Les Révolutions de France et de Brabant: Risks and Rewards

Les Révolutions de France et de Brabant was a periodical written by Camille Desmoulins in which he criticizes the absolute French Monarchy. He calls for a revolution drawing inspiration from Brabant (a revolution that had recently started and was still ongoing). The weekly periodical lasted for two years resulting in eight volumes spanning 104 issues. This copy is owned by the University of Pennsylvania consisting of the first, third, fourth, and sixth volumes and is housed in the Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books, and Manuscripts.

Overview and Background

Portrait of Camille Desmoulins circa 1790

Camille Desmoulins was a French author, politician, and proponent of the revolution. He's known for instigating the Storming of Bastille, his criticism of the Reign of Terror, and for respectively being classmate and friend of Maximilien Robespierre and Georges Danton. He worked mostly as a lawyer until the inception of the Revolution becoming captivated by it leading to Desmoulins beginning his career of writing as a political journalist. As one can imagine he was renowned throughout France for his eloquence in both speech and writing along with his passion. His works are all widely disseminated and consumed. He was also a large advocate of linguistic reform to and simpler language in official documents and public discourse as to allow for participation from as many people as possible. He was accused of being a counter revolutionary for his disagreement with the direction of the revolution after the king had been removed and was sent to the guillotine in 1794 soon followed by his wife.

His work writing Les Révolutions de France et de Brabant helped to lift him out of the poverty created by his dwindling career as a lawyer. Its popularity remained constant through every installment. This was a credit towards his views on reform and linguistic simplicity to allow more sharing of information. He wrote in a style that could reach and consumed by more people using a combination of satire, commentary, political cartoons and illustrations, polemics, and basic reporting of current events. These publications were the fruits of a revolution. It drew upon the excitement of the revolutionaries in Brabant citing their eagerness and zest.

Historical Context: French Revolution (Late 1700s)

The French Revolution was a pivotal period in the late 18th century. It was fueled by a complex culmination of social, political, and economic issues which converged simultaneously thanks to orators and writers such as Camille Desmoulins. This transformative event began juxtaposed by Enlightenment ideas, an increasingly oppressive monarchy, and glaring socio-economic disparities within French society. France was an absolute monarchy under the rule of Louis XVI. The monarchy and aristocrats enjoyed considerable power and privilege, while the majority of the population struggled with poverty and inequities. The monarch's authority was rooted in an increasingly aging system, a system of governance that perpetuated social hierarchies and upheld feudal privileges, such as tax exemptions for the nobility and clergy.

The Enlightenment greatly influenced ideas that birthed the French Revolution. Enlightenment thinkers championed ideals of individual liberties, equality, and popular sovereignty. Their ideas, disseminated through France and Europe, fueled a growing demand for political and social change among the French citizens who found these ideas especially salient. Simultaneously, France faced severe economic challenges. Years of costly wars, including the American War Revolution, had depleted the royal treasury and burdened the nation with significant debt. To alleviate the financial strain, the monarchy resorted to implementing a harsh taxation policy that primarily affected the lower classes. This only added to the list of grievances that the French citizens had.

The clergy and nobility constituted the privileged classes, while the vast majority of the population, including the burgeoning middle class known as the bourgeoisie, endured oppressive conditions. The lower classes, peasants, and urban workers faced widespread poverty, food shortages, and unemployment. Tensions further escalated as a series of poor harvests and harsh winters plunged the country into widespread famine. The discontent was present all that the French Revolution needed was someone to take action.

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