HIST 107(F) Religion, Race, and Gender in the Age of the French Revolution*

The French Revolution was an important turning point in world history. Political, social, and religious experimentation were the order of the day, as revolutionaries sought to usher in an age of liberte (liberty), egalite (equality), and fraternite (brotherhood) between peoples of all backgrounds. Would revolutionary fraternity include women, African slaves, and Jews in the new democratic polity? French men and women debated these questions in ways that have had a direct impact on our contemporary discussions of race, gender, religious freedom and ethnicity. Framed within the context of Enlightenment ideas, a European-wide war, and a clerically inspired counter-revolution, the debates of the revolutionary years were intense, vitriolic, and of far-reaching import. In this course, we will explore these debates, their Enlightenment roots and works by contemporary historians. We will also examine the legacy of these debates for modern times. Evaluation will be based upon class participation, oral reports, several short papers, and group projects. Enrollment limited. Preference to first-year students.

Hour: SINGHAM