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 3rd Republic- …

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.

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

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

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

NOT just mindless devotion to the old ways….

Agencies of Change

Transportation

Educational Reforms

Universal Military Conscription

Rail Road“Greatly undermined the

isolation of separate communities”

Bikes & roads

Centralization Results Culture connected

Trade GREATLY increased

Transportation

31 496 9,167 23,089 38,109Kilometers of RR in… 1830 1840 1860 1880 1900

1850 1860

1870 1890

Education Reforms

Jules Ferry led reforms (1881-1886) Free & compulsory education Centralized curriculum New buildings & books Trained teachers

Centralization Results of Education Reform

Taught French language

Taught urban values

Created shared experience

Taught nationalism

Progress = good

Teaching Nationalism & Lying with MapsMap French texts books are using

ACTUAL map of Europe- note the Rhine River

The magic “moving” border between France & Germany!

Universal Military Conscription

Orders and signs…

Patriotism & nationalism

shared experience

Made the gov’t more acceptable

agent of emigration

Illiterate soldiers had to serve one more year

Continued the process schools began

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

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?)

Analysis

Shows how small communities are absorbed into a nation and a nation-state

Reminds us how recent present levels of integration really are