Revolution idea false Historian says student concept and textbooks are erroneous
By Elizabeth Rhodes
History texts give students a false concept of the causes of the French Revolution, Professor David Pinkney said yesterday in the Kansas Union Forum Room.
Pinkney, for 20 years a University of Missouri history professor, blamed the erroneous ideas on what he termed the "social interpretation theory." "It is currently the orthodox view taught by many teachers and history texts," he said.
According to the social interpretation theory, the bourgeois, or new rich, revolted against the aristocracy, assuming power in 1789. At the time the aristocracy was decaying, while the middle class bourgeois were becoming progressively richer and more powerful. The revolution was basically a class struggle. Pinkney said.
Pinkney developed what he termed "three crumbling pillars of faith," upon which the old theory rests. The first pillar states that the aristocracy was declining in wealth, while the new rich were becoming increasingly prosperous.
"This was only partially true," said Pinkney. "Some nobles were very poor, one dying in a pauper hospital. But much of the aristocracy was getting wealthy by using the same method as the bourgeois—investing in trade. The nobles also increased rent and agriculture prices. As a result, upper class income was twice that of the new rich. The stereotype of nobility declining in wealth is no longer tenable."
According to Pinkney, the second pillar is the idea of the bourgeois growing in wealth and hostility to privilege. He attacked this as a generalization. "The term 'bourgeois' is as fluid as water," he said. "Members of this class were found in every profession. Some were making great amounts of money; others were not. Much of the upper class was not opposed to privilege. Instead they wanted to join the ranks of royalty."
A final erroneous generalization, Pinkney continued, is the bourgeois class's desire to rule the government in the revolution's second stage.
According to Pinkney, the nobles started the revolution. The government was tottering, and the aristocracy gathered the support of the people. The result was a coalition party. The middle class
Stadium bids to be signed
A $517,900 contract for stadium expansion will be signed with M. W. Watson, Inc., of Topeka within the next few days, Wade Stinson, athletic director, announced.
ALTERNATIVE deductions were given with the base bids in case it would be decided not to have asphalt underneath the stadium expansion area.
The contract will be for a base bid of $517,900 without the alternative deduction of $6500.
The M. W. Watson bid was the lowest submitted. The largest of the five bids was made by the Martin K. Eby Construction Co. of Wichita. Their estimate was for $634,800.
The expansion will provide an extra 6500 seats on the east side of the stadium. Stadium capacity will be increased to 50,400.
The price of student tickets will be increased to pay for the cost of the extension. Stinson said. Tickets have been $1.50; beginning this fall they will be $5.00.
had little to do with this stage of the revolution.
Prof. Pinkney is the author of two books on French history. "Napoleon III and the Rebuilding of Paris" is being followed by an account of the July 1830 revolution.
He is leaving Missouri next year to join the history department of the University of Washington in Seattle.
Official Bulletin
TODAY
Catholic Mass, 4:45 p.m. St. Lawrens
holicism for non-Catholics, 7:00 p.m.
Christian Science Organization, 7:30 p.m. Dantworth, Chapel.
Humanities Lecture, 8 p.m. Dr. G. Lawrence, Harvard, Law. W. Lawrence, High Aud.
Experimental Theatre, 8:20 p.m.
"Two for the Seesaw." Murphy Hall.
Faculty Club Reception for Dr.
Woodworth. 9:30 p.m.
KU Committee to End the War in Viet Nam, Kansas Union. Action meeting for second semester; planning for Marsh 25-26 "Days of loss."
Protestant Worship, 9:15 p.m. Wesley Foundation Methodist Center.
TOMORROW
Catholic Mass: 6:45 a.m. 12:00 noon,
4:45 p.m. Lawrence
Chapel. Open Door: 8:15 p.m.
Protestant Worship, 7:00 a.m. Wesley, Foundation, Methodist Center.
"Feedback" Discussing Humanities Lecture, 10:30 a.m. Murphy Hall
Philosophy Club, 3:30 p.m. Prof.
Philomel, Minnesota, Sun-
ner Beach, New Jersey
Carillon Recital, 7:00 p.m. Albert Gerken.
Gerken:
"Classical Film, 7:00 p.m. "The Game of
War," Dyche Aud.
of Love." Dyche Aid.
Lecture,
    pm Prof. Herbert
Ferenc Bármér
    fax 0872-463-5194
Lechner, sjö-pin. Prof. Herbert
Feigl, Forum Room, Union.
Little Symphony, 8:00 p.m. Swarthout, Recital Hall.
Experimental Theater. 8:20 p.m.
"Two for the Seesaw." Murphy Hall.
Likes riots
As plans for spring action were being formulated at a recent meeting of a KU student protest organization, a member was heard to comment, "I'm not enrolled in school any more; I just stay around because I enjoy rioting."
Pd. Adv.
Why Are You A Bore?
A noted publisher in Chicago reports a simple technique of everyday conversation which can pay you real dividends in social and business advancement and works like magic to give you poise, self confidence and greater popularity.
To acquaint the readers of this paper with the easy-to-follow rules for developing skill in everyday conversation, the publishers have printed full details of their interesting self-training method in a new book, "Adventures in Conversation," which will be mailed free to anyone who requests it. No obligation. Send your request to: Conversation, 835 Diversey Parkway, Dept. 3242, Chicago, Ill., 60614. A postcard will do. Please include your Zip Code.
According to this publisher, many people do not realize how much they could influence others simply by what they say and how they say it. Whether in business, at social functions, or even in casual conversations with new acquaintances, there are ways to make a good impression every time you talk.
Negroes gunned by white
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—(UPI)—A white youth, angered because his car was blocked by civil rights pickets, shot five Negroes at a supermarket Monday night and then drove to police headquarters and surrendered, police said. None of the Negroes was seriously wounded.
A crowd of about 100 Negroes gathered outside the Liberty Supermarket after the shooting, but squads of shotgun-armed police maintained order.
Police said the youth, identified as Emory Warren McGowen, 23, would be charged with assault with intent to murder and assault with a deadly weapon.
McGOWEN WAS lodged in city jail. A blonde riding with him at the time of the shooting was questioned by police and sent home.
The Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, an official of Dr. Martin Luther King's Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), talked to the milling Negroes through a bullhorn. He said the incident would be protested.
TOKYO —(UPI)— President Sukarno of Indonesia, in sacking his anti-Communist defense minister in a cabinet reshuffle, retained the tough army commander who directed the slaughter of an estimated 100,000 or more Communists since last Oct. 1.
"IT'S WRONG FOR white folks to shoot down Negro folks just for marching," said Shuttlesworth. "We're going to march tonight and we'll keep on marching."
Sukarno keeps commander
The abrupt dismissal of Defense Minister Abdul Haris Nasution, symbolic leader of the forces that rallied to crush the Communist grab for power four and a half months ago, was announced Monday night in what Sukarno said was no more than a normal event in political life.
But the retention of Army Commander Lt. Gen. Soeharto, and the inclusion of the chairman of the powerful anti-Communist Moslem Scholars party as fourth deputy premier, had observers wondering whether Na-sution's dismissal was as strong a move to the left as was first thought.
British to cut carrier fleet
LONDON — (UPI) — Britain announced today it will cut back the role of the navy's aircraft carriers and build its air forces around American F111A super-sonic bombers in a controversial decision that caused the resignation of both the civilian and military chiefs of the royal navy.
The fleet air arm—the navy's carrier-based force — will be phased out in the 1970's along with certain foreign bases in favor of land-based aircraft capable of rapid, long-distance operations. The decision was announced by the Labor government in a special position paper on defense presented today in Parliament.
The dismissal of Nasution was announced at virtually the same time as an army tribunal, under Soeharto's direction, sentenced onetime Communist labor boss Njony to death for his part in the coup attempt.
Wichita student still listed as poor
Roy Ranney, Wichita freshman, remained in poor condition today in the Lawrence Memorial Hospital intensive care center from injuries suffered in a two car accident early Saturday morning.
Four KU freshmen were injured in the two car accident at 23rd Street and Haskell Avenue shortly after 12:15 a.m. Saturday,
Listed in fair condition were George Kasten and Bonnie Wingard, Independence freshmen, and Emily Benson, El Dorado freshman.
Three of the occupants of the other vehicle remained in Lawrence Memorial Hospital today. Gregg Roche was listed in poor condition in the intensive care center. His parents, Jack and Rosemarie Roche, were both listed in fair condition.
Daily Kansan 3
Tuesday, February 22, 1966
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