THE FRENCH REVOLUTION AND NAPOLEON

Term Paper Guide:

Midst-of-the-Term Study Questions

Study Questions clarified by LefebvreNEW!!!

Final Exam Study QuestionsNEW!!!

More information

Chronology of the French Revolution

Syllabus

This course has two broad purposes. First it will familiarize students with the stirring events, colorful personalities, and generative ideas involved in the French Revolution, which culminated in Napoleon's empire. This eighteenth-century event was epochal because it brought down the ancien regime and led to our modern political arrangements, which were liberally spread by Napoleon. Second, and equally important, it will provide an explanation for the occurrence of a revolution in this specific society during the Age of Enlightenment. Emphasis will be placed on a structural analysis of French society in the eighteenth century: structural analysis provides a means of explaining both why people revolted against their "old regime" and how some people succeeded in gaining power and accomplishing change. The roles of ideas, individuals, social classes, politics and politico-economic trends in causing and affecting the Revolution will all be examined. Examining the career and work of Napoleon at the end, furthermore, it will be possible to evaluate the positive as well as negative results of the revolution.
In the process of studying the now "classical" model of revolution, students will be introduced gratis to the special academic discipline dealing with the problem of revolutionary change. This discipline has raised such stimulating questions as:

How do revolutions occur?
What are the prerequisites of revolution?
Must violence occur to bring about change?
Why do revolutions seem to move toward the left?
Are revolutions constructive or destructive?

Class routine and grades:

The class routine will consist mainly of lectures and some class discussions. It is imperative that the student read the material assigned regularly and study the problems encountered.
There will be two midst-of-the-term examinations and one final exam. Students will also be required to write a research essay (i.e., term paper). The final grade will be determined by averaging the letter grades for these requirements, with the final exam counting double. The instructor may add an extra class grade to raise the final grades of students who work hard, attend class regularly and actively participate in class discussions.

Textbooks for the course follow:

A. Cobban, History of Modern France, Vol. I
G. Lefebvre, Coming of the French Revolution
R. R. Palmer, The Twelve Who Ruled
R. Holtman, The Napoleonic Revolution

Special assistance:

Students with special challenges that may require assistance or accommodations, or with questions related to any accommodations for testing, note takers, readers, etc..., are encouraged to speak with the instructor at their earliest convenience. Students may also contact the Office of Student Affairs (755-4534) with questions about such services.

Electronic connections:

All of the class information, syllabus, bibliography, term paper guide, and announcements are available by internet. The course homepage address is www.utc.edu/~bwright/ I will also encourage submission of certain assignments by e-mail. You may also contact me by e-mail at bwright@cecasun.utc.edu If you do not have a personal computer, please make use of the university facilities in the Hunter Student Lab, Library, and other locations. If you do not have an account, please apply for one. Help in using this medium may be obtained at the Hunter Student Lab and in the Library.

Exam Schedule:

Midst-of-the-Term Exam I, 18 February 2000; Midst-of-the-Term Exam II, 27 March 2000; Final Exam, 26 April 2000, 11:00-1:00, according to the Timetable.

Attendance:

Attendance is highly recommended since lectures are an essential component of learning in this course. The class will meet regularly, as indicated in STARS, and lectures and class discussions will follow the course outline. Attendance is required for all exams. If a student cannot be present for an examination, it is up to the student to contact the instructor and demonstrate an excused absence (e.g., court summons, hospitalization, death in the immediate family). Excused absences for an exam must be cleared up within a week of the event and arrangement made for a makeup exam. Unexcused absences on exams will result in a zero grade.

Grades:

Semester grades will represent the semester average, calculated with the following grade components: the average of the two midst- of-the-term exams, the term paper, and the double-value comprehensive final exam. Hence, five components will be averaged, with the final representing two of the components. The instructor may add a sixth component, a class-grade, in order to raise a student's average. Calculations will be made using the 4-point system; i.e., A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, F = 0, and zero = -1. (Rounding off will move up from .51 or higher.)

Outline and Lecture Topics:

Announcements:

Exam I: Wednesday, 16 February 2000
New: A chronology of the revolution has been added.
Exam II: tba
Titles, subjects/theses, and bibliography for term papers due Friday, 21 January 2000.

More Information

Gottschalk Model for Revolution:

Maps of France:

The growing ancien regime:From Rand McNally, Atlas of World History, p. 99.

The ancien regime in 1789:From Goubert's The Course of French History, p. 172.

Government of the Church:

Sub-ranks of French Nobility:

Les Parlements in 1789:

For additional information, call 755-4563 or e-mail bwright@cecasun.utc.edu.

History Department
408e Brock Hall
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
615 McCallie Avenue
Chattanooga, TN 37403-2598
(423) 755-4561

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Arts & Sciences

1 January 2000, Circumcisio domini.
Last updated 15 April (Fr. v. Palme) 2000
Comments to: Bill Wright

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The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is an EEO/AA/Title VI/TitleIX/Section 504/ADA institution.