The Psychology of Revolution | Page 4

of the
Clubs and the Commune during the Convention 2. The Government of
France during the Convention: the Terror 3. The End of the Convention.
The Beginnings of the Directory
CHAPTER V.
INSTANCES OF REVOLUTIONARY VIOLENCE 1. Psychological
Causes of Revolutionary Violence 2. The Revolutionary Tribunals 3.
The Terror in the Provinces
CHAPTER VI.
THE ARMIES OF THE REVOLUTION 1. The Revolutionary
Assemblies and the Armies 2. The Struggle of Europe against the
Revolution 3. Psychological and Military Factors which determined the
success of the Revolutionary Armies
CHAPTER VII.

PSYCHOLOGY OF THE LEADERS OF THE REVOLUTION
1. Mentality of the men of the Revolution. The respective influence of
violent and feeble characters 2. Psychology of the Commissaries or
Representatives ``on Mission'' 3. Danton and Robespierre 4.
Fouquier-Tinville, Marat, Billaud-Varenne, &c. 5. The destiny of those
Members of the Convention who survived the Revolution
BOOK III
THE CONFLICT BETWEEN ANCESTRAL INFLUENCES AND
REVOLUTIONARY PRINCIPLES
CHAPTER I.
THE LAST CONVULSIONS OF ANARCHY. THE DIRECTORY 1.
Psychology of the Directory 2. Despotic Government of the Directory.
Recrudescence of the Terror 3. The Advent of Bonaparte 4. Causes of
the Duration of the Revolution
CHAPTER II.
THE RESTORATION OF ORDER. THE CONSULAR REPUBLIC 1.
How the work of the Revolution was confirmed by the Consulate 2.
The re-organisation of France by the Consulate 3. Psychological
elements which determined the success of the work of the Consulate
CHAPTER III.
POLITICAL RESULTS OF THE CONFLICT BETWEEN
TRADITIONS AND THE REVOLUTIONARY PRINCIPLES
DURING THE LAST CENTURY 1. The psychological causes of the
continued Revolutionary Movements to which France has been subject
2. Summary of a century's Revolutionary Movements in France

PART III
THE RECENT EVOLUTION OF THE REVOLUTIONARY
PRINCIPLES

CHAPTER I.
THE PROGRESS OF DEMOCRATIC BELIEFS SINCE THE
REVOLUTION 1. Gradual propagation of Democratic Ideas after the
Revolution 2. The unequal influence of the three fundamental
principles of the Revolution 3. The Democracy of the ``Intellectuals''
and Popular Democracy 4. Natural Inequalities and Democratic
Equalisation
CHAPTER II.
THE RESULTS OF DEMOCRATIC EVOLUTION 1. The influence
upon social evolution of theories of no rational value 2. The Jacobin
Spirit and the Mentality created by Democratic Beliefs 3. Universal
Suffrage and its representatives 4. The craving for Reforms 5. Social
distinctions in Democracies and Democratic Ideas in various countries
CHAPTER III.
THE NEW FORMS OF DEMOCRATIC BELIEF 1. The conflict
between Capital and Labour 2. The evolution of the Working Classes
and the Syndicalist Movement 3. Why certain modern Democratic
Governments are gradually being transformed into Governments by
Administrative Castes
CONCLUSIONS

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF REVOLUTION

INTRODUCTION
THE REVISION OF HISTORY
The present age is not merely an epoch of discovery; it is also a period
of revision of the various elements of knowledge. Having recognised
that there are no phenomena of which the first cause is still accessible,
science has resumed the examination of her ancient certitudes, and has
proved their fragility. To-day she sees her ancient principles vanishing
one by one. Mechanics is losing its axioms, and matter, formerly the
eternal substratum of the worlds, becomes a simple aggregate of
ephemeral forces in transitory condensation.
Despite its conjectural side, by virtue of which it to some extent
escapes the severest form of criticism, history has not been free from
this universal revision. There is no longer a single one of its phases of
which we can say that it is certainly known. What appeared to be
definitely acquired is now once more put in question.
Among the events whose study seemed completed was the French
Revolution. Analysed by several generations of writers, one might
suppose it to be perfectly elucidated. What new thing can be said of it,
except in modification of some of its details?
And yet its most positive defenders are beginning to hesitate in their
judgments. Ancient evidence proves to be far from impeccable. The
faith in dogmas once held sacred is shaken. The latest literature of the
Revolution betrays these uncertainties. Having related, men are more
and more chary of drawing conclusions.
Not only are the heroes of this great drama discussed without
indulgence, but thinkers are asking whether the new dispensation which
followed the ancien regime would not have established itself naturally,
without violence, in the course of progressive civilisation. The results
obtained no longer seem in correspondence either with their immediate
cost or with the remoter consequences which the Revolution evoked
from the possibilities of history.

Several causes have led to the revision of this tragic period. Time has
calmed passions, numerous documents have gradually emerged from
the archives, and the historian is learning to interpret them
independently.
But it is perhaps modern psychology that has most effectually
influenced our ideas, by enabling us more surely to read men and the
motives of their conduct.
Among those of its discoveries which are henceforth applicable