Definition of Revolution:
• a sudden or complete change in something
• a radical and pervasive change in society and the social
structure
• an overthrow and replacement of an established
government or political system by the people governed
“Every revolution was first a thought in one man’s mind.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
At The Bell: What do you think needs to be present in a
society in order for a revolution to occur? What is
happening in society? (in other words, why would
people be unhappy enough to push for revolution?)
Revolutions occur when:
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pressure groups organize for reform,
allegiance of the intellectuals switches,
class antagonisms increase,
governments are short of money,
governments are inefficient and
the governed are impatient.
Crane Brinton, a French Historian and
Harvard professor, wrote the text
The Anatomy of Revolution in 1938.
In it he compares the dynamics of
revolution to a fever or disease:
 The revolutionary “fever” begins with the
appearance of certain “symptoms”
 It proceeds to a “crisis” stage
 The crisis escalates to “delirium” ends
when the “fever” breaks
 A period of “recuperation” follows,
interrupted by a “relapse” or two before
the recovery is complete.
Revolutionary Fever
Delirium
Crisis
Relapse &
Recuperation
Symptoms
Fill out the “revolutionary fever chart”
with information from the handout titled
France: The Road to Revolution and the video
on the French Revolution
What to look for…
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Symptoms = causes
Crisis = escalation to revolution
Delirium = moderates vs radicals
Relapse = strong leader unites people and
grabs power
• Recuperation= moderate minds prevail, a new
definition of “normal” is established
The Estates-General tradition is for each estate to have
ONE vote
1
1
Clergy
1st Estate
Aristocracy
2nd Estate
1
Commoners
3rd Estate
The Third Estate delegates suggest that
each delegate receives ONE VOTE!
300
Clergy
1st Estate
Aristocracy
2nd Estate
300
648
Commoners
3rd Estate
Symptoms = causes
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Enlightenment ideas
Social inequality
Weak leadership
Economic crisis
Crisis = the escalation
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Estates General called
Third Estate demands reform
National Assembly declared
Storming the Bastille
Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen
March of the Women
National Assembly reforms
Delirium = radical phase
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Prussia and Austria invade France
French Republic established
King dethroned
Convention set up
King put on trial and executed
Reign of Terror
Relapse = reactionary phase
• Robespierre arrested and executed
• The Directory takes over
• Napoleon stages a coup, imposes new
constitution, and declares himself first consul