The overall theme of the text details the intricate workings and outcome of the French Revolution, focusing particularly on the significant impact it had upon the daily life of the French people. McPhee is an Australian academic …show more content…
specializing in the study of modern French history with a particular focus on the French Revolution. The notable author does not appear particularly controversial in his manner but maintains a strong academic argument derived from his extensive background of study on this historical topic1. It is apparent through the detailed documentation of various citizens’ accounts through the text that each individual’s experience of the Revolution depended greatly upon their social status. The first excerpt presented is that of a nobleman who could not comprehend the ‘Revolutionary madness’ that had engulfed his country, illustrating the concern of those in high social standing as the Revolution threatened the foundations of the hierarchy2. Another source provided describes the devastation of the land caused by the Revolution, but most significantly the hostile nature of the people, stating that ‘misery is everywhere’. McPhee also refers to the French ideology that was seen to evolve considerably over the Revolution as the people began to gain a greater understanding of politics. This new culture was seen to vary across the board, leaving ‘a legacy of contrasting ideologies’ which did not appear to accurately represent the ambitions of the French people3. McPhee concludes his article with the powerful assertion that whilst revolutionary concepts originated through the political structure of Paris, it was in the small villages of France that the Revolution was felt most intensely.
A key point established by McPhee in his text is his view of the Revolution as a development of social identity, particularly for the lower social class of peasants.
He talks of the Revolution as an example of prominent social change as apposed to the political change that is generally the driving force of such an event. McPhee argues that the French Revolution was one in ‘perceptions of identity’ as the French people became more politically and socially aware. The author follows this view with the statement that the most significant and revolutionary transformation of the decade ‘was that from subject to citizen’4. A critique that could be drawn from this is the possibility that the growth of peasants was perhaps not the most overwhelming aspect of the Revolution. Popkin’s source analyses the foundations of the Revolution in ‘The Origins of the French Revolution’. The author refers to the ‘popular protests’ of citizens, which often had a ‘political impact’ contradicting the views of McPhee to some extent5. However, the sources can agree on the emergence of public opinion throughout the Revolution. Popkin explains that the opinions of men and women were formulated informally allowing the ‘collective thinking of private individuals, independent of their social status or political position’6. McPhee similarly refers to this as he describes the Revolution as a period in history when those of lower social standing ‘felt sufficiently confident to express themselves directly to …show more content…
the authorities’. Thus, the author conveys the significance in public opinion and growth of identity in forming the foundation for this Revolution.
Another powerful theme established in the text is the strong social discontent of the French people with respect to the tragic and numerous sufferings of men in battle.
Premature death was the tragic reality of the Revolution with around two million men serving in the army over the decade. The author supports this claim with statistical evidence, explaining that the reality of the situation was a grave number of deaths, with an estimated half of the 30 000 volunteers and conscripts dead by 1799. The Revolution began with desperate hope of a New France, with political, social and economic change. However, this belief was far from the reality of the ‘political instability, civil war, and armed conflict with the rest of Europe’ the people were subjected to7. McPhee highlights the views of many citizens who argued that the Revolution brought no significant change to their lives aside from the struggle endured throughout this decade. The author asserts that whilst women suffered significantly in terms of the loss of their men, their own roles in society became more prominent during the Revolution. Women were found to be placed in a ‘stronger position within the family’ following new laws of inheritance and the abolition of seigneuraialism8. This view is supported in the text ‘Feminism, Women and the French Revolution’ in which the author describes an image of ‘active, participating revolutionary women’. The author further refers to the introduction of greater female participation
in politics during the revolutionary period as evident through the Society of Revolutionary Republican Women formed in 17939. These facts support the claims of McPhee as he refers to the Revolutionary change of women’s roles in French society.
Ultimately, McPhee successfully conveys the facts of the Revolution with the integration of relevant and powerful source material and statistics, whilst establishing his own point of view surrounding daily life in France during this decade. The author concludes the account with his own philosophical opinion on the historical event and its overarching impact on the day-to-day lives of the French people.
Bibliography
McPhee, P., ‘Daily Life in the French Revolution’, French History and Civilisation, Papers from the George Rudé Seminar, 2 (2009): 25-40.
Popkin, J. D., ‘The Origins of the French Revolution’, Chapter 1 of A Short History of The French Revolution, 5th edn., Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson, 2010, 2-19.
Rose, R. B., ‘Feminism, Women and the French Revolution’, Australian Journal of Politics and History, 40 (2008):173, Accessed August 19 2014, <http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/doi/10.1111/j.1467-8497.1994.tb00879.x/abstract>.
Yavuz, E., ‘Review of the book The French Revolution 1789 – 1799’, Academia.edu, <http://www.academia.edu/1598517/A_Book_Review_The_French_History_1789_-_1799_by_Peter_McPhee>.
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