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Peasants into Frenchmen The Modernization of Rural France, 1870-1914

Peasants into Frenchmen The Modernization of Rural France, 1870-1914. Interpretations of Eugen Weber’s Work. Weber’s Thesis. During the Belle Epoch/Fin de Siecle –so during the 3 rd Republic- …. Pre-Modernization France-Mentalite.

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Peasants into Frenchmen The Modernization of Rural France, 1870-1914

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  1. Peasants into FrenchmenThe Modernization of Rural France, 1870-1914 Interpretations of Eugen Weber’s Work

  2. Weber’s Thesis • During the Belle Epoch/Fin de Siecle –so during the 3rd Republic- …

  3. Pre-Modernization France-Mentalite • “Most of France was isolated & impoverished peasant communities where urban-based French culture, French language, and national consciousness had made few inroads- despite 1789 and 1848” • Underdeveloped France  “1789 & 1848 were not trivial, just incomplete.” Politics remained local and personal until those interests became linked to national ones and understood as such.

  4. Traditional Culture of France • Oral Culture • Illiterate Majority of rural France was; oral tradition KEY • Veillees Village goes to one person’s house at night to tell stories AND save fuel; creates a sense of community • Subsistence farming NOT part of the market econ • Markets & fairs Local events that create a sense of community • Peddlers Itinerate travelers who carried songs & stories • No concept of being part of the nation 

  5. Pre-Modernization Statistics • 1810- Agriculture accounted for 66% of the national product; ¾ of citizens were rural • 1812- 121 French bell ringers killed during storms to ward away evil hail-bringing spirits • 1860- 1 in 5 citizens of France didn’t speak French- French was a foreign language! • Basque, Breton, Flemish, German, Gascon, Italian, Corsican, Catalan, & Bearnais • 1906- only 1 in 4 draftees could explain why July 14th was a national holiday

  6. NOT just mindless devotion to the old ways…. Peasants resistant to Change • Tradition • Plot size too small to modernize • Pervasive insecurity can’t take risks on new techniques • Prayer over fertilizer • Resistant to education  • Distrust of the government  • France ONLY administratively unified  1 government, 1 tax code, 1 army, but many nations

  7. Agencies of Change • Transportation • Educational Reforms • Universal Military Conscription

  8. Transportation • Rail Road “Greatly undermined the isolation of separate communities” • Bikes & roads Centralization Results • Culture connected • Trade GREATLY increased 1850 1860 1890 1870 Kilometers of RR in… 1830 1840 1860 1880 1900

  9. Education Reforms • Jules Ferry led reforms (1881-1886) •  Free & compulsory education •  Centralized curriculum •  New buildings & books •  Trained teachers

  10. Centralization Results of Education Reform • Taught French language  • Taught urban values  • Created shared experience  • Taught nationalism  • Progress = good 

  11. Teaching Nationalism & Lying with Maps Map French texts books are using ACTUAL map of Europe- note the Rhine River The magic “moving” border between France & Germany!

  12. Universal Military Conscription Continued the process schools began • Orders and signs… • Patriotism & nationalism • shared experience •  Made the gov’t more acceptable • agent of emigration •  Illiterate soldiers had to serve one more year 

  13. Results • Modernity brought “unexpected hope and comfort to the peasants”  “Many grieved over the loss of yesterday, but few who grieved were peasants… Thatched cottages…are picturesque on the outside, [but] living in them is another matter.” • When modern farming techniques proved useful… • Attitudes toward education changed Parents WANTED their kids to go to school  •  • Civil Servant jobs Jobs in gov’t & military  •  More good feelings about the gov’t

  14. More Results • Technology changed customs  RR- no more peddlers, so songs & stories die out; better heat, so veillees die out • Printing killed oral culture  • Development of a national consciousness  • French unity now more than just administrative unity--> • Altered mentalite • France “becomes” L’hexagone •  nickname- ONE nation (state?)

  15. Analysis • Shows how small communities are absorbed into a nation and a nation-state • Reminds us how recent present levels of integration really are

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