CONTEMPORARY HISTORY
When does contemporary history start?
Some scholars believe that the French Revolution is the beg of CH- it was so dramatic (1789)-for the
first time common people revolted before the old regime and the king
Others disagree and believe that CH- Congress of Vienna (1814) that is when CH started- conservative
elites want everything to be as before the FR
OTHERS assume that the Second Industrial Revolution is the turning point of modern history
The most important change is brought by the change of the mass society (20th century)
Marx spoke of the dual revolution regarding the economic changes by also embracing the political
changes
Lecture 1
FROM THE SECOND FRENCH EMPIRE TO THE THIRD FRENCH REPUBLIC
France
considered one of the most advanced countries in Europe, the place where it all began (“The
Principle of Separation of Powers”, equality, general liberties)
By the end of the 19th century, it was left in great political and economic instability
THE LONG WAVE OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
After Napoleon's defeat in 1815, the political situation was atrocious. So after the last Napoleonic
wars, “The Congress of Vienna” aimed to reverse the reforms that took place in France, to reinstall
the political principles before the Revolution, and to erase the revolutionary experience. So after the
Bourbon dynasty came back in 1815, they wanted to recreate a conservative system where people
from the lower class did not have access to power, therefore they reorganized the social classes.
Under this system the people of France were divided into three social classes or estates:
The First Estate
o less than 1% of the population, made up of the Roman Catholic Church clergy
o scorned Enlightenment ideas
o contributed 2% of their income to the Government
The Second Estate
o almost 2% of the population, made up of rich nobles
o held high offices in the Government
o disagreed about Enlightenment ideas
o owned 20% of the land and paid almost no taxes
The Third Estate
o about 97% of the population, including the bourgeoisie, urban lower class, and
peasant farmers
o had no power to influence the Government
o embraced Enlightenment ideas
o resented the I and II estates
However, you cannot delete ideas, so even though Congress was just a formality, it recreated order
and the people’s will. France was deeply divided politically, and conservatives were happy with the
monarchy of Louis VIII and determined to make it last. Continuity was his basic policy. He did not
try to recover land and property taken from the royalist exiles. He continued peacefully the main
objectives of Napoleon's foreign policy, such as the limitation of Austrian influence. Liberals,
however, wanted the king to share the power with the legislature.
After the death of his brother, Charles X ascended the throne in 1824. Because of his policy people
were against him, and it was the first time that French people revolved.
During the “Three Glorious Days of Paris” (or the July Revolution), Charles the X was
overthrown from the French throne. The Parliament appointed Louis Phillipe of Orleans as
the new king. → ERRATIC CHANGE
Why is it an ERRATIC CHANGE?:
hereditary rights
When does contemporary history start?
Some scholars believe that the French Revolution is the beg of CH- it was so dramatic (1789)-for the
first time common people revolted before the old regime and the king
Others disagree and believe that CH- Congress of Vienna (1814) that is when CH started- conservative
elites want everything to be as before the FR
OTHERS assume that the Second Industrial Revolution is the turning point of modern history
The most important change is brought by the change of the mass society (20th century)
Marx spoke of the dual revolution regarding the economic changes by also embracing the political
changes
Lecture 1
FROM THE SECOND FRENCH EMPIRE TO THE THIRD FRENCH REPUBLIC
France
considered one of the most advanced countries in Europe, the place where it all began (“The
Principle of Separation of Powers”, equality, general liberties)
By the end of the 19th century, it was left in great political and economic instability
THE LONG WAVE OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
After Napoleon's defeat in 1815, the political situation was atrocious. So after the last Napoleonic
wars, “The Congress of Vienna” aimed to reverse the reforms that took place in France, to reinstall
the political principles before the Revolution, and to erase the revolutionary experience. So after the
Bourbon dynasty came back in 1815, they wanted to recreate a conservative system where people
from the lower class did not have access to power, therefore they reorganized the social classes.
Under this system the people of France were divided into three social classes or estates:
The First Estate
o less than 1% of the population, made up of the Roman Catholic Church clergy
o scorned Enlightenment ideas
o contributed 2% of their income to the Government
The Second Estate
o almost 2% of the population, made up of rich nobles
o held high offices in the Government
o disagreed about Enlightenment ideas
o owned 20% of the land and paid almost no taxes
The Third Estate
o about 97% of the population, including the bourgeoisie, urban lower class, and
peasant farmers
o had no power to influence the Government
o embraced Enlightenment ideas
o resented the I and II estates
However, you cannot delete ideas, so even though Congress was just a formality, it recreated order
and the people’s will. France was deeply divided politically, and conservatives were happy with the
monarchy of Louis VIII and determined to make it last. Continuity was his basic policy. He did not
try to recover land and property taken from the royalist exiles. He continued peacefully the main
objectives of Napoleon's foreign policy, such as the limitation of Austrian influence. Liberals,
however, wanted the king to share the power with the legislature.
After the death of his brother, Charles X ascended the throne in 1824. Because of his policy people
were against him, and it was the first time that French people revolved.
During the “Three Glorious Days of Paris” (or the July Revolution), Charles the X was
overthrown from the French throne. The Parliament appointed Louis Phillipe of Orleans as
the new king. → ERRATIC CHANGE
Why is it an ERRATIC CHANGE?:
hereditary rights
