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in the french revolution, historian albert mathiez claimed that leadership fell to the middle class because of what those people knew about enlightenment ideas.
the revolution had been accomplished in the minds of men long before it was translated into fact. . . .
the middle class . . . was sensitive to their inferior legal position. the revolution came from them—the middle class. the working classes were incapable of starting or controlling the revolution. they were just beginning to learn to read.
source: albert mathiez, the french revolution, grosset & dunlap, 1964 (adapted)
how did ideas impact the french revolution, according to mathiez? why did the middle class, rather than the working class, drive the revolution?
- For how ideas impacted the French Revolution: From the document, Mathiez said "The Revolution had been accomplished in the minds of men long before it was translated into fact" and the middle class led because of their knowledge of Enlightenment ideas. So Enlightenment ideas (in people's minds) prepared the way for the Revolution, and the middle class's knowledge of these ideas let them take leadership.
- For why the middle class drove it: The middle class was "sensitive to their inferior legal position" (so they had motivation) and knew Enlightenment ideas. The working class "were just beginning to learn to read", so they lacked the knowledge (of Enlightenment ideas) and ability to start/control the Revolution.
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- Impact of ideas: According to Mathiez, Enlightenment ideas had already "accomplished the Revolution in the minds of men" before it happened in reality, and the middle class's knowledge of these ideas allowed them to take leadership of the Revolution.
- Why middle class drove it: The middle class was aware of their inferior legal position (giving them motivation) and had knowledge of Enlightenment ideas. The working class, however, was just starting to learn to read and lacked the knowledge and capability to start or control the Revolution.