History Major (Level 3)
History Minor (Level 3)
The French Revolution was a world-historical event and its outbreak in 1789 is widely regarded as marking the beginning of modern history. It is a topic that continues to attract attention from scholars across the globe and its interpretation remains deeply controversial, not least because so many of our current political practices and preoccupations originated during this period. Especially significant is the problem of violence in the Revolution. This module will explore how the democratic republic established in 1792 developed the repressive mechanisms of the Terror in 1793-94, as well as analysing the cultural experiments which accompanied this process. The subsequent attempt to end the Revolution after 1795, on the basis of a moderate republic, proved no more successful than the creation of a constitutional monarchy after 1789. An explanation for this political failure needs to be found, for historians have spent far more time studying how revolutions begin than how they can be brought to a conclusion. The module will end with an examination of the Napoleonic dictatorship that finally restored stability to France after a decade of upheaval, albeit at the cost of the liberal ideals which the Revolution proclaimed.
This module is linked to another, The French Revolution: Monarchy to Republic, 1789-1792, which precedes it. It may also be linked to the dissertation in History for which, as for these free-standing modules, there is a wealth of relevant material available in English, both at Keele and online.
For preparatory reading, you should try PM Jones, The French Revolution (Pearson, 2010) or Peter McPhee, The French Revolution (OUP, 2001). Greater detail and debate is to be found in William Doyle, The Oxford History of the French Revolution (OUP, 2002), Paul Hanson, Contesting the French Revolution (Wiley, 2009), Hugh Gough, The Terror in the French Revolution (Palgrave, 2010) and Malcolm Crook, Napoleon Comes to Power (University of Wales Press, 1998).
Deploy source material effectively in the process of historical analysis will be achieved by assessments: 1,3
Evaluate the transition from democratic republic to Napoleonic dictatorship in France in the late 1790s will be achieved by assessments: 2,3
Reflect critically on how revolutions end, frequently disappointing their liberal expectations will be achieved by assessments: 2,3
40 seminar preparation
30 essay
30 document exercises
30 exam preparation
Every other week students will be given some relevant documentation on which to write 400 words of commentary
Students will be asked to write their essay on a topic of their choice related to the syllabus
Students will be asked to comment on two documents (typically from a selection of six) and to answer one essay question (typically from a list of six)
This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.