1) Describe the social, economic, cultural, and political factors that contributed to the Enlightenment in France. What were some of the new values that came with the Enlightenment? In what ways did the Enlightenment contribute to the Revolution?
2) The central theme of this class has been the development of a sense of "Frenchness" that overrides regional particularism. How did the French Revolution contribute to this development? What other factors after 1800 contributed to this process? What are some of the challenges the French face today in keeping this sense of "Frenchness"?
3) Since the Revolution, France has seen two monarchies (Bourbon and Orlean) two empires (Napoleon I and III), and is currently in its Fifth Republic. Discuss.
11 comments:
Question #3 is an open-ended question, as it does not ask for much specificity. Anyone have suggestions or ideas on how to approach this one? Discuss how each monarchy or empire may have played off, or affected, an other?
Dan, I was going to just discuss how they played off and why they kept changing.
Be sure to consider the factional soup that had developed by 1830 (republicans, Bonapartists, Orleanists, Legitimists, Constitutionalists, etc). Who was left out of each regime? How did social and economic change (industrialization, urbanization) create new interest groups?
Thanks for your input Leanne, sounds like a plan :-)
Excellent guidance for answering this question thoroughly, Dr. Johnson.....thanks!
for #3 as well, is there more depth to the idea of the reluctancy by the government during the Algerian War brought about the demise of the 4th republic leading to DeGauls rise?
I was considering talking about how the French have a very fluid identity of what is "French." Kind of going along with the other question, there is a huge regional variation which no doubt has contributed to this... what is French? If there is no solid definition, this could be a factor to the many republics and empires.
Josh,
You are correct, the Algerian crisis has a lot of depth, including the more general reluctance of France to "de-colonize" after WWII and the militancy of the inhabitants of Algeria of French descent.
Marissa,
"Fluid identity" is a good way to put it. After all of our individual presentations I think everyone is ready to think in these terms.
Does anyone know if department numbers were assigned in 1789 with the creation of the department system or if the department numbers came later?
For question #1 I believe that the Age of Exploration was the groundbreaking event that led to the origins of the Enlightenment. Discovering the new world not only challenged religion but also led to the formation of the middle class through the increased flow of materials and wealth from the French colonies in the Caribbean. With the creation of the middle class came the coffee houses where the Enlightenment began
For question #2 I believe that the Frenchness of the French people is depended upon what the majority of the French people decide is their culture at any given time. As Marissa said in her comment there is no definite answer as to what is French over the course of French history other than what was happening in France at the time.
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