Introduction
July 14, 1789. A day which will forever be remembered in French history. As a mob of Parisians stormed the Bastille, the French people must have known that the day marked the beginning of a change that would resonate through the ages. This was the beginning of the French Revolution.
The people of France refused to be governed any longer by the absolute monarchy of Louis XVI and his court. They took matters into their own hands, beginning with the attack on the Bastille that July day. For the next decade, hundreds of nobles would lose their heads at the hands of the revolutionaries during their bloody Reign of Terror.
The events of the French Revolution would shape both France and the rest of the world forever. The idea of divine right of kings, a monarchy chosen by God, became a thing of the past. Democratic revolutions spread throughout Europe and Latin America. In addition, the use of terrorism emerged as a viable method of gaining political power as violent resistance spread throughout the land.
Can you imagine what it might have been like for a French citizen during this time period?
Did you ever wonder why France is famous for its "guillotine"
Do you know what is the Guillotine and why it was invented?
Have you heard of Bastille Day and wonder what France is celebrating on July 14th?
Task
Your task is to take on the role of a French citizen during the time period of the French Revolution. You will research, analyze and draw conclusions, based on the historical facts you learn, in order to write a narrative from your character's perspective.
You will choose a person during the French Revolution to portray in your narrative. You may select any person from that time, real or imagined.
After deciding on your character, you should pick two stages of the Revolution in which your character would have participated. For example, if you choose to represent Louis XVI, you might pick Stages One and Two, but not Stage Six. These stages can be found on the Process page.
Your ultimate goal is to write a 2-page narrative from the perspective of your historical figure. Be sure to include accurate information about the time period to make your narrative relevant and credible. You should also include specific characteristics of your character. Use the Internet sources provided for you on the bottom of thispage to start your research. In addition, you should use outside sources that have not been provided to you.
Websites
| You may use these websites to begin your research. Remember, you are not limited to this list! General Information:
Stage One: The Traditional Way Stage Two: The Beginning of Conflict Stage Three: The First Republic
Stage Four: Radicals Emerge Stage Five: Reign of Terror
Stage Six: Recovery |
Process
1. Pick a character. If you want to portray an imaginary figure, you may decide to be a member of one of the groups listed below. You must remember to name specific, real individuals in your story (i.e.: Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, Robespierre) to lend credibility to your narrative. If you choose a historical figure not on the list, you must have it approved before beginning your research.
| Imaginary character groups | Historical figures |
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2. Pick two stages of the Revolution. Each stage is a distinct time period in the Revolution during which certain events, characteristic only to that stage, occured. Use the websites provided here to find further information about each stage.
- Stage One: The Traditional Way (Old Regime in France was still under Louis XVI and French society was divided into the Three Estates)
- Stage Two: The Beginning of Conflict (National Assembly emerges, Tennis Court Oath and Storming of the Bastille occur)
- Stage Three: The First Republic (National Assembly organizes the government and develops the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen)
- Stage Four: Radicals Emerge (Rise of Jacobins, Robespierre become influential, the National Convention begins, war is waged with Austria)
- Stage Five: Reign of Terror (Execution of Louix XVI and the royal family, Robespierre begins his Committee of Public Safety, Danton becomes a public figure)
- Stage Six: Recovery (Robespierre is beheaded, the Directory takes over, Napoleon comes to power)
When you enter a website for a specific stage, go to each site and determine which will be the most helpful. Take notes on specific information you can use in your narrative. Be sure to make a note of which websites you use to gather information so you can include them on your Works Cited! Search around for other websites that might also be helpful, but make sure they have information that is valid and reliable. Do not forget to cite these sources, as well!
3. Write your narrative. This is a story written about the French Revolution from your character's perspective. It can be considered a work of historical fiction, just like The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette. Because it is primarily a work of fiction, you can be creative with some of the details. However, the overall story must be accurate with respect to the events of the French Revolution. Your narrative should include the following components:
- An introduction to your character. If it is an imaginary figure, give her/him a name. Be sure to describe the social class or political group that this character comes from (peasant, Jacobin, etc.). Provide background information to familiarize the reader with your character.
- An accurate history of the stages of the Revolution you will discuss. This means that while you write about your character's activities, you want to place the individual within the historical events taking place during that stage. For example, if you are writing about Pierre's experience in Stage Two, you will describe his participation in the demonstration and his feelings about it. Tell the reader how he feels, what he does, and how these events affect him. Be sure to base your narrative on historical fact!
- Be selective about the events you choose to include. You do not need to write about every event in every stage of the Revolution. This is yournarrative. Only include events that your character would have been part of. Include events that are interesting to you. If you pick a major character of the Revolution, you will need to pick which specific events you want to write about. If you write about Robespierre, for example, you may choose to include his Committee of Public Safety in Stage Five, but not his trial and execution in Stage Six.
- The narrative must be 2-3 pages long. It must be typed, double-spaced, using 12-pt. font. Be sure to use a font that is easy to read, like Times New Roman or Arial. Include your name and class period at the top of every page. Don't forget to give your narrative a creative title!
- A Works Cited page must be attached to the narrative. You must cite every source you use for your research and information. Your sources should be cited using MLA format. You may choose to use NoodleBib or another Citation Generator if you need help with your citations!
Want more?
If you're fascinated by this turbulant period in history, here is more for you to explore:
Liberty, Equality, Fraternity
French Revolution Archive
What is a Revolution?
Bastille
Internet Modern History Sourcebook
French Revolution - Cornell University
Voice of the Shuttle - French Revolution
Western and Central Europe Chronology
French Revolution Chronology
The History Channel - French Revolution
Discover France
The Victorian Web
Think Quest - French Revolution
How Stuff Works - French Revolution
PBS - Marie Antionette
History World International
British News Coverage
Eye Witness to History
Institute on Napoleon and the French Revolution
Edmund Burke
Evaluation
Evaluation
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Conclusion
Identity has been the theme of our World History class this year. The goal of this assignment is to allow you to gain valuable insight into the French Revolution. By writing this narrative, you are enabling yourself to look at the Revolution from a certain point of view in order to think critically about how and why these events happened. After completing this assignment, I hope you will be able to appreciate different viewpoints and better understand how historical events can affect actual people. Keep using these skills as you continue your study of world history
Credits
This website was adapted by MArie-Laure DITTE for the CGMS.
. It came from a French Revolution WebQuest created by Matthew Pence, Tess Scott, and James Vasquez on The WebQuest Page, using Michelle Cottrell-Williams's adaptation from Wakefield High School, Arlington, VA
The image, Liberty Leading the People, was taken from http://www.freewebs.com/mrfornale/thenineteenthcentury.htm.
The image, Storming of the Bastille, was taken from http://jeffreyhill.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341d417153ef00e553b6f2ab8834-800wi.