Jha and Wilkinson paper

The French Revolution was pivotal for political development in much of the world
but its causes continue to be a subject of debate. In the paper, we assess the role
played by military exposure in generating revolutionary contagion, documenting the
disproportionate role played by French soldiers returning from service in the American
Revolution in the early phases of their own. Drawing on extensive and new archival data, we show
that, consistent with historical accounts, regiments were not selected for American ser-
vice based upon soldiers' heights, regimental prestige, age or other factors. However,
offcers and regiments that had served in the American Revolution were more likely to
support its French counterpart in its early, constitutional phases, both inside and out-
side the Estates-General. Bailliages with more American veterans among their recruits
were 6-7 percent more likely to experience peasant rebellions in 1789-90, and more likely
to submit Third Estate Cahiers des Doleances that were "strongly democratic", and
support equality of rights, freedom of the press and loyalty to both nation and their
economic group. These bailliages were also more likely to develop political clubs from
the 1790s, and Jacobin clubs between 1790-92. In contrast, military recruitment per
se did not have these effects. We interpret these results as consistent with the role of
military veterans transmitting skills and ideas that are conducive for revolutionary political change.