Belfort de l'ancien regime au siege de 1870-1871. Fonction regionale, impact national, 1780-1870
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Strasbourg 2Disciplines:
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Abstract EN:
Belfort a fortified town designed by vauban, an administrative and commercial centre in the region to the south of alsace, underwent great changes before and after the revolution. Because of its fortified camp, the town became one of the strongholds of french military defence along the rhine and the swiss border. Belfort's military role caused the town to retain its administrative function. After the revolution, belfort looked more towards france. With the regiments going through it, which were now composed of frenchmen, and with a growing immigration trend, the town received news from all over france and became the centre of a very active political life based largely on revolutionary ideals of liberty. The garnison remained the main support of the town's economy but the revolution favoured the activities of the old iron works that attracted local capital. The textile industry established itself in the suburbs but il relied on capital from outside the town. From 1858 on, the railway took over from the roads, where the traffic had been declining and the town enjoyed a revival of business. Belfort, originally a middle class town domined by notabilities who had made a fortune during the revolution, gradually became more democratic. And at the same time there appeared a spirit of religious tolerance, promoted after 1789 by the advent of two religious minorities, i. E. The jewish, and then the protestant communities, working side by side with the old roman catholic families.
Abstract FR:
Belfort, place de guerre de vauban, chef-lieu administratif et carrefour commercial au sud de l'alsace, se transforma de part et d'autre de la revolution. La fonction militaire de la ville fut renforcee. Dotee d'un camp retranche, la ville devint un des piliers de la defense de la frontiere du rhin et de la suisse a la veille de 1870. Son role militaire entraina le maintien de sa fonction de chef-lieu administratif. A partir de la revolution, la ville s'ouvrit plus largement sur l'interieur de la france. Traversee par des regiments desormais nationaux et recevant plus d'immigres, les uns et les autres apportant les nouvelles de la france entiere, elle vit se developper une vie politique tres active qui s'enracina sur le fond de l'ideal revolutionnaire de liberte. La garnison fut toujours le pivot de la vie economique mais la revolution favorisa l'activite des anciennes forges qui attirerent les capitaux belfortains. Une industrie textile put s'installer dans la banlieue mais avec des capitaux etrangers a la ville. A partir de 1858 le chemin de fer prit le relais de la route dont le trafic avait decline et apporta a la ville un regain d'activite. Belfort, ville bourgeoise dominee par des notables enrichis durant la revolution se democratisa peu a peu. En meme temps se developpa un esprit laic fonde sur la tolerance et favorise a partir de la revolution par l'installation de deux minorites, familles juives puis protestantes a cote des anciennes familles catholiques.