French Revolution quick thought...

It is not the origin of democracy. That line in the West goes back as far as the Athenians, through the Romans, the Magna Carta and the English Quiet Revolution. All of which precedes the French Revolution. Nor does it signify the origin of totalitarianism whose earliest versions go back to the Kingdoms of the Ancient World. What it does represent (if you only look at its negative side)  is the earliest version of the Totalitarian Ideological State whose modern incarnations in the 20th century were responsible for a great deal of horror in contemporary times

The Revolution on the streets: Source: thoughtco.co

Western History 140: Would the French Revolution have happened if it weren’t for the American Revolution?

Yes it would have in my opinion. The chief causes of the French Revolution are largely independent of the American Revolution. Although one can make the case that the impact of the American Revolution greatly catalyzed the onset of the French Revolution (via debt payment and the influence of liberalism).

The following were however the key drivers.

• Economic collapse caused by poor productivity (often a function of severe winters) that was further exacerbated by grossly unfair taxes/tithes levied on the 3rd Estate. Push back by both the 1st and 2nd Estates against prudent compromise (recommended by several finance ministers - Necker, Turgot etc) further worsened the issue. Many of these economic problems were also compounded by France’s other wars (Seven Years war for example) and the Ancien Regime’s overextended imperialistic endeavors that were predicated on failed mercantilism.
• Growing grass root Bourgeoisie agitation for political representation
• The Influence of the Philosophers - Voltaire, Diderot, Rousseau, Montesquieu etc. that highlighted an unsustainable class structure that was on a collision course with both Enlightenment and later Romantic values.
• Weak leadership by Louis XVI and an incompetent elite that operated around a bubble located at Versailles.

Source: deadliestfiction.fandom.com

Western History 139: What were the political implications of the French Revolution on the politics of Europe?

There were a number of implications all of which are worthy of further consideration. Here are some of the key ones :

• The growth of nationalism as a political force - Revolutions based on the Nationalist argument would grip Europe in 1830 and 1848 (impetus eventually for German and Italian unification);
• Spread of Liberalism throughout the continent (the initial phase of the Revolution was liberal it turned regressive later)- Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen (1789)was a positive driver;
• The formalization of Left and Right as political constructs (these have their origin in the French Revolution);
• The Napoleonic Era that followed plunged Europe into a period of continuous war that lasted from the late 18th century until his defeat at Waterloo in 1815 - Napoleon also created an early version of the Modern police state ;
• The beginning of the demise of formalized aristocracy in the European power structure;
• The outgrowth of Bourgeoisie politics and the influence of the educated middle class;
• Promotion of an anti-clerical thinking across the continent;
• Further cementing of Balance of Power alliances that would continue until WWI;
• Excesses of the Reign of Terror revealed the dangers of an unchecked far leftism;
• Women’s rights were given a platform during the French Revolution that would gain traction continent wise;
• It showed the folly of placing ideology ahead of pragmatism (not all would learn this lesson unfortunately);
• It provided a go ahead to remove ossified political/administrative structures that in the long term would help seed the grounds for meritocracy across the continent (by no means an immediate process).

Liberty leading the People source: theculturetrip.com

Pretoria Boys High School

My Education at Pretoria Boys High School

The High School that I attended in South Africa (between the years 1983-1986) has a website.
See http://www.boyshigh.com/
The school is located in Pretoria and is (and was) known for its strong academic and sports focus.



Pretoria Boys High School: Source facebook.com

Pleasant Memories include:

1. The Friends I made (isn't that true of so many experiences in life?)
2. The School Wide Cross Country Run (always a hoot for the non-competitive).
3. History lessons with Roy Hoggan and Carol Turton. Best teachers I ever had.
4. David Wylde (an Oxford Don) dissecting Hamlet. Another wonderful teacher.
5. The School's open air production of Hamlet - (The Main building was well represented as Castle Elsinor).
6. Winning the School Wide General Knowledge competition and then placing 4th in the Nationwide Championships.
7. Table Tennis and Philosophical discussions at Lunch
8. Representing the School in an environmental research Competition.
9. The Final Graduation Dance.
10. Discovering a love for science in Ms. Skinner's Grade 10 Physics course. Up until then I was indifferent to the subject.
11. The School Tuck Shop
12. I didn't mind the Assemblies - We had one per day and they usually started and ended on a positive note. Being Jewish and having to listen to Christian School Prayer didn't bother me either. I was never forced to participate in any religious instruction.
13. Winning Academic Colours on a few occasions.

Unplesasant Memories

1. The high level of Anti-Semitism and Racism in the School (amongst students and some Staff).
2. Dealing with Bullies.
3. Consistently poor Math teachers for the most part. I excelled at the subject despite them.
4. Being Forced to do vaults in Gym.
5. Caning (I must have been caned close to fifty times).
6. No girls at the School - A downer. Indirectly fostered cult of masculinity.
7. The over emphasis on Rugby as the Sport of All-Sports
8. Fascist based hair cut requirements.
9. Military Cadet marches.
10. Poor English teachers from Grades 9-11 who weren't interested for the most part in showing one how to write an essay - Another skill that I finally learnt on my own and improved on in David Wylde's Grade 12 Course.
11. Having to study Afrikaans - a dreadful language.
12. Shooting - I was a lousy marksman.

Western History 138: Was the French Revolution largely a Positive or Negative Development?

A bit of both.

Here are the Positives:

·         It brought to an end a corrupt monarchy and the equally complicit First and Second Estates;

·         The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (1789) which introduced natural rights (that are universal) into the continental framework - this would help in the development of both freedom and democracy;

·         It strengthened the French National character (gave the Third Estate more power);

·         Meritocracy was given breathing room to evolve at the expense of elitist privilege;

·         Women’s voices were actively heard through such action as the March of the Women on Versailles;

·         It limited the power of the clergy in France;

·         It provided a framework for the reorganization of France politically (into more structured departments);

·         It would provide a catalyst to challenge monarchical autocracy throughout the continent;

·         French law would be reformed on a more equitable basis.

·         Necessary modifications took place to the taxation system in France.

·         From a learning perspective - It allowed us to see the ramifications of a positive movement being engulfed by a radical intolerant ideology.

And now for the Negatives

·         It ultimately lead to the Rise of Napoleon and the Coalition Wars that would engulf Europe (and elsewhere) until 1815;

·         The Revolution was hijacked by a destructive ideology (Jacobinism) that would eventually culminate in the establishment of a police state;

·         Group Identity politics dominated much of its proceedings - although it appeared to champion individualism the Revolution in practice centered on group politics;

·         It was the mother of Far Leftism - Marxist-Leninism owes a great deal of gratitude to the Revolution's earlier fellow travelers.

Western History 137: Finally the Directory Period at the end of the French Revolution. What happened here?

After the horrors of the Reign of Terror the Directory Period was a necessary respite. Starting in early 1795 Jacobin leaders were prosecuted and  Amnesty was  granted to the Vendéen rebels. Reign of Terror prosecutor Antoine Quentin Fouquier-Tinville was sentenced to death after his trial while Jacobin uprisings were put down in May. After the death of the young Louis XVII, his uncle Count of Provence took the title Louis XVIII.

Food riots continued to be a problem in Paris with unrest continuing in the Vendée. Royalist forces assisted by Britain established a beachhead in Brittany but they are forced to surrender on July 21st. France did enjoy military success against Spain and actually secured control of territory on the Island of Saint-Dominigue that is today known as the Dominican Republic.

By September a  New Constuition was adopted that  established a Bicameral legislature for France.  A Five member Directory would serve as the government executive.

The Five Man Directory: Source French Revolution Timeline project

In October the up-and-coming  Napoleon Bonaparte would put down Royalist uprising with a 'whiff of grapeshot'. At the same time the First Directory was chosen. It would  consist of Jean-François Reubell, Étienne-François Letourneur, Paul Barras (a friend of Napoleon), Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès  and Lazare Carnot. As expected there was infighting occurs from the get-go. On the military front an armistice with Prussia and Austria was reached in December.

Lazare Carnot source: Britanica.com

Early Directory initiatives included the creation of  the post of  Minister of Police, termination of the . inflation plagued assignat currency and the final suppression of the Vendéen rebellion. Napoleon was named commander of the Army of Italy. A coup d’etat from the far left led by François-Noël Babeuf was put down. Babeuf and his revolutionaries would later be sentenced to death and executed

François-Noël Babeuf source: Alpha history

Much of the events in 1796 political event events were dominated by Napoleon's successful Italian Campaign .

However by 1797 relations between France and the US worsened  as a consequence of the Directory’s  orders to seize American warships. The French military continued its victorious run in Italy consolidating territory. Napoleon Bonaparte set up the pro-French Ligurian Republic in Genoa and the Cisalpine Republic in Northern Italy.  

Italy in 1799 source: etc.usf.edu

On the home front Royalist power increased in the Councils. Barras and the military General Hoche (the victor in Brittany) did however swing the balance in favour of the Republican with the Coup of 18 Fructidor.  Soon afterward  political clubs were banned. France was becoming a military dictatorship.



General Lazare Hoche source; frenchempire.net

In October 1797 the Treaty of Campo Formio ended the War of the First Coalition. France now had control of the Austrian Netherlands, the Left Bank of the Rhine and the allegiance of several ‘sister’ republics in Italy.

By 1798 the  Directory though was at odds with the Pope. France reacted by invading Rome and setting up a pro-French Roman Republic. The Helvetian Republic was also established in Switzerland as another adjunct of France's expansion. Napoleon would begin his Egyptian Campaign.

1799 saw conflict between the  Legislature and Directory. Both Royalist and Jacobin uprisings were put down. Bonaparte's coup d'etat  in November of the year forced the adoption of the Constitution of the Year VIII. A Consulate was established bringing the Directory to an end.