Britain in the Age of the French Revolution: 1789-1803

Code School Level Credits Semesters
HIST3011 History 3 40 Full Year UK
Code
HIST3011
School
History
Level
3
Credits
40
Semesters
Full Year UK

Summary

This module is an in-depth study of the impact of the French Revolution on British politics, society and culture between the fall of the Bastille in 1789 and the beginning of the Napoleonic Wars in 1803. Through an exploration of primary documents and secondary texts, students will investigate the events of the period and consider the wide range of interpretations that have been applied to these years by contemporaries and historians. Subjects for consideration include:-

  • 'the revolution debate' (e.g. Burke, Paine and Wollstonecraft)
  • the development of popular radical and loyalist political organisations
  • the government's use of legal apparatus against radicals and publishers
  • the impact of scarcity and food crises in a time of war and economic dislocation
  • the emergence of a so-called 'revolutionary underground' after 1795
  • the Irish rebellion of 1798 and its antecedents
  • the ways in which loyalism, patriotism and nationalism were articulated during this period (e.g. More and Gillray)

    • Target Students

    Single and Joint Honours History

    Classes

    Assessment

    Assessed in both autumn & spring semest

    Educational Aims

    This module is an in-depth study of the impact of the French Revolution on British politics, culture and society. Through an exploration of primary documents and secondary texts, students will investigate the events of the period 1789-1803. The parameters of the module allow students to consider a relatively small period in comparative depth, whilst the use of primary documents allows students to develop their skills in evaluating some of the contemporary sources available.

    Learning Outcomes

    a. Knowledge and understanding. 
    By the end of the module, in their assessed work, students should be able to:
    • explain and interpret the key events and forces for change in late eighteenth-century British history, and show an understanding of the interests and ideologies influencing the principal figures involved and of the motives of the authors of contemporary historical works 
    • evaluate forces of change and continuity at work within the period
    • consider the period from a variety of perspectives and particularly those informed by social, cultural and political readings. 

     

    b. Intellectual skills.
    By the end of the module students should be able to: 
    • think critically and imaginatively about the subject matter 
    • identify and address key problems relevant to it
    • interpret primary and secondary sources upon it and be aware of differing historical interpretations of the subject matter 
    • construct coherent and independent historical arguments of their own

    c. Professional/practical skills. 
    The module will develop students' ability: 
    • to select, sift and synthesise information from a range of primary and secondary sources  to plan research and write a piece of historical research
    • to demonstrate appropriate IT skills in the presentation of work

    d. Transferable skills.
    The module will also develop students' ability: 
    • to manage a large and disparate body of information 
    • to express themselves clearly, coherently and fluently in writing and oral presentations through essays and seminar work 
    • to collaborate and learn actively with others
    • to manage and take responsibility for their own learning
    • to use IT to word process their assessed essays and seminar materials 

    Conveners

    View in Curriculum Catalogue
    Last updated 07/01/2025.