Classic Interpretation

Marxist interpretation sees the revolution as a significant bourgeois revolution marked by class struggles and led to the bourgeoisie’s victory. This view was developed by historian Albert Mathiez and social politician Jean Jaures led by Albert Soboul and George’s Lefebvre.⁵ At this time, the French believed that wage earners were disillusioned, but in a real sense, they had gained more economic influence, which would be refracted under the Old Regime. Albert recognized the lower classes’ relevance when he indicated that life was challenging for the peasantry.⁶ The Marxist historical interpretation recognized how bourgeoisie disgruntlement with limitations imposed on them by the Ancient Regime resulted in challenges of higher authority and monarchy.

Revisionism Interpretation

Revisionism in this context refers to the rejection of the Marxist interpretation of revolution carried out against aristocracy by the bourgeoisie on the right and proletariat push intervention on the left. George Taylor, a revisionist historian, argued that the interpretation was interred in aspects of lost paradigms assassinated by critical research.⁷ The criticism directly challenged doctrine approaches by showing how some enlightened elites promoted France’s economics and political modernization. The revisionist interpretation was solemnly focused on political facts to understand the causes of the French revolution.

Revisionism focuses not only on an institution or process as political policies but also on how culture made it possible to develop distinct policies and appear new forms of conflicts, politicians, and organizations. Alfred Cobban introduces the social interpretation of the French revolution.⁸ He argued that feudalism had long disappeared in France. Lynn Hunt, a revisionist, includes culture and politics as a class in her interpretative works of the French revolution, assuming more meaning in political culture.⁹ The interpretation argues against romantics’ beliefs in the need for revolution and emphasizes the insurrectionary violence in Paris, claiming that it was not an effect of revolution.

Reflection on Convincing Perspective

After considering the different interpretations, the revisionist viewpoint seems to offer the most convincing perspective on reflecting the French revolution. The analogy offers a better interpretation compared to other perception as it recognizes that the major factors that resulted in the French revolution were political changes through social and cultural factors. The interpretation not only considers revolution through political perspectives but also involves economic and social factors regarding their influence on politics during the revolution period.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the French Revolution provides a pivotal and historical epoch of radical social movements, the demolition of monarchy, and political upheavals. Before the revolution, France was ruled by an absolute monarch. The revolution brought new changes in political aspects and promoted modernization. Several interpretations have been formulated in the context to explain concepts of the French Revolution. New emphasis had been placed on the French revolution’s economic and social aspects. The revisionist interpretation seems more convincing in its perspectives as it considers social and economic factors that influence revolution.

Works Cited

Crook, Malcolm, et al. “Forum: The Legacy of Alfred Cobban.” French History, vol. 34, no. 4, 2020, pp. 512–560.

Doyle, William. The Oxford history of the French revolution. Oxford University Press, 2018.

Ducange, Jean-Numa. The French Revolution and Social Democracy. Brill, 2018.

Fletcher, Roger. Revisionism and Empire: Socialist Imperialism in Germany, 1897–1914. Routledge, 2018.

Fontana, Biancamaria. TLS. Times Literary Supplement 6094. Brill, 2020

Gerber, Michael Ryan. Vichy’s New Man: National Regeneration and Historical Revisionism in French Education, 1940-1944. 2018. Ohio University, PhD Dissertation.

McPhee Peter. French Revolution, 1789-1799. Oxford University Press, 2022, Chapter 9.

Wolloch, Nathaniel. Moderate and Radical Liberalism. Brill, 2022.

Footnotes

1. Wolloch, Nathaniel. Moderate and Radical Liberalism. Brill, 2022.
2. Fontana, Biancamaria. TLS. Times Literary Supplement 6094. Brill, 2020
3. Wolloch, Nathaniel. Moderate and Radical Liberalism. Brill, 2022.
4. Ducange, Jean-Numa. The French Revolution and Social Democracy. Brill, 2018.
5. McPhee Peter. French Revolution, 1789-1799. Oxford University Press, 2022, Chapter 9.
6. Doyle, William. The Oxford history of the French revolution. Oxford University Press, 2018.
7. Gerber, Michael Ryan. Vichy’s New Man: National Regeneration and Historical Revisionism in French Education, 1940-1944. 2018. Ohio University, PhD Dissertation.
8. Crook, Malcolm, et al. “Forum: The Legacy of Alfred Cobban.” French History, vol. 34, no. 4, 2020, pp. 512–560.
9. Fletcher, Roger. Revisionism and Empire: Socialist Imperialism in Germany, 1897–1914. Routledge, 2018.