The Modern Regime, Volume 2

"The Modern Regime, Volume 2" by Hippolyte Taine is a historical study that looks closely at moral institutions and education in France during the time it was written. The book focuses on the government's influence on the Church and the education system after Napoleon's rule. André Chevrillon’s introduction talks about how French society was falling apart and how important the Church and family were for keeping society together. Taine wanted to understand how a strong central government had taken over these moral institutions, changing what they did and weakening their independence. The start of the book shows how Napoleon dealt with these structures, trying to find a middle ground between religious and government power while changing the religious makeup of France.