Four Phases Of Revolution example essay topic

The Anatomy of Revolution by Crane Brinton In The Anatomy of Revolution, Brinton argues that the four major democratic revolutions of Western Civilization-the English, American, French, and Russian revolutions, were fundamentally similar in their causes, phases, and results. Brinton supports this argument through the use of scientific methods applied to the study of history. Among the causes of the revolutions that Brinton lists, the most important appear to be an acceptable level of well being combined with rising expectations, an ineffective government, excessive taxation, and abandonment of the government by the intellectuals. Contrary to popular belief, revolutions do not occur when everyone is poor and starving, but rather when the middle and the merchant classes experience rising expectations that are not being fulfilled. In France, for example, just before the revolution, the economy was rising. The harvests were ample; however, most of the wealth was monopolized by the aristocracy.

The peasants and merchants had high hopes for improving their economic conditions, but when these wishes did not come true, they were infuriated. James I provides an example of an ineffective government. Despite his constant raising of taxes, he continued to drive the English economy deeper into debt. The reign of his son, Charles I, was no better. The slogan "No taxation without representation", excited many colonists in America to revolt against the unjust taxes placed upon them by George. In Russia, almost all intellectuals opposed the Czar.

Writing and teaching in those days meant being against the government. The four phases of revolution are the first stages, moderate rule, a reign of terror and virtue by the extremists, and reaction. In the first stages of the American Revolution, a form of parallel government was set up called the Committees of Correspondence, which provided the basis for revolutionary agitation. After the overthrow of Charles I in England, Cromwell and Parliament ruled together in a moderate government. The moderate rule in Russia after the overthrow of the Czar was ended by the radical Bolsheviks, who consolidated their power through purges.

The Thermidorian Reaction in France occurred when the much too radical Robespierre was killed and Napoleon came to power. The main result of revolutions is that the countries emerge from them better than they were before the revolution. France under Napoleon became a great power, and the structure of government was simplified and strengthened. In the United States, the Constitution was written which set up a government that ruled more fairly than the monarchy of England. Russia under Trotsky and Lenin improved its industry and the efficiency of its government increased. England emerged with more competent monarchs who were willing to work with Parliament for the good of the people.

Brinton supports the ties between the revolutions through the use of scientific methods. He compares the signs of revolutions to the symptoms a doctor might use in determining a diagnosis. From observations in a laboratory, scientists observe trends and create theories. Brinton observed the trends in these four great revolutions and found connecting threads, which soundly prove his points about the anatomy of revolution. Crane Brinton received a B.A. from Harvard, and then went on to become a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, where he received his doctorate. Since then he has been a professor in the History Department at Harvard and also Chairman of the Society of Fellows.