1. Peasants into Frenchmen The Modernization of Rural France, 1870-1914 Interpretations of Eugen Weber’s Work

2. Weber’s Thesis During the Belle Epoch/Fin de Siecle –so during the 3 rd Republic- modernization turned a regional and rural France into a single, modern nations state.

3. 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  Southern part of France; different from northern, Parisian 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.

4. 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  Rural France was more like an oversea colony

5. 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 14 th was a national holiday

6. 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  Not useful for farmers; took away needed labor Distrust of the government  France ONLY administratively unified  1 government, 1 tax code, 1 army, but many nations Only saw gov’t in form of tax collector and recruiting sargent NOT just mindless devotion to the old ways….

7. Agencies of Change Transportation Educational Reforms Universal Military Conscription

8. Rail Road “Greatly undermined the isolation of separate communities” Bikes & roads Centralization Results Culture  connected Trade  GREATLY increased Transportation 314969,16723,08938,109 Kilometers of RR in… 1830 1840 1860 1880 1900 1850 1860 1870 1890

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

10. Centralization Results of Education Reform Taught French language  local dialects die out- importance of speaking French becomes clear Taught urban values  Modern (Parisian) ideas drive out old ways Created shared experience  All over Fr, kids having similar experience Taught nationalism  Emphasis on Fr history and glory Progress = good  Education and learning a stepping stone to a better life.

11. Teaching Nationalism & Lying with Maps Map French texts books are using ACTUAL map of Europe- note the Rhine River The magic “moving” border between France & Germany!

12. Universal Military Conscription  Orders and signs in French  Patriotism & nationalism  shared experience  Made the gov’t more acceptable Provided opportunities  agent of emigration- men moving all around the country  Illiterate soldiers had to serve one more year  importance of Fr education Continued the process schools began

13. 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 they gave up old ways and adopted new techniques Attitudes toward education changed  Parents WANTED their kids to go to school  new opportunities in civil service & military Civil Servant jobs  Jobs in gov’t & military   More good feelings about the gov’t

14. More Results Technology changed customs  RR- no more peddlers, so songs & stories die out; better heat, so veillees die out Printing killed oral culture  newspapers Development of a national consciousness  What it means to be French French unity now more than just administrative unity--> culturally unified as well Altered mentalite  Modern, unified France “becomes” L’hexagone  nickname- ONE nation (state?)

15. Analysis Shows how small communities are absorbed into a nation and a nation-state Reminds us how recent present levels of integration really are