Order and democracy in Paris from the oath of the clergy to the tricolour terror, January-August 1791
The first chapters of this thesis explore the picture of eighteenth-century Parisian popular culture emerging from recent research, and suggest how it may be incorporated into a history of Parisian popular disturbances in 1789. Developing themes from this, the thesis explores the interaction in 1791 between popular perceptions of the revolutionary situation and the perceptions of popular activity by the authorities and other opinion-forming groups, notably the press and the popular societies. The picture which emerges from comparison of police records with press and administrative reports is one of near-paranoid suspicion. Suspicion focused on the conception that popular discontent over socio-economic and political issues was necessarily the product of ignorance coupled with rabble-rousing by agents of aristocratic factions. In a situation of rising political tensions, stimulated by dissent amongst the clergy and royal reluctance to approve the new settlement, records show popular concerns over these events falling into spirals of growing alarm, as the press reflected back to the people the fears that their activities were provoking. Confusion over the identity of alleged seditious elements, coupled with social
Andress, David Robert
French Revolution
Order and democracy in Paris from the oath of the clergy to the tricolour terror, January-August 1791. The first chapters of this thesis explore the picture of eighteenth-century Parisian popular culture emerging from recent research, and suggest how it may be incorporated into a history of Parisian popular disturbances in 1789. Developing themes from this, the thesis explores the interaction in 1791 between popular perceptions of the revolutionary situation and the perceptions of popular activity by the authorities and other opinion-forming groups, notably the press and the popular societies. The picture which emerges from comparison of police records with press and administrative reports is one of near-paranoid suspicion. Suspicion focused on the conception that popular discontent over socio-economic and political issues was necessarily the product of ignorance coupled with rabble-rousing by agents of aristocratic factions. In a situation of rising political tensions, stimulated by dissent amongst the clergy and royal reluctance to approve the new settlement, records show popular concerns over these events falling into spirals of growing alarm, as the press reflected back to the people the fears that their activities were provoking. Confusion over the identity of alleged seditious elements, coupled with social
order democracy paris clergy terror first_explore picture eighteenth_century parisian popular_culture emerge recent suggest may incorporate history parisian popular disturbance developing theme explore interaction popular_perception revolutionary situation perception popular activity authority opinion forming group notably press popular society picture_emerge comparison police record press administrative report near suspicion suspicion focus conception popular discontent socio_economic political_issue necessarily product ignorance couple agent aristocratic faction situation rise political tension stimulate dissent amongst clergy royal reluctance approve new settlement_record show popular concern event fall spiral grow alarm press reflect back people fear activity provoke confusion identity allege seditious element couple social