Stuff You Missed in History Class The Great Fear of 1789
Nov 3, 2025
The Great Fear of 1789 unleashed panic across rural France, ignited by conspiracy theories and economic distress. Hosts explore the dire conditions of peasant life and how poor harvests worsened the crisis. They delve into the spread of rumors, from illiterate villagers to armed uprisings, fueled by news of aristocratic conspiracies. The chaotic response culminated in violence against the nobility, revealing the decentralized nature of the uprising. Insights into how misinformation spread like an epidemic draw parallels to modern times, showcasing historic cycles of panic and reaction.
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Precarious Rural Livelihoods
- Rural French households lived precariously where small shocks could cause starvation and unrest.
- Tracy B. Wilson explains that even small price changes, like for bread, could spark riots and destabilize communities.
Land Ownership Didn't Equal Security
- Many peasants owned land but plots had been subdivided so small they couldn't sustain families.
- Tracy B. Wilson notes seigneurial dues, market fees, and tithes kept rural people economically squeezed.
Climate, Trade and Food Crisis
- Population growth and repeated bad harvests increased pressure on food and land supplies.
- Holly Fry connects climatic events and trade disruptions to worsening rural hardship before 1789.
