Cost of the Revolution – Rene Sedillot (economic historian)
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2 centuries living with a legend (of the French Revolution) – new historians are
dealing with the FACTS not poetry!
Staggering loss of life – 2 million French slaughtered – revolutionary, imperial
and civil wars (1789-1815)
Destruction of art and architecture
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In the name of liberties - > liberties disappear
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In the name of equality -> rich become richer, poor become poorer
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Sets French industry back 20 years
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Racks the nation with inflation
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Step backwards in women’s and worker’s rights, suffrage, learning, the arts and
sciences
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Rival England pushed ahead in industry and world trade which France stagnates
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Many of its goals have been achieved through a century and more of social,
economic, and political struggle
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o Pendulum swings of revolutions, monarchies, empires and republics
before arriving at the relative stability under the constitution of the Fifth
Republic today in France
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Elected constitutional government ->believed could create a new society by
human will -> set an example for the world
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Change becomes a virtue rather than a threat
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Idea of progress a creed
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Fanning the faith that technological, economic, educational and political
innovation would bail mankind out of any dilemma and that the good life could be
legislated or decreed or drilled
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Absorb the labels of freedom
o Include “democratic” , “republic”, or “people’s” in official titles
 Ie – even dictatorships DDR (Deutsche Democratic Republic)