Hilliard
Reaction Alexandria Paper #4
History 102-4412
Program #43: Revolution and the Romantics
When I listened to the beginning of this program I was slightly in shock. We have talked in
class about people used violence to overthrow their higher powers but it took more effect when I was
listening to Eugen Weber discuss it. When he was talking about how for a period of 40 years there
wasnt a country without war or some sort of upheaval I was amazed. That is a long time to go with
always having a something happening that is affecting a country in a downward way. So many
people were trying to put the Old Regime back together but nothing seemed to be working. I would
have been really distraught if I lived during this time period; I know we have stuff happening within
our country but what was going on then is so much different because they werent as developed as
our country has become. Its crazy to think of how we handle things within our country now
compared to back then when both the American and French Revolutions used violence to overthrow
their rulers.
Program #44: The Age of the Nation States
I really dislike the fact that children used to be forced to work such long days and ended up
dying from harsh work conditions or even falling into the machines they were using because they
were so sleep deprived; so obviously I wasnt a fan of listening to part of this program. The second
half of the century became less intense because social reforms started to happen. One of the reasons
social reform started to happen was because the upper and middle classes of society felt bad for the
lower class. I think it is really neat that the upper and middle classes decided to help out because it
started a change that was for the better and sometimes that is how things need to happen; the more
fortunate helping the less fortunate is definitely not a bad thing in my book. I would have like for
women to have been able to vote before the war but I guess having the war is one of the major causes
of women getting the right to vote, so everything happens for a reason. Not only was women being
able to vote a big social reform but just voting in general helped out in social reforms, which is cool.
Program #45: A New Public
I enjoyed listening to this program while Weber was discussing the positive things that were
improving such as less unemployment and people having more free time. Especially the just
average people began to develop better daily skills. They started to dress better, not in scraps, they
started to eat better, work more regularly, and they even started to realize material items that were
changing around them. I think that is a huge improvement for a group of people to just start
changing their lives and realizing that there are bigger changes going on around them. I thought it
was crazy Weber when was saying that there was still of the population that remained peasants,
living in houses that didnt even have windows. Its crazy to me because its of the population!
Also I dont see how they are still staying behind in times when in the last episode Weber discussed
how the upper and middle classes helped out.
Program #46: Fin de Sicle
With this program I knew I would like it right off the bat because one of the first things
Weber said was that improvement in working and living conditions was demanded in the lower class.
I think that helped the lower class to get a good jump start on moving up in society. Working men
started to have free time to enjoy other things like culture. This is good because it helps to get people
to experience more things. Having free time was just a minor thing to happen compared to what was
to come. It is awesome to know that right off the bat people used their free time doing wholesome
activities and werent just doing lazy things. People started to play sports in their free time which
made them more physically fit and better to adapt to situations. I think it is really crazy that it started
small with men playing ball games and that started transportation systems for people to go watch
these games. Also the fact that people wanted to pay to watch them play is really cool to hear because
it all starts with something small and goes bigger.
Program #47: The First World War and the Rise of Fascism
The First World War destroyed Europe in a big way. It made somewhat of a recovery but
never to what it once was. I think it is astounding to think of how Europe was once the center of
attention and they pretty much had it snatched away from them. If I had been living in Europe in this
time I dont know what I would have thought about the war. Weber said that the young people were
excited but I think I would be more nervous to see what was going to happen to my family and
friends. It kind of makes me shiver to think about the gases we discussed in class and then to hear
how men lived with gassed lungs if they survived the war but soon the gas killed them.
Program #48: The Second World War
When it comes to talking and learning about World War II I get really intrigued by it because
my grandfather was involved in it and I always think it brings things to a more personal level when
someone you are close to was involved, no matter how long ago it happened. I also think it is crazy
to compare World War I with World War II; there are so many differences between them. For
example how we discussed in class that WWI was a trenches war and WWII was an air war. I think it
was better for it to happen this way because who knows what would have happened with the land if
there were to have been another war that was all on ground, always tearing up the ground.