Ebric Hobsbawm and French revolution History Research Paper

Eric Hobsbawm and the French Revolution
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Eric Hobsbawm was a British historian and author of dozens of books over half a century. His books covered the broad history of Europe such as Echoes of the Marseillaise that looks back on the French revolution through a deeper scope. He approaches the European revolutions as ‘dual revolutions’ meaning that the demand for political change was influenced by the rapid industrial changes. At this time, pieces of literature regarding the French revolution were massively skewed and the narrative was mainly dominated by those who did not like it. This essay will analyze Eric’s perspective on the French revolution, similarities with other kinds of literature, its reviews by other scholars and its strengths and weaknesses.
History is not indistinguishable from fiction that is why there is a need for historians. The details of the French revolution have varied differently since 1789 mostly because of political agendas and other ideologies. However, there is one aspect people seem to agree on and it is the theories on the origin of the evolution. At the height of the crisis involving the old monarchy, there is a need for resolution and a senate assembly is called in 1788. The senate consisted of representatives of three estates of the realm, clergy, nobility and the third estate. This was the first involvement of the “Third Estate” in the national assembly since 1614 and it paved way for the drafting of the firsts constitutions of modern France. Also, there is no disagreement in the revolution of 1792, a war involving revolutionary France and foreign powers and insurrections that were against the revolution. This is after France abolished their monarchy to become a republic and the double radicalization lasted for years until 1815. CITATION Eri90 \l 1033 (Hobsbawm, 1990)[CITATION Eri90 \l 1033 (Hobsbawm, 1990) pg 17]
The relevance and impact of the France revolution to the history of the world are questionable but it is something that we have grown to accept. Most of it can be attributed to the quotes from historians such as Holland Rose, which described the events of the French revolution as, “terrible and momentous series of events in all history,” and the only way to go was up as the world ushered in the 19th century. CITATION Eri90 \l 1033 (Hobsbawm, 1990) Others were not too quick to acknowledge the significance of Europe’s history going forward but still acknowledged it to be a historical event since the fall of the Roman Empire in the fifth century. Therefore, the significance of the French revolution is what most people seem to disagree on. Eric’s retrospective analysis on this period is focused on three perspectives; the French Revolution as a bourgeois revolution, a model for subsequent revolutions and commemorations of the French Revolution between its first and its second centenaries.[CITATION Eri90 \l 1033 (Hobsbawm, 1990) Pg 18]
The rise of the bourgeoisie was the ultimate cause of the French revolution in 1789. Through the years, the notion has been supported by historians and became a major framework of research. Karl Marx’s understanding of the historical development relied heavily on the France evolution being bourgeois which stated that the uprisings allowed the middle class in the society to ascend into power. As a result, the country’s direction in the economy, the social structure changed due to the culture of capitalist trade and manufacture eighteenth-century France became synonymous for. CITATION Hen09 \l 1033 (Heller, 2009) Karl Marx’s approach has come into question not for being false, but for reducing the significance of the French revolution to a trivial power struggle between two classes. The model suits Karl’s theory because, in a capitalist era, it explains that the way to achieve a significant transformation of the society is through revolution.[]
Eric acknowledges that the revolution can be attributed to the bourgeois but doubts that it was the real intention. Although they did win against feudalism following the defeat of Napoleon, Eric believes that they favored noninterference in the economic affairs of the country. The slogan “laissez-faire, laissez-passer” a French saying meaning let things alone, let them pass was used to protest the government's involvement in the trade during the 18th century. To get to this point of the industrial revolution, the country had gone through periods of enlightenment, equality and the defeat of Napoleon. All the progression can be attributed to the rise and triumph of a specific class, the bourgeoisie. CITATION Eri90 \l 1033 (Hobsbawm, 1990) The rise of the bourgeoisie and the overthrow of the old regime coincided with the revolution therefore, it allowed perspective historians and people living in that era to make meaning of the radical change that was happening in the society.[CITATION Eri90 \l 1033 (Hobsbawm, 1990) pg 26]
The impact of the French revolution in History is undeniable as it inspired western politics, symbolism, and the use of language. Many independent or unified states in the world such as Germany and Italy designed their flags drawing inspiration from the French tricolor flag. This was not a new thing as the impact of a revolution can be seen after the American revolution. Countries such as Liberia, Panama, and Cuba derived their flags from the star-studded one of the United States of America. Unlike the American Revolution, however, the French revolution was seen as a global phenomenon and is responsible for numerous revolutions in the 18th century. CITATION Eri90 \l 1033 (Hobsbawm, 1990) Their ideologies and language spread far and wide from 1830 and sparked a rise in social moments in industrialized countries. From Germany to Austria, socialist revolutions persisted such as the anniversary celebrations of March 1848 victims (Märzgefallene). France has passed the ideologies and language needed for a successful revolution and it is not surprising that other European nations modeled it.[CITATION Eri90 \l 1033...