The abolition of feudalism : peasants, lords, and legislators in the French Revolution

One of the most important results of the French Revolution was the destruction of the old feudal order, which for centuries had kept the common people of the countryside subject to the lords. In this book, John Markoff addresses the ways in which insurrectionary peasants and revolutionary legislators joined in bringing "the time 0f the lords" to an end and how, in that ending, scigncurial rights came to he central to the very sense of the Revolution. He traces the interaction of peasants and legislators, showing how they confronted, challenged, and implicitly negotiated with one another during the course 0f events.Contrary to many historians who see the source of revolutionary change in elite culture, Markoff argues that peasant insurrection was a crucial element of the transformation of France. Of particular importance to the study is Markoff's analysis of the unique cahiers de do/dances, the lists of grievances drawn up in 1789) by rural communities, urban notables, and nobles alike, These documents are invaluable for understanding the Revolution, but until the pioneering work of Markoff and Gilbert Shapiro, they had not been studied systematically at the national level. In addition to an unprecedented quantitative analysis of the cabin's, Matkoff staces the ehh and flow of peasant insurrection across half a decade of revolutionary turbulence. He also offers qualitative analysis through his use of the records of the legislative debates as well as the memoirs and journals of the legislators.The Abolition of Feudalism breaks new ground in chatting patterns of grievance and revolt in one of the most important social and political upheavals in history. One Of The Most Important Results Of The French Revolution Was The Destruction Of The Old Feudal Order, Which For Centuries Had Kept The Common People Of The Countryside Subject To The Lords. In This Book, John Markoff Addresses The Ways In Which Insurrectionary Peasants And Revolutionary Legislators Joined In Bringing The Time Of The Lords To An End And How, In That Ending, Seigneurial Rights Came To Be Central To The Very Sense Of The Revolution. He Traces The Interaction Of Peasants And Legislators, Showing How They Confronted, Challenged, And Implicitly Negotiated With One Another During The Course Of Events.--jacket. 1. Introduction: Grievances, Insurrections, Legislation -- 2. Seigneurial Rights On The Revolutionary Agenda -- 3. Three Revolutionary Programs -- 4. On The Ideological Construction Of The Seigneurial Regime By The Third Estate (and Of Two Seigneurial Regimes By The Nobility) -- 5. Forms Of Revolt: The French Countryside, 1788-1793 -- 6. Rhythms Of Contention -- 7. Tracking Insurrection Through Time And Space -- 8. Revolutionary Peasants And Revolutionary Legislators -- 9. Words And Things: The French Revolutionary Bourgeoisie Defines The Feudal Regime -- 10. Conclusion: From Grievances To Revolution -- Appendix. Sources For Peasant Insurrection Data. John Markoff. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. One of the most important results of the French Revolution was the destruction of the old feudal order. In this work, John Markoff addresses the ways in which peasants and revolutionary legislators joined in bringing "the time of the lords" to an end, central to the cause of the Revolution.