Class will not meet Thursday March 1

We will not meet as a class on Thursday March 1, but please use this time for the following assignment: read Charles de Gaulle's "speech at Bayeux" (1946) from the "CDG3" document in the e-packet and read this article on the current status of the French presidential election.

If you have not submitted your essay on Absolutism, please do as an attachment to an email.

We will meet at our normal time next Tuesday March 6.

The logistics and politics of candidate qualifications for the French Presidential election

Paris-based American political scientist explains ballot access and the tactics of a multi-candidate, non-partisan election.

"Radio France International" English-language coverage of French Presidential campaign

Another English-language source covering the French presidential campaign

President Sarkozy announces his re-election camaign

For those who have been consulting the media sites to follow the presidential election, to which we will be turning in the next few weeks, here is an English-language news report of the official announcement by the incumbent President, Nicholas Sarkozy, that he is running for another 5-year term.

And here is coverage from the American press.

First essay topic

HIST 362
First  essay topic

Write a five to seven page essay that makes use of both primary and secondary sources in support of a  clearly stated thesis in response to the following question:

What specific functions were the central actions of the state under Louis XIV?  Who was chiefly responsible for carrying out those functions and what was the source of the sovereignty (or political power) of those who carried out those functions?

To answer this question, you should refer to the readings from Collins, The State in Early Modern France and from William Beik, Louis XIV and Absolutism (including the primary source documents).

Your essay should include all the appropriate elements of a scholarly essay including title, clear introduction of the question and statement of thesis, body paragraphs that argue in support of the thesis by use of evidence to illustrate and support , proper citation of directly quoted material, endnotes or footnotes (Chicago style preferred but not mandatory) to reference sources of information, and a conclusion that explains what has been demonstrated in the essay. Essays should be double-spaced and carefully edited for clarity, diction, spelling, punctuation, sentenced structure and precision.
Any use of outside sources should be based upon sources that are of demonstrated reliability and authority, and which are directly relevant to the topic at hand.

Your essay us due in class on Tuesday February 28.

Analysis of 2002 (to be discussed later this semester)

This analysis of the first round of the 2002 election raised several different points about French presidential elections which differ significantly.from webcam elections: ballot access, party structure, campaign format, issues, polling and media.

Image of the king during the French Revolution

Tuesday we will continue to discuss the history of executive power in France by considering both the image put forth by the absolutist monarchy (notably Louis XIV) and how that image was challenged and new conceptions of executive power put forth during the French Revolution of 1789-1799.

For those interested in seeing how the French of this period viewed their monarch, consider the various images available online here from a web-based, multi-media resource guide on the French Revolution entitled "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" published by the Center for History and New Media at George Mason University.

Absolutism: The Image of the King "in his own words"

In his letter to his son the Dauphin (same term for "dolphin" but referring to a region in southern France and the term actually refers to the crown-prince, akin to the Prince of Wales in the UK), Louis XIV (in "LOIUSXIV8") describes "in his own words" how he the king ought to be seen in relation to the people. Based on this text and our discussion, plus the other readings on absolutism, how would you characterize Louis XIV's idea of his own power?

Does Louis XIV seem to see the power of the state as an expression of the will or interest of the people and how so?

Nuclear power in contemporary France

The Nuclear Power Issue is one that has been very salient in American politics, especially in Nevada. This article gives an interesting overview of the local impact of France's controversial but largely successful turn to nuclear power for a majority of its domestic electrical power generation.

Absolutism study question

As you read the Collins chapter on the French state in the 17th century under King Louis XIV and especially in the "king's own words" found in chapter 8 of the Neil volume (LOUISXIV8), what characteristics of executive power can you identify ?