Ap World History
EUROPEAN HISTORY DBQ
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1. Explain the reasons for the adoption of a new calendar in revolutionary France and analyze reactions to it in the period 1789 to 1806.
Historical Background: On November 24, 1793, the National Convention adopted a revolutionary calendar to replace the Gregorian calendar (established by the
Roman Catholic Church in 1582). New Year’s Day was moved from January 1 to
September 22, the founding date of the French Republic, and this date in 1792 marked the beginning of Year One. The months were renamed, assigned a uniform 30 days and divided into 3 weeks of 10 days each (décade). The remaining 5 days of the year were to be celebrated as republican festivals (sans-culottides) in honor of Virtue,
Intelligence, Labor, Opinion, and Rewards. The revolutionary calendar continued through the republican era but was eventually abolished by Napoleon I in 1806.
Document 1
Source: Cahier de doléances (report of grievances), Third Estate of Château-Thierry, 1789.
We ask that the number of religious holidays be reduced, for each of them enchains the activity of a great people, being of considerable detriment to the State, not to mention the numerous disadvantages of idleness. The observance of Sunday will become more solemn and holy, and this necessary reduction will make worship more acceptable to God.
Document 2
Source: Gilbert Romme, head of the calendar reform committee, “Report on the Republican
Era,” speech before the National Convention, September 20, 1793.
The Church calendar was born among an ignorant people. For eighteen centuries it has served to mark the progress of fanaticism, the debasement of nations, the persecution and disgust experienced by virtue, talent, and philosophy under cruel despots. We are finished with royalty, the source of all our ills.
Time opens a new book for history, and it must use a new pen to record the annals of a regenerated France. Thus, the equality of day and night occurred in
.
1. Explain the reasons for the adoption of a new calendar in revolutionary France and analyze reactions to it in the period 1789 to 1806.
Historical Background: On November 24, 1793, the National Convention adopted a revolutionary calendar to replace the Gregorian calendar (established by the
Roman Catholic Church in 1582). New Year’s Day was moved from January 1 to
September 22, the founding date of the French Republic, and this date in 1792 marked the beginning of Year One. The months were renamed, assigned a uniform 30 days and divided into 3 weeks of 10 days each (décade). The remaining 5 days of the year were to be celebrated as republican festivals (sans-culottides) in honor of Virtue,
Intelligence, Labor, Opinion, and Rewards. The revolutionary calendar continued through the republican era but was eventually abolished by Napoleon I in 1806.
Document 1
Source: Cahier de doléances (report of grievances), Third Estate of Château-Thierry, 1789.
We ask that the number of religious holidays be reduced, for each of them enchains the activity of a great people, being of considerable detriment to the State, not to mention the numerous disadvantages of idleness. The observance of Sunday will become more solemn and holy, and this necessary reduction will make worship more acceptable to God.
Document 2
Source: Gilbert Romme, head of the calendar reform committee, “Report on the Republican
Era,” speech before the National Convention, September 20, 1793.
The Church calendar was born among an ignorant people. For eighteen centuries it has served to mark the progress of fanaticism, the debasement of nations, the persecution and disgust experienced by virtue, talent, and philosophy under cruel despots. We are finished with royalty, the source of all our ills.
Time opens a new book for history, and it must use a new pen to record the annals of a regenerated France. Thus, the equality of day and night occurred in