The French Revolution from Coursera

The French Revolution was one of the most important upheavals in world history. This course examines its origins, course and outcomes.

This course is designed for you to work through successfully on your own. However you will not be alone on this journey. Use the resources included in the course and take part in the suggested learning activities to get the most out of your learning. To successfully complete this course, it is recommended that you devote at least six hours to every module over the six weeks of the course. In that time you should watch the video lectures, reflect and respond to in-video pause points, and complete the quizzes.

As part of the required reading for this course, during each week of this course you will have free access to a chapter of Peter McPhee's textbook, The French Revolution, which is also available for purchase as an e-book.

View the MOOC promotional video here: http://tinyurl.com/gstw4vv

What's inside

Syllabus

Week 1 - France in the 1780s

We begin this course with an introduction to the French Revolution. We will examine the social and institutional structures of the Old Regime. We will look at the main occupational groups and the roles of the First and Second estates (the clergy and nobility) in particular. We will also consider the relationship between Paris and the provinces in Old Regime France. Finally, you will be introduced to the Enlightenment and we will reflect on its significance and its possible revolutionary implications.

Week 2 - The Revolution of 1789

This week we look at the Revolution of 1789 and its causes. We will explore the tensions and conflicts that led to the crisis of the Old Regime. The focus will be on the Third Estate and the revolt of the bourgeoisie, the 'menu peuple' and the peasantry. We will look at the Declaration of the Rights of Man and citizen and you will be asked to reflect on its 'universal' significance.

Week 3 - The Reconstruction of France, 1789-92

Week three of this MOOC deals with the reforms introduced in 1789-91. We look at the institutional and administrative reorganisation of France. We will then consider three critical turning points of the Revolution: the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, the King's attempted flight in 1791 and the outbreak of war in 1792. Finally we will look at the fate of the King and the ultimate failure of the monarchy. You will be asked to reflect on the immediate effects and longer-term consequences of these events.

Week 4 - The Republic in crisis 1792-93

Week four deals with the crisis of the Republic in 1792-93. We will examine the conflicts and disunity within the National Convention and consider the balance between revolutionary and counter-revolutionary forces by mid-1793. We will explore the civil war in the Vendee region of Western France and attempt to make sense of the growing revolutionary violence. We will look at the origins of the 'Terror', its institutions and its ideology, and students will be asked to reflect more broadly on the role of violence during the Revolution.

Week 5 - Ending the Terror and Ending the Revolution

This week we look at the ideology and culture of the 'Terror' and the nature of the Jacobin and sans-culottes alliance. We will consider possible explanations for the increasing intensity of revolutionary violence and ask whether such violence was a proportionate, emergency response to the growing counter-revolutionary threat. This module also deals with the end of the 'Terror', and the overthrow of Robespierre and the ensuing 'Thermidorian reaction'. Finally we look at the 'settlement' of 1795 and ask whether the Revolution was indeed over.

Week 6 - Change and continuity: How revolutionary was the Revolution?

This final week of the course offers you the opportunity to reflect broadly on the significance of the Revolution. We begin by looking at Napoleon Bonaparte and the Restoration of the monarchy in 1814-15. We then consider the ways in which the revolutionary experience affected the lives of women and slaves. We will discuss the Revolution's global implications and ask whether or not 1789 can be understood more broadly, as part of an international 'Age of Revolution'. Finally we explore the 'minimalist' and 'maximalist' approaches to the significance of the Revolution and you will be asked to reflect on the impact of the Revolution on the lives of French citizens.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Provides a solid foundation in French history and the French Revolution

Offers a comprehensive study of the Revolution

Taught by Peter McPhee, a renowned historian specializing in the French Revolution

Instructors provide a balanced perspective on the Revolution

Covers the social, institutional, and political aspects of the Revolution

Suitable for history enthusiasts and students

Reviews summary

French revolution overview

Learners say Professor McPhee is excellent and engaging in this well-structured course on the French Revolution. They appreciate the clear and detailed lectures, readings, and discussions that make the subject matter easy to follow. Despite an assignment that requires writing 1,000 words, students highly recommend this course to anyone with an interest in this fascinating and meaningful time in history.

Engaging discussions that help clarify the subject matter.

"Great discussions in forums and for once it cleared it up for me with regard to the different factions and what was happening."

"By far the course where the lecturer was the most involved in interacting with the online learners ."

Well-structured course with clear and detailed lectures.

"This is a really fantastic course - stimulating, well-structured, and pitched at just about the right level..."

"The videos, with transcripts, were very clear, detailed and helpfully illustrated."

"His presentation of history is interesting, detailed and very easy to follow..."

Excellent professor who is passionate and engaged.

"The lecturer of this course is by far the best of all I've seen."

"He's passionate, engaged, and his enthusiasm is contagious."

"Both the professor and the material were terrific!"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in The French Revolution with these activities:

Read 'The French Revolution' by Peter McPhee

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This book provides a comprehensive overview of the French Revolution, covering its causes, course, and outcomes.

View An Environmental History of France on Amazon

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Read the Introduction and Chapter 1.
Read Chapters 2 and 3.
Read Chapters 4 and 5.
Read Chapters 6 and 7.
Read the Conclusion.

Watch videos on the French Revolution on Coursera

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These videos provide a concise and engaging overview of the French Revolution.

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Watch the video 'The French Revolution: A Brief History'.
Watch the video 'The Causes of the French Revolution'.
Watch the video 'The Course of the French Revolution'.
Watch the video 'The Outcomes of the French Revolution'.

Create a timeline of the French Revolution

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This activity will help you to understand the chronology of the French Revolution.

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Identify the key events of the French Revolution.
Write down each event on a separate index card.
Arrange the index cards in chronological order.
Create a timeline by drawing a line on a piece of paper and marking the dates of the key events.

Five other activities

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Take a quiz on the French Revolution

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This quiz will help you to assess your knowledge of the French Revolution.

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Go to the Coursera website.
Find the quiz for the French Revolution course.
Take the quiz.

Discuss the French Revolution with a classmate

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This activity will help you to gain a deeper understanding of the French Revolution by discussing it with someone else.

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Find a classmate who is also taking the French Revolution course.
Schedule a time to meet with your classmate.
Discuss the French Revolution with your classmate.

Write a short essay on the causes of the French Revolution

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This activity will help you to develop your critical thinking and writing skills.

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Choose a topic for your essay.
Research your topic.
Write an outline for your essay.
Write your essay.
Proofread your essay.

Create a collection of resources on the French Revolution

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This activity will help you to become more organized and to develop your research skills.

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Find resources on the French Revolution.
Organize the resources into a collection.
Share the collection with others.

Contribute to a Wikipedia article on the French Revolution

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This activity will help you to learn more about the French Revolution and to contribute to the open source community.

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Find a Wikipedia article on the French Revolution.
Edit the article.
Submit your changes.

Career center

Learners who complete The French Revolution will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Historian

The French Revolution was an event that has reshaped the world, and this course will introduce you to its context, its events, and its consequences. Taking this course can help you develop skills in research, critical analysis, and synthesis, which are essential for a career as a Historian. It may also help you develop a specialized expertise in French history.

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Political Scientist

The French Revolution was one of the most important upheavals in world history, and this course will examine its origins, course, and outcomes. Taking this course can help you build a foundation in political science and develop skills in analysis, research, and writing, which are essential for a career as a Political Scientist. It may also help you develop a specialized expertise in the history of political revolutions.

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Lawyer

The French Revolution was a time of great legal and social change, and this course will examine the legal and institutional structures of the Old Regime, as well as the reforms introduced in 1789-91. Taking this course can help you build a foundation in legal history and develop skills in research, analysis, and writing, which are essential for a career as a Lawyer. It may also help you develop a specialized expertise in the history of law and legal institutions.

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Journalist

The French Revolution was a complex and multifaceted event, and this course will examine its causes, course, and outcomes. Taking this course can help you build a foundation in journalism and develop skills in research, analysis, and writing, which are essential for a career as a Journalist. It may also help you develop a specialized expertise in the history of revolutions.

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Teacher

The French Revolution was a transformative event in world history, and this course will provide you with the knowledge and skills to teach about it in a clear and engaging way. Taking this course can help you build a foundation in history education and develop skills in lesson planning, classroom management, and assessment.

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Museum curator

The French Revolution was a time of great social and political upheaval, and this course will introduce you to the key events and figures of this period. Taking this course can help you build a foundation in museum studies and develop skills in research, collection management, and exhibition design. It may also help you develop a specialized expertise in the history of the French Revolution.

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Archivist

The French Revolution generated a wealth of primary source material, and this course will introduce you to the key archives and repositories where these materials can be found. Taking this course can help you build a foundation in archival studies and develop skills in research, preservation, and access. It may also help you develop a specialized expertise in the history of the French Revolution.

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Librarian

The French Revolution was a time of great intellectual and cultural ferment, and this course will introduce you to the key ideas and works of this period. Taking this course can help you build a foundation in library science and develop skills in research, collection development, and reference. It may also help you develop a specialized expertise in the history of the French Revolution.

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Anthropologist

The French Revolution was a time of great social and cultural change, and this course will introduce you to the key concepts and theories used to study this period. Taking this course can help you build a foundation in anthropology and develop skills in research, analysis, and writing. It may also help you develop a specialized expertise in the history of the French Revolution.

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Sociologist

The French Revolution was a time of great social and political upheaval, and this course will introduce you to the key concepts and theories used to study this period. Taking this course can help you build a foundation in sociology and develop skills in research, analysis, and writing. It may also help you develop a specialized expertise in the history of the French Revolution.

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Economist

The French Revolution had a profound impact on the French economy, and this course will introduce you to the key economic concepts and theories used to study this period. Taking this course can help you build a foundation in economics and develop skills in research, analysis, and writing. It may also help you develop a specialized expertise in the history of the French Revolution.

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Psychologist

The French Revolution was a time of great psychological stress and trauma, and this course will introduce you to the key concepts and theories used to study this period. Taking this course can help you build a foundation in psychology and develop skills in research, analysis, and writing. It may also help you develop a specialized expertise in the history of the French Revolution.

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Theologian

The French Revolution had a profound impact on the French Catholic Church, and this course will introduce you to the key concepts and theories used to study this period. Taking this course can help you build a foundation in theology and develop skills in research, analysis, and writing. It may also help you develop a specialized expertise in the history of the French Revolution.

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Philosopher

The French Revolution was a time of great philosophical debate and ferment, and this course will introduce you to the key ideas and works of this period. Taking this course can help you build a foundation in philosophy and develop skills in research, analysis, and writing. It may also help you develop a specialized expertise in the history of the French Revolution.

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Writer

The French Revolution was a time of great literary and artistic production, and this course will introduce you to the key ideas and works of this period. Taking this course can help you build a foundation in writing and develop skills in research, analysis, and writing. It may also help you develop a specialized expertise in the history of the French Revolution.

See salaries and explore the career path for Writer