You are a foreigner (American, Prussian, English, it doesn’t really matter…) who happens to be in France during the period of the French Revolution. As many people throughout Europe are keenly interested in the ongoing actions of the Revolution, you have been asked to provide up to date news of the events in France.
Thus, your objective in this blog post is to write a news story regarding one of the many notable events that took place in France during this violent and chaotic period of time. The events of your news story must take place somewhere between July 14, 1789, which was the attack on the Bastille, and 1804 when Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself Emperor of the French.
Your news story should be about two paragraphs in length, but try to keep it no more than four. It should be written like a legitimate news story that generally answers the questions of “Who? What? Where? When? Why? and How?” As necessary, do a bit of additional research to gather the proper information on your event, such as dates, places, and names of specific people involved.
This blog is due on Monday, March 12 by 11:59 pm
Sample News Story:
CHAOS AND CARNAGE AT THE BASTILLE!
PARIS, FRANCE - Chaos and violence ensued in the streets of Paris yesterday, as months of fear, anxiety, and anger at France’s continued political upheaval and uncertainty finally boiled over at the famous Bastille Prison.
As the National Assembly continued to meet in an attempt to write a constitution for the French government and people, His Majesty King Louis XVI dispatched troops to Versailles and Paris in order to keep the peace. Unfortunately, the military presence led to a rumor among the city’s residents that the king planned an attack aimed at destabilizing and disbanding the Assembly. Believing in the unfounded rumor, riotous mobs of an untold number began roaming the city streets in search of weapons with which to defend themselves and the Assembly on the nights of the 12th and 13th of July. Knowing that it housed a large amount weapons, ammunition, and gunpowder, yesterday morning the mobs directed their attention to the Bastille, demanding entrance and access to the arsenal. Witnesses say that the governor of the prison, the Marquis Bernard-Rene de Launay refused their demands, but sometime in the afternoon the mob managed to breach the fortifications and began attacking the garrison that consisted of about 80 French soldiers and 30 Swiss grenadiers. Unconfirmed reports suggest that soldiers may have opened fire on the rioters at some point. One witness, who asked not to be identified due to his involvement in the incident, claimed “The soldiers shot at us, and I saw at least 50 people dead or wounded. But rather than scaring us away, it only gave us more reason to attack this symbol of the king’s tyranny.”
By about 4 o’clock in the afternoon, the rioters had taken complete control of the fortress, freeing the prisoners inside, taking possession of their desired weapons, and capturing the prison governor Monsieur Launay and his assistant, the lieutenant governor. The lieutenant could not be immediately identified. Eyewitnesses report that the two men were then executed by the mob’s leaders, and that the killings were carried out in a way such that good taste dictates that I not describe it here. The remains of the two men were then paraded around the city in a gruesome display that seems to indicate that the violence in this country is far from over.
His Majesty King Louis XVI could not be immediately reached for comment.
Nicholas Bouckaert 2nd Hour
ReplyDeleteOn the 21 of June this year King Louis XVI, his wife Marie Antoinette, and there children attempted to flee Paris for Austria were the queens brother is emperor.They were disguised as commoners when the royal family left Paris. However, they were recognized by a bystander a few miles form Germany at the town of Varennes. The bystander alerted soldiers near by and the royal family was escorted back to Paris and arrived on the 25 June. The royal family was viewed suspiciously as traitors, and place on house arrest. When we asked bystanders to describe the royal family’s disguise they all said the look as if they were bakers. The soldiers that escorted them back to Paris couldn’t be questioned.
My staff and I decide to write a letter to King Louis XVI and ask why he decide to flee. Knowing the chance of a replay was very unlikely but to our surprise King Louis XVI did respond. In his letter he state that he felt that he and his family were unsafe and endangered a long as they were in Paris and like any man in this situation he was trying to protect his family. He also stated in his letter that when he returned to Paris that he and his family felt as if they were virtual prisoners. So, when he was ask to accept the limited monarchy establish by the National Assembly, he reluctantly did so, fearing if he didn’t accept something terrible may happened to his family. He ask that I tell you that he always will love France and it’s people and his actions were only for the benefit of his family.
Chad Lowe 2nd Hour
ReplyDeleteOn the famous date of July 14, 1789. A huge mob marched to the Bastille, searching for gun powder and prisoners that had been taken by the unpopular King, Louis XVI. The rumors of attacks from the government and the starvation were just too much for the crowds. The Bastille had been prepared for over a week for the angry mobs. But nothing could have prepared the defenders for what they met that now famous day. The Bastille was governed by a man named Marquis de Launay. On July 7th, Swiss soldiers came to aid the guards at the Bastille. Marquis was expecting a mob attack, but certainly not a siege. The entire workforce of the Bastille had quickly and furiously been repairing the Bastille and reinforcing it. At three o'clock that afternoon, a huge group of French guards and angry citizens tried to break into the prison. There were over three hundred people ready to put an end to their overtaxing and government. The rioters easily broke into the arsenal and into the first courtyard, cut the drawbridge down, and then quickly got through the door behind it. They demanded that the bridges be lowered, but they were refused. The Marquis de Launay said he would surrender if his troops were allowed to leave peacefully, but he was denied. They wanted de Launay on a noose or with his head in a basket. The mob paraded through the streets, showing off their captives, and crudely cutting off many heads. King Louis had no idea what was about to happen in France
Sam Pulliam 2nd hour
ReplyDeleteYesterday, on July 13, 1789, the National Assembly is continuing to write a new constitution for France and its people. King Louis XVI sent out troops to keep the streets of Paris and Versailles at peace. This led to a rumor around Paris that the King was sending out troops to attack the National Assembly. The people believing in the rumor were outraged. This morning on July 14, a group of craftsmen and salesmen formed to fight back and ran to the Invalides to steal some weapons. The mob of citizens stole around 28,000 rifles, however they couldn’t find any gun powder. The mob knew the Bastille Prison had piles of rifles, ammunition, and gun powder. The mob stormed the Bastille demanding entrance to the prison. The mob attacked, but there were only 80 French soldiers and 30 Swiss grenadiers. The governor of the prison, Marquis Bernard-Rene de Launay, tried to buy time, but it was too late, the guards had fired on the mob of people. By late in the day, around 4 p.m., the mob had broken into the prison, capturing Marquis Bernard-Rene de Launay and his assistant the lieutenant governor. All of the guards were killed and the prisoners were set free. Marquis Launay was beheaded and carried around the city on a stake as a sign of victory.
GRACE HEINE, 2ND HOUR
ReplyDeleteWOMEN STORM THE KINGS PALACE
In October 1789, an angry mob of thousands of women demanding bread marched, in the rain, to the king’s palace in Versailles. Brandishing sticks and pitchforks, the women surrounded the palace shouting for their king and queen. It was reported that once the shouts and cries grew louder, and armed guards were unable to control mob the king finally declared, “My friends, I will go to Paris with my wife and children.”
It was reported that that afternoon women carrying banners and loaves of bread on bayonets were seen surrounding the carriage of the king as it drove from Versailles to Paris. We tried to contact the king about this situation to see his side of the story, but he refused to hear out our questioning. Now that the king and the National Assembly are back in Paris we wanted to question some commoners to see what they think of the situation. Many people replied to our questions saying that they believe that this incident will really help the government affairs to begin to start moving again.
TIANA HEMPEL 2ND HOUR DECEMBER 1793
ReplyDeleteThe Killing Of a King
Due to recent events within the country of France, His Majesty, King Louis XVI, has been executed by beheading on the Guillotine. Charges against him included the endangerment of his country and crimes against the people of France.
On January 20, 1793, the National Convention condemned Louis XVI to death, his execution scheduled for the next day. Louis spent that evening saying goodbye to his wife and children. The following day was cold and wet. Louis was awoken the next day at five. At eight o'clock a guard of 1,200 horsemen arrived to take the former king on a final carriage ride to his place of execution.
Before he was to be executed, King Louis XVI looked to the crowd and said his final words. "Gentlemen, I am innocent of everything of which I am accused. I wish that my blood may be able to cement the happiness of the French." Once said, his former Excellency laid down and was executed. After, the executioner held the head of Louis XVI as the crowds began to take up the cry and shouts, 'Vive la Republique!' or 'Long live the Republic!'
COURTNEY RELLERGERT 2ND HOUR
ReplyDeleteOn the 21st of June this year, His Highness, Louis XVI, his wife Marie Antoinette, and their children had attempted to flee France in hopes of escaping to Austria. Riding in a heavily packed carriage, the royal family fled in the middle of the night. However, the carriage was so heavily packed that their trip took a very long amount of time. By the time they reached the small town of Varennes, all most of France had received their arrest warrants and were already on the lookout for them. It was in this town that a local postmaster, called Drout, saw the King and recognized his face immediately-despite the King’s poor disguise as a baker. He then handed Louis his arrest warrant, and the royal family was escorted back to Paris.
Louis claimed that the reason for the fleeing was for the benefit of the family. He said that Marie and been threatened to be murdered, and begged him to flee to Austria, where her brother was emperor.
BRIAN MERCIER 2ND HOUR
ReplyDeleteOn this day, July 28, 1794, the reign of terror has ended. The terror has finally ended after a year of executions by the guillotine. Over the past year nearly 40,000 people have died. Most of them being enemies of the Jacobins. But not everyone who was executed was an enemy of the Jacobins. We have a witness who has claimed that the members of their neighborhood watch committee were having innocent people executed just because that member didn't like them. Our unnamed witness said," Every day I would see my neighbors, friends, and sometimes even family be taken from their homes, put on what the government considered a trial, and executed.
There were also many famous members of the French government who were killed during this violent period of time. Jean-Paul Marat Was stabbed to death while taking a bath, Georges Danton was executed by guillotine under the order of Maximilien Robespierre for wanting to put an end to the reign of terror, and finally yesterday, July 27,1794, Robespierre was executed, finally putting an end to the reign of terror.
McKenzie King, 2nd Hour
ReplyDeletePARIS/VERSAILLES, FRANCE-
Yesterday, thousands of starving, furious women marched on the palace of Versailles. They marched through the rain all the way from Paris to Versailles, armed with pitchforks, pikes, and muskets. As they walked they chanted, "Bread! Bread!". We where able to speak with one of them women who said, “We where furious because as the king and his queen, not to mention their nobles, where feasting like there was no tomorrow, and we and our children are all starving.”
By the time the women reached the palace, they were met by 20,000 French National Guardsmen. The guardsmen where no match for them though. They pushed their way through, and as they where seconds from beating down the door of the palace, King Louis XVI stepped out onto the balcony, addressing the angry women. They began to demand bread and for the king to move himself and his family back to Paris. “We wanted him to see first hand what we're going through”, another woman claimed.
The women managed to accomplish yesterday what we men hadn't been able too. For today, The king and his family, under the protection of the National Guardsmen, moved from Versailles to Paris. I smell change in the air!
--The king wouldn't comment on this action as of this morning.
NATALIE ROSE 2ND HOUR
ReplyDeleteNews Flash! Jean-Paul Marat Assassinated In His Bath!
This ferocious literary activist was murdered July 13, 1793, in his bath by Charlotte Corday, a young female idealist who sided with the Girondin party. Upset over the loss of several prominent Girondist leaders due to political attacks by the Jacobins, she planned to kill the head of the monster who was leading in the attacks, Jean-Paul Marat. He had been arrested and tried as an attempt to silence his accusations by the Girondin party, but he said a wonderful speech that inspires even Englishwomen like myself. The following is a passage of this amazing speech. "It accuses me of having incited to murder and pillage, of setting up a “Chief of State,” dishonoring and dissolving a convention, etc. The contrary can be proved to be true simply by reading my writings. I demand a consecutive reading; for it is not by garbling and mutilating passages that the ideas of an author are to be learned, but by reading the context; then the meaning may be judged," Marat stated solidly, and so he was let go without punishment for his "alleged" crime. After his trial, he attacked back his accusers and got them arrested, which pushed things over the edge. In raged by the arrest of those she supports, Charlotte Corday was apparently pushed too far, and so she struck back. An eye for an eye, as they say.
So, on July 13, 1793, she went up to the door of the mansion, and she knocked. The butler opened the door and asked whether he could help her or not. She replied that she needed to see Jean-Paul Marat. The butler told her she would have to wait, as Master Marat was in the bath and did not wish to be disturbed. Then she leaned closer and said that she had a list of Girondist traitors, but that she would only show it too Mr. Marat. The butler asked Marat for permission, and as he answered yes the assassin gained entrance to the house. Charlotte was led to the bath where Marat asked her to get closer so he could see the list. When she was in range, she struck, pulling out a knife and stabbing Jean-Paul Marat straight in the chest. The butler heard a loud cry, and when he came to see what was wrong he found his master in an ever expanding blood bath and Ms. Corday gone. The butler then raised the alarm and Ms. Corday as well as several leading Girondist were took into custody. The trial shall come to a close today, with the most likely verdict being execution, as these Frenchmen seem so inclined to do these days. Look again tomorrow to find out the exciting ending to this horrible crime story.
http://www.bookrags.com/biography/jean-paul-marat/
http://www.bartleby.com/268/7/25.html
KEVIN HAMMOND
ReplyDelete2ND HOUR
On December 2nd 1804 Napoleon was being crowned emperor. It was a very cold and cloudy day. Back in March, the Senate decided it was best for Napoleon to be named emperor. We were all amazed how easily he was voted to be. You see, I am one of the many post-Enlightenment thinkers so I studied history. I can tell that his emperorship is actually going to be a military dictatorship. The coronation took place at the famous Notre-Dame cathedral. The coronation began with the army and navy, legislative and judiciary assemblies, and administrative corporations all arriving. Then, Pope Pius VII and the higher clergy later arrived. Distinguished regiments in the army followed. Following them were six horse drawn carriages. The carriages behind those were Napoleon’s brothers and sisters. Finally in the horizon you could see Napoleon’s royal coach. It was ornamented in gold and was emblazoned with the N for Napoleon. The carriage was carried by eight horses. Napoleon marched up to the cathedral. His dressed in purple velvet embroidered with gems and gold. With him was his wife Josephine, she was robed with silk and sparkling gems. Everyone was moved into place in the cathedral. Napoleon and Josephine both changed into their coronation robes.
On his way up to the throne Napoleon kneeled down to be crowned by the pope. We all didn’t want this to happen because that would mean that the Church had more power than government. Suddenly, Napoleon checked the Pope and took the crown and placed it on his own head. The crowd was in shock. The Church was especially amazed. At this point we knew Napoleon was going to be a great emperor. All we wanted to know was what would happen next.
Brian McTigue 2nd Hour
ReplyDeleteParis, France - Today, the king of France has left us. Around midday today his life was cut much to short by the people of the revolution led by the Jacobins. Most people were happy when this execution was carried out upon the guillotine. One person I talked to, owner of Google inc. said it was a great day for France, that now the king was dead and all symbols of monarchy were gone, they could build a republic.
Even though they may be roaring with cheers in Paris as Maximilien Robespierre raised the head of the now deceased king, in countries like Austria, Prussia, and Russia, the absolute monarchs are breaking into sweats and trying to figure out how to stop this from starting to spread. Some are tightening their powers and some are giving freedoms to not have a chance at violence. This is a very delicate situation and can turn with just a flick of a wrist, but I have a strange feeling that it's not over in France, and I suggest if you can, get out while it's only brewing.
BAILEY KLINGENSMITH 2ND HOUR
ReplyDeleteOctober 5, 1789
THE WOMEN TAKE ACTION
Early this morning thousands of women stormed the Palace of Versailles in anger over the Bread shortages and extreme prices. The march began early tis morning in the Paris Markets. The young women's march began when a women struck a marching drum at the edge of a group of market-women. From their starting point in the markets of the eastern section of Faubourg Saint-Antoine, the angry women forced a nearby church to toll its bells. Their numbers continued to grow and with restless energy the group began to march. More women from other nearby marketplaces joined in, bearing kitchen blades and other makeshift weapons,a s the tocsins rang from church towers throughout several local districts. Driven by a variety of agitators, the mob converged on the Hotel de Ville when they demanded not only bread, but arms. As more and more women- and men- arrived, the crowd outside the city hall reached between sex and seven thousand, and maybe even as many as Ten Thousand!
The crowd traveled the distance from Paris to Versailles in about six hours! Among their makeshift weaponry they dragged along several cannons taken from the Hotel De Ville. They recruited or forced more and more followers as they surged out of Paris in the cold wet weather. We spoke with an anonymous women protestor and she said, " We fight not only today but each day for our families and today we are bringing home the king and his harlot of a wife too!" it is now the late afternoon and we are awaiting the group of six women nominated by the mob and president of The Assembly, Jean Joseph Mounier to return from inside the palace with the King and his family in tow.
Conor Ginger 2nd hour
ReplyDeleteDeciding that they could not reach a true republic, the convention felt that they needed to be rid of one more obstacle. This obstacle was King Louis XVI. During the November of 1792, a large collection of falsehoods and accusations were made against Louis. I tried to dig deeper into this by writing to the Convention, but there was no reply to my letter. It was not reported that many of these falsehoods are true are not. With this little known evidence the radicals used it to censure the royal family. On the eleventh of December in 1792, Louis was tried by the Convention and had been found guilty in which he had “conspired against the liberty of the nation.”
It is now January 21st 1793. As I saw the carriage arrive, King Louis was dressed in his finest clothes. He kissed his family goodbye. I held my head down and my distance and did not want to disrupt anything. I followed him to the execution site. The king removed his coat and his last words were: “I forgive my enemies; I trust that my death will be for the happiness of my people, but I grieve for France and I fear that she may suffer the anger of the Lord.” He lied his head down on the chopping block, and WHAM! The blade came down. Maxemillian Robespierre held the severed head of Louis XVI proudly and showed the entire crowd. It is now believed that the revolution was now put to an end, but only time can tell of what will later happen.
SARA HELFRICH 2ND HOUR
ReplyDeleteTwo days ago, King Louis XVI was put on trial and convicted by the National Convention. His was sentenced to death by the Guillotine. His execution was set for the next day. That night, he spent his evening at a quiet last dinner with his family. Little was said and after the meal they all went to bed as usual.
Yesterday morning, was the day his sentence was carried out. He woke up and kissed his family goodbye just like a normal day. Then, at eight o'clock a guard of 1,200 horsemen arrived to escort the former king on a two-hour carriage ride to his place of execution. When he reached the place, he saw the large crowd that had gathered to watch his death. Before his sentenced was carried out, he said a few words, and calmly sat down in the proper position. Swiftly and quickly, his execution was finished. There was an exciting roar among the crowd. The people were happy that their republic could continue now that the only thing in their way was gone.
ASHLEY BERGER 2ND HOUR
ReplyDeleteBastille Attack!
Today, July 14th, 1789 the peasants finally got fed up with the king’s unstable governmental system. The people have finally decided to take action. King Louis has sent troops to Versailles as a preventative measure; however, this has not been taken lightly.
It was believed that these troops were sent offensively rather than defensively. Therefore, people thought he was trying to attack and prevent the new constitution. Many people stormed the streets and searched for weapons so that they could attack the king’s armies. The Bastille is also the city’s most major armory. They decided that in order to defend themselves they would go after the Bastille for weapons and gun powder. They first demanded the weapons from the Bastille. They were turned down but allegedly they attacked the French guards. The word is that the guards retaliated and attacked the peasants and mobs.
Eventually the mobs somehow took over the Bastille and freed all of the prisoners. They also took all the weapons that they wanted and killed the head of the prison,Marquis de Launay and displayed his head.
This could begin something crazy like a revolution?
JASON STUCKMEYER
ReplyDelete2ND HOUR
Right before the Brutal Attack on the infamous Bastille prison
As the the National Assembly met, the King had ordered his troops to gather around the city of Paris to keep the peace between the estates during this meeting. There was a rumor going around the city that the King planned on attacking the National Assembly because he didn't want to limit his powers. The towns people didn't take to kindly to this act and felt the need to arm themselves to keep the Assembly intact to finish the writing of the document. The townspeople were arming themselves with Hayforks and whatever they could find but they ran out of weapons that they could use and decided to turn the target on the Bastille prison which was fully stocked with weapons.
July 12&13 the angry mob decided to storm into the prison to free all of 7 prisoners and to take all of the weapons in it's armoury. It was said that a group of guards had opened fire on the mob , but once they got ahold of the weapons the storming of the Bastille was over except somebody for the mob took the captain of the prison and cut his head off with a little knife.
I cant even picture this I am so glad this isn't happening in the US...YET
Randy James, 2nd Hour
ReplyDeleteROBESPIERRE WORKS THE GUILLOTINE
Jacobin leader, Robespierre, has created a system of executing any and all people who oppose him or Jacobin beliefs. He has set up watch committees, which track down rumored traitors. These "traitors" are then put on trial and mostly found guilty, then swiftly executed.
So far this year, tens of thousands of people have been executed on the guillotine by Robespierre! This ginormous amount of carnage leaves people wondering who's next and when this madness will stop. It seems as though nobody is safe from this Reign of Terror in France.
Alex McClelland 2nd Hour
ReplyDeleteROBESPIERRE EXECUTED
Today, the Jacobin leader Maximilien Robespierre, was put to the guillotine after being responsible for approximately 40,000 executions in the last year. Those who were executed were suspected of speaking out against the Jacobin party.
He made many attempts to increase the Reign of Terror, but his supporters arrested him for their own protection. The death of the Jacobin leader will surely put an end to the harsh sentences placed on those accused of being enemies of the revolution.
CHASE RICHARDET 2ND HOUR
ReplyDeleteRUMORS OF 'WATCH COMMITTEES' SPREAD THROUGHOUT FRANCE!
Rumors of 'Watch Committees' have spread throughout France. Everybody has been talking about them. The Jacobin leader Maxemillen Robespierre has been suspected of setting these committees. These committees are rounding up anybody who doesn't support the Jacobins. Anybody that is rounded up will likely be put on trial, and found guilty.
People who are found guilty will be executed for everyone to see. They will be exacuted by the Guillotine. The Guillotine spreads fear with its size and how it exacutes people. The person is layed down, and his/her limbs are tied. They are then locked in. A huge blade comes down and finishes the person off. This instrament was used during the Great Fear. During the Great Fear, the Guillotine exacuted around 40,000 people.
P.S. sorry this is late
ZAC CASPER 2ND HOUR
ReplyDeleteSTORMING OF THE BASTILLE
This last thursday the prison, the Bastille was under siege by mobs that gathered out of fear of actions that they thought the king was going to do to the National Assembly. So these mobs ran to the Bastille and they roared to the guard "LET US IN" so they could get guns and ammunition from this larger armory.
The mobs were soon running throughout the whole prison letting out prisoners and killing any guard in sight with clubs and rocks. During this large attack the Leuitenit was found and then dragged out to front of the prison and beheaded with what was only a small knife. In the end of this revolutionizing day again 6 prisoners are now missing and the Bastille has been cleaned dry of all of its armory.
PEARL CAGLE 2ND HOUR
ReplyDeleteStorming Of The Bastille!
Early yesterday morning, July 14, 1789, The Third Estate angrily stormed the Bastille. Gathered outside around noon, calling for the surrender of the prison, and the removal of guns and of the arms and gunpowder. The crowd stormed into the courtyard, the chains on the drawbridge were cut killing one man. Around this time, gunfire began.
98 attackers and one defender had died in the actual fighting.The citizens of Paris are now building barricades of paving stones, and arming themselves as well as possible. Rumors of a new Consitution are floating around this morning but we have not heard anything from a reliable source.