Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

Get access

Arming of the populace
(1,498 words)

1. General

The term Volksbewafffnung (“arming the populace”) first appeared in the second half of the 18th century; it was highly politicized from the outset. Initially it was informed by the theme of patriotism and hence touched on topical debates of the late Enlightenment (Enlightenment history). The discussion reached its climax around the middle of the 19th century, and in the revolutionary year 1848 (German Revolution [1848/9]) arming the populace deeply influenced the debates in the political c…

Cite this page
Pröve, Ralf, “Arming of the populace”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_029839>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20160321



▲   Back to top   ▲