Page 44 - History 2020

Part 2 – Enlightenment: Paris

How the hope and optimism of the Enlightenment gave way to Revolutionary Terror
and Napoleonic dictatorship

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Session 4: the 18 century Enlightenment and its enemies

How is France’s story different from Britain’s?
Britain was a watchword for instability between 1642 and 1688 (Civil War,
Restoration, Glorious Revolution), then became a model of stability. France was the

reverse; a model of stability from 1638 (the accession of Louis XIV) to 1789, then
became a watchword for instability (French Revolution onward). This is illustrated in
the table below.

Stories of Revolution compared – Britain and France
Britain, a watchword for stability and gradual change, has had three revolutions,
coups or changes of regime; 1649, 1660 and 1668. France, a watchword for instability

and revolution, has had sixteen, in 1789, 1792, 1793, 1795, 1799, 1804, 1815, 1830,
1848, 1851, 1852, 1870, 1871, 1940, 1946 and 1958.

Britain: revolutions/changes of regime
Pre-1649 England a monarchy since Anglo-Saxon Monarchy
times
1649 Charles I executed following English Civil Republic

War; Oliver Cromwell took over (“Lord (“Commonwealth”)
Protector” 1653)
1660 Monarchy restored under King Charles II Monarchy
1668 Glorious Revolution replaced James II by Parliamentary monarchy
daughter Mary

Since No further revolutions Parliamentary monarchy
1688

France: revolutions/changes of regime
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Pre-1789 France a monarchy since the 9 Century; Monarchy
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from the 16 century the Bourbons became
Europe’s leading absolute monarchy

1789 French Revolution broke out, new Constitutional monarchy
constitution
1792 King Louis XVI deposed (executed Jan 1793) Republic (“First Republic”)
1793 Committee of Public Safety set up; Reign of Republic
Terror