"Timmy, I want to tell you a story. A story about our family's ancestors and about freedom and courage. It is the story of the French Revolution" said Grandpa Earle.

Yay! Yay! A Story!

It had been over 20 years since the great 7 Years War had ended and Britain claimed victory over France. There was a new king in France, Louis the XVI (16th). It seemed as if the crippling debt France was feeling after the war was finally beginning to subside.

I am the King! But I don't know much about ruling.

That was until King Louis the XVI (16th) decided to aid the Americans in their war for independence from the English, which drained the French treasury until there was very little money left.

Here, have some money!

So while taxes increased for the poor peasants to pay off this debt, and bread came to cost a whole month's earnings, the wealthy clergy and nobility enjoyed their tax free lives of luxury, and always full stomachs. They knew that although there were way more poor peasants than wealthy nobles, the peasants held little say in the government, so they couldn't change anything.

We have no money

and are starving!

I don't care! And

there is nothing you

can do to change that.

More crumpets anyone?

("Cartoon Castle #1608788(License Personal Use)")

The Queen, Marie Antoinette, even spent loads of money on her hair everyday, that's how rich they were.

The peasants were extremely unhappy, since they were incredibly poor, but were the ones being taxed. So Louis the XVI (16th) called a meeting to make some sort of an agreement.

We want equal rights and

to be treated fairly!

The different groups at the meeting argued for days, and the peasants had finally had enough. They met on their own and declared themselves the National Assembly and "began making their own laws and running the country" (Nelson "French Revolution").

We will not be controlled and taxed

by the nobles anymore!

("Empty Living Room Illustrations, Royalty: Empty Living Room Clipart")

One day, when the National Assembly was planning to meet, they found that they were locked out of their normal place. Something seemed wrong, so they rushed to a nearby tennis court and swore the Tennis Court Oath, promising to keep meeting until they had created a fair and just constitution, and until they had control over France.

I promise!

I promise!

I promise!

I promise!

(Mix3r)

When news that the National Assembly had been formed against the wishes of the nobles and the King, some of the other peasants in France became inspired to rise up against the monarchy as well. How did they show their defiance? By storming a great symbol of the unfair reign of the King: the Bastille.

We are tired of being treated poorly by the King.

We are tired of being taxed and being hungry.

Today, we fight back!

On July 14, 1789, the King's prison known as the Bastille was raided, overtaken, and dismantled by the peasants of France. This marked the true beginning of the French Revolution and inspired people all over France to fight against the King and the nobles and their unfair treatment.

The King no longer has power over us anymore!

The power belongs to the people!

(Lamb 2014)

The French Revolution was gaining support and moving forward quickly. The National Assembly completed what they set out to do in the Tennis Court Oath: they created a constitution. It was called the Declaration of the Rights of Man, and it destroyed the privileges of the nobility and clergy over the peasants, making everyone equal.

Everyone is equal under this constitution!

No more power over us for the nobles

("Empty Living Room Illustrations, Royalty: Empty Living Room Clipart

However, King Louis didn't want to just hand over his power and give up his life of extreme luxury and wealth. Thus began a "bloody struggle" for the control of France, beginning with thousands marching upon the King's palace in Versailles, and forcing him to sign the Declaration of the Rights of Man and to move the royal family to Paris (Gardner, McDevitt, Hoogeveen, & Scully 2008).

Sign it, or the Queen will die!

Declaration

of the

Rights of

Man

Eventually, armed citizens would storm the royal palace in Paris, forcing the King and Queen to flee or they would lose their lives. This was when they were stripped of their royal titles and the revolution achieved its main goal: France was a country of the people; it was a republic.

We must run for our lives!

We control France now!

No more unfair treatment!

Everyone is equal!

(Fairy tale background with castle. Majestic building palace with..)

But Louis and Marie were not going to give up so easily. They attempted to flee to France's neighbour, Austria, to create an army that would fight against the revolution and bring Louis back his crown.

I will create a powerful army

and get my crown back!

Austria is

this way

Yet that would never happen, as Louis and Marie were captured while trying to escape. They were convicted of treason, and sentenced to death.

The King and Queen are dead,

and their tyranny is over forever.

(upklyak 2018)

With the monarchy forever removed from France, the revolution was able to push on even farther, and one of the people leading the charge was Maximilien Robespierre. Yet France was facing some serious issues: they were being invaded from all sides and enemies of the revolution were everywhere.

The revolution stinks!

How did Robspierre solve these issues? He started what would become known as the reign of TERROR!

You should be very,

very scared!

Robespierre made everyone so afraid of going against the revolution that they would support it. Thousands upon thousands lost their lives for showing even the smallest hints that they were an enemy of the revolution.