French Legislators 1800 - 1834 - by Thomas D Beck (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

French Legislators, 1800-1834: A Study in Quantitative History examines the political evolution of France in the early nineteenth century, focusing on the makeup and role of the French legislature during the period following the French Revolution. The study offers a comprehensive analysis of the individuals who held legislative office, drawing on quantitative methods to classify them by social class, occupation, political affiliation, and regional representation. It explores the tension between the revolution's promise of social change and the entrenched power structures that emerged during the Bourbon Restoration and the July Monarchy. The study aims to answer key questions about the social composition of French politics, the impact of electoral laws, the rise of regionalism, and the consequences of the Revolution of 1830.

The work relies heavily on extensive archival data, including electoral results, tax records, and biographical dictionaries, to categorize legislators based on their social status, professional background, and political leanings. Through this data, the study assesses how these men shaped and responded to political shifts, including the changes in government during the post-Napoleonic era and the restoration of Bourbon monarchy. The author presents a nuanced view of political affiliations, identifying the Left and Right as key players in the political discourse of the period, with both groups evolving over time in their relationship to the Revolution and its outcomes. Ultimately, the study offers a fresh perspective on a historically underexplored period, emphasizing the importance of quantitative history in understanding social and political transformations.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press's mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1974.