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.
SETH SMITH 4TH HOUR
ReplyDeleteJean-Paul Marat assassinated!!!
Paris, France – Jean-Paul Marat, the deputy of Paris to the Convention and one of the leading members of the Jacobins, was found murdered in the ‘safety’ of his own home, police say.
Last year, Marat greatly persecuted the Girondists in France’s Revolution Legislature. The Girondists are a political faction in France’s National Convention. They were mostly made up of moderate conservatives. However, one of their supporters, Charlotte Corday, wanted to see Marat to his death. Charlotte Corday is the daughter of an aristocrat, and an ally of the Girondists in Normandy, France. When questioned, she confessed that she originally had planned on assassinating Jean-Paul Marat on July 14th during the Bastille Day Parade, but when the festivities were cancelled she had to change her plans.
Charlotte Corday left to gain an audience with Marat on July 13th, 1793, promising to tell him the names of local Girondists. At the time, Jean-Paul Marat, who had a persisting skin disease, was working in his bath like normal. When Charlotte had shown Marat the list of ‘traitors’ in Normandy, he assured her that he would see that they are sent to the guillotine and executed properly. Suddenly, Charlotte pulled a knife out of her dress and stabbed Jean-Paul Marat straight through the heart. He died almost instantly. Instead of running, she waited calmly at the crime-scene for the police to come and arrest her. She was tried, convicted, and set forth to be executed on the guillotine four days after her crime.
Landen Smith
ReplyDelete4th Hour
December 17, 1792
Today, joy and relief were felt throughout France. The Constitution written by the Convention a few days ago is now official, through the execution of Louis XVI. The crowds of Parisian people celebrated joyously today when Louis XVI was beheaded. One citizen said “I brought my sons (John 9 and Charles 7) to see this marvelous moment for France!”
Louis was charged for “Destruction of Liberty” and was beheaded at 10:00 A.M. Louis gave a speech before his execution, forgiving everyone for what they were about to do to him. Seconds after the execution, many rejoiced as Louis’ head was held high for all to see. Many people believe that this means that there is no turning back. Also many people are excited for Frances new Republic.
MONICA HAGELSTEIN 4th hr
ReplyDeleteSURPRISE AT THE CROWNING
PARIS, FRANCE – Surprise flooded the eyes of those who were at the coronation of Napoleon yesterday.
The ceremony started at nine am when the Papal procession set out from the Tuileries. The procession was led by a bishop on a mule holding aloft the Papal crucifix. The Pope entered Notre Dame first, to the anthem Tu es Petrus, and took his seat on a throne near the high altar. Napoleon's and Joséphine's carriage was drawn by eight bay horses.
Before entering Notre Dame, Napoleon was seen wearing a long white satin tunic embroidered in gold thread and Josephine similarly wore a white satin empire style dress embroidered in gold thread. However, witnesses say that during the coronation he was formally clothed in a heavy coronation mantle, made from crimson velvet.
Soon the coronation began. During the ceremony Napoleon requested the collect of the Blessed Virgin (as the patron of the cathedral) to be said in place of the proper collect for the day. After the epistle the different articles of the imperial regalia were individually blessed,and delivered to the Emperor and Empress. At the moment of the crowning when the Pope said, "Receive the imperial crown..." Napoleon shockingly turned and, forestalling the Pope, removed his laurel wreath and crowned himself and then crowned the kneeling Joséphine with a small crown surmounted by a cross, which he had first placed on his own head. At Napoleon's enthronement the Pope said, "May God confirm you on this throne and may Christ give you to rule with him in his eternal kingdom".Limited in his actions, Pius VII proclaimed further the Latin formula "Vivat imperator in aeternum!" (May the Emperor live forever!), which was echoed by the full choirs in a Vivat, followed by "Te Deum". With his hands on the Bible, Napoleon took the oath: "I swear to maintain the integrity of the territory of the Republic, to respect and enforce respect for the Concordat and freedom of religion, equality of rights, political and civil liberty, the irrevocability of the sale of national lands; not to raise any tax except in virtue of the law; to maintain the institution of Legion of Honor and to govern in the sole interest, happiness and glory of the French people"
The crowd was astonished when Napoleon had crowned himself. Many confused at first didn't understand why Napoleon would do this, however by days end the message that Napoleon sent was clear to all.
Napoleon Emperor of the French was not able to be reached for comment.
HALEY STUCKMEYER 4TH HOUR
ReplyDeleteNapoloen Bonaparte Overthrows France's Government
After the period of time refered to the "Reign of Terror" a new government took over France. This new government was called the directory and ruled from 1795 to 1799. It was made up of 5 men called 'directors'.
in 1799, a military general named Napoloen Bonaparte returned to Paris from a military campaign in Egypt. He overhtrew the directory in a 'coup d' etate', which means quick seizure of power.Once he overthrew the directory he named France as a republic again. Napoloen was actually ruling as an absolute ruler due to the constitution set up at the time. The people of France liked Napoloen and viewed him as a military hero and the savior of France. In 1802, Napoloen named himself consul for life. this was suprisingly approved by a popular vote by the people.
During Napoloen's reign, he made many reforms to France. The most important of which was his devolpment of a code of laws called the Napoloenic Code. This code got rid of the confusing feudal and royal laws and used ideas of the Enlightenment. But Napoloen's interests were occupied by building a European empire istead of adhearing to a nation. Maybe Napoloen would have done better for France by being in control of the military, but not the nation.
ALLI DIEKMANN; 4TH HOUR
ReplyDeleteMARCH TO VERSAILLES!
The king has refused to accept the new reforms and the Declaration of Rights. Many people think the king plans to take action against the National Assembly! I have been notified by many people that they will not calm down until the day the king relocates from the countryside to the city of Paris! They believe this will be the only way to prove his support to the National Assembly.
Early mourning yesterday thousands of women stormed the king’s palace in the pouring rain demanding bread! Most of witch were wielding sticks and pitch forks. These agitated women soon surrounded the palace, and began franticly shouting for the king and queen. My sources informed me that the screams of these women could be heard all throughout the countryside! The cries of these women just kept growing louder and louder to the point that the guards simply couldn’t keep these women under control. Their demands for bread soon became more of a cry for political reforms and a wanting for the king to relocate his family and himself to Paris. The king was eventually forced to speak when the women were too much for the guards to handle. The king then pronounced that he would move to Paris with his family!
The women then accompanied the king’s carriage, waving banners and loaves of bread on bayonets, as it drove from Versailles to Paris. One of the members of the National Assembly has told me that they are now planning to accompany the king in Paris. This has been quite the win for the people of France and now the delegates can finally turn their attention to political reforms, and the people of France can now take a sigh of relief knowing that the king does indeed support the National Assembly.
LAURA PEPPER 4TH HOUR
ReplyDeleteTHE KING IS DEAD!!!
Yes, you read right! King Louis XVI was beheaded on the Guillotine earlier this week. In November, the radicals had found a box in the royal palace containing Louis’s secret correspondence with foreign monarchs. By December he had been tried before the Convention, convicted of having “conspired against the liberty of the nation”, and sentenced to execution.
It is now January and the king is dead. I spoke to a French citizen, who was an eyewitness at the event of Louis’s beheading. He shared Louis’s last words… “I forgive my enemies; I trust that my death will be for the happiness of my people, but I grieve for France and fear that she may suffer the anger of the Lord.” With those words, the witness said Louis put his head, face down on the ‘chopping block.’ The blade was then released and sliced the kings head clean off, where it then landed in a bucket below. The crowd immediately burst into cheer and celebrated for the king’s death. It is time that the French people move on. The republic will remain.
January 21, 1793
ReplyDeleteA King Executed…. Paris, France- King Louis XVI has been executed today.
This is Jeramie Lawson reporting to you what has happened today in Paris. Other than the usual crimes, King Louis XVI was executed on the guillotine. He was accused of something he didn’t even do. HE was accused of conspiring against the good of the country. I am sure these are faulty charges, but I guess it’s all in the name of Revolution. I interviewed Robespierre about the incident.
Me- Why did you have Louis executed?
Him- We needed to show everyone that we mean business with the revolution stuff.
Me- I think you got your point through.
Him- I think so too.
That was all of the interview. In other news, man stole womans shoes! That’s horrible!
Jeramie Lawson
Will Jones 4th hour
ReplyDeleteIn the past 10 years France has had five consitiutions. They all lead up to a dictatorship by Napolean. After he was defeated the European countries agreed to crush all democratic ideas so another Napolean couldn't happen. In the end it can be viewed as a failure but ultimately a success.
EMILY ESTOPARE, 4TH HOUR
ReplyDeleteAugust 4th 1789 - The Great Fear has been going on for quite awhile now, considering it started on July 20th. It all started with the peasants hearing a rumor that nobles were hiring bandits to attack them. They immediately believed it. In defense, they attacked the nobles, burned down their homes, and even killed some of them. The Third Estate, especially the peasants, were going crazy. But, today instead of more chaos and fighting, a major event has taken place. The National Assembly met to put an end to all of the violence that was going on. In this meeting, they abolished feudalism and took away the unfair taxes and tithes that the First Estate and Second Estate forced on the Third Estate. Also, the nobility finally agreed to pay taxes instead of loading them all on the Third Estate. Lastly, all male citizens, regardless of their rank in the Social Classes, were allowed to hold positions in the government, army, or church. This was a pretty revolutionary for France, and I’m glad I was here to witness it.
ANDRU EMHT 4TH HOUR
ReplyDeletePARISIAN WOMEN DEMAND BREAD!
Hi I am Andru Emht, part of the English Gazette and i Would like to talk about this new outbreak in Paris, France involving the angry, Parisian women and King Louis XVI. This event started when Paris was experiencing a food shortage. So, in October 1789 the angry women marched on a cold, rainy day to the King's palace in Versailles.
Finally after waiting in the cold rain, the king came outside to meet and talk to the angry women. The king agreed to travel to France to deal with the food shortage crisis. Queen Marie Antoinette commented on the event saying in a cruel voice " Let them eat cake." Days after the this event the King and the national Assembly met to write a new Constitution. This a great event in this huge revolution.
RYAN WAINZ 4TH HOUR
ReplyDeletePARIS, FRANCE- Extreme violence in Paris, French government spiraling out of control, People being beheaded by the guillotine, violence is never ending! There is complete chaos in France.
It’s July 1794. France is being governed the Committee of Public Safety. The government is highly influenced by the Jacobins. There most influential leaders are Danton and Robespierre. In a course of 9 months 17,000 people have were “guillotined”. There is a committee called the “neighborhood watch committee.” The “neighborhood watch committee” is a group of people that people report the names of people that could be possible “traitors” to the government. The neighborhood watch committee would then take the possible traitors from their home and execute them. 98% of the people were found guilty with little or no trial at all.
Robespierre is the one that keeps pushing the reign of terror because he wants to get rid of everyone corrupt in France. Even Danton said that they have gone too far with the executions. When Danton said this Robespierre called him and traitor and now Danton himself is being beheaded by the guillotine. A total of 40,000 people have been executed by the reign of terror according to reporters in the Paris area. The reporters in France belie that if you get rid of Robespierre then the Reign of Terror will end.
I will be updating you in the next few months and give you all the updates on the vicious, killings in France.
SAM HUGHES 4TH HOUR
ReplyDeleteVersailles, France- Thousands of angry mostly women but also men march to the kings palace at Versailles. They riot started in a local market when a group of small but steadily growing women were outraged at the shortage and high bread prices at the marketplace. They forced a church to ring its bells nearby and soon they started to move. Not long after, bells were ringing all over the city and the mob swelled. People came from all over the city with knifes and other weapon. What may have been up to 10,000 people charged the city hall and demanded bread and arms. An unofficial leader named Stanislaus Maillard was appointed and although angry, he stopped them from burning the whole building down and killing the quartermaster. They stormed the place, tiking bread and weapons and then left the city to the kings palace. As they left, thousands of soldiers assembled in the town square led by Marquis de Lafayette. Although Lafayette wanted to defend the king, the soldiers wanted to join the mob and threatened to kill him if he got in his way. He reluctantly took his place at the head of the column, as they left city, hoping to control them in some way and protect the king.
It took six hours for them to reach Paris and along with the makeshift weapons, the had several cannons stolen from the Hotel de Ville. They picked up even more followers on the way there and when they arrived, were welcomed by a group that had already assembled from the surrounding area. Maillard was invited in there hall and thousands of people flooded in to sit on the benches. They were greeted by a few political officials including Maximilien Robespierre. Six women were taken in the palace to speak with the king and he agreed to distribute bread among the crowd. A few left and marched back to Paris but most stayed unsatisfied. The king, realizing that his life was potentially in danger, agreed to The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. The crowd was still angry and found an unguarded entrance and stormed inside. They killed two guards and searched for the queen. she narrowly escaped and the attack was stopped when the royal guards communicated with the national guards. The talk was led by Lafayette and the king agreed to speech to the crowd. He said he would return to Paris with his family and the left at about 1 PM. The total trip back took about 9 hours.
Its 1804 on december 2 when the city of paris gthered for the special ceramony about to take place. The Ceramony took place at the cathedral at Notre Dame.Were he was with the pope and the whole city of paris watching.This was the day they were goin to crown Napoleon Bonapart Emperor.
ReplyDeleteThe ceramony was very long aand lasted a couple hours. They pope gave his speechand so did members of the council. Then right when the pope was about to set the crown on Napoleans head, Napolean reaches for the crown and puts it on himself. The crowed gasped and this to all of us gave a bold statement about who our new emperor is.He is to not be messed with!
Sara Blunda 4th hour
Eric peal 4th hour
ReplyDeleteParis,France
Well i screwed at the moment i have entd france at the wrong time becuase today ias when the french are sending there troups to russia.even as a foreigner i had to sign up. I personaly respect napolains ideas but this crazy. BY my calctions using calclus it will take roughly 4 months. That will be september. I have benn to Russia in september ,im just gonna say aint going back because is till cant fell my toes.
We have just now got to moscow out of 600,000 of us 300,000 aere left. As a reporter im going to do a story for all of u of this. It is freezuing cold like 0 celsisu out here aint staying. for the newwapper though the trip was half way succesful one to get there but an unsecuisful idea as i said i beleive we will all die so give all the grivin g to my family paper if i die
ALLIE CROW 4TH HOUR
ReplyDeleteJuly 28th Paris, France- Chaos has erupted in the French countryside! After the attack on the Bastille, many peasants and other members of the third estate feared that the nobles would punish them for their actions. These great fears were accompanied by rumors of the nobles hiring soldiers to destroy their harvest's and homes. Losing their harvest would cause a large deficit in the food supply, and this worried the lower class even further.
Peasants are on rampage in the countryside. They have begun to break into the manors of nobles, ransack there homes, and some were even killed. Feudal records are being destroyed, eliminating the ties between peasants and their feudal lords. We can only hope the French government can get this violence under control before many lives are lost.
PAYTON LAWHON 4TH HOUR
ReplyDeleteThe King Has Been Executed!
In the past few years nobody in Paris has been happy. With unenployment rates at it's highest, prices for bread and other foods soaring, and it's economy spirally out of control, King XVI was slowly loosing his grip on the French Empire. In the past months angry mobs of peasents and members of the 3rd clergy went on killing sprees against noblemen, killing their families and burning there homes. Along with that, the raiding of the Bastille is not easily ignored. With things obviously out of control the National Covention along with the people's backing, brought Louis to trial earlier this week.
He was tried and found guilty. Waking early in the morning and eating breakfast with his family, a knock came at his door. At around 8 in the morning a carriage arrived to take him to the guilltine. On arrival, he gave a speech, claiming they were making a mistake but he had already forgiven them. Now with no royalty in-charge, we shall see what happens to our economy.
Jason Nahlik
ReplyDeleteWOMEN'S MARCH TO KINGS HOUSE!!!
It was quite a suprise to King Luois when he saw thousands of women outside the castle of verstaille in 1789. there demands were that the king move to paris and...bread? thats right bread, because at that time bread prices were outragously high. when the queen Marie antoinnet said " they want bread? let them have cake" in a way that mocked the ladies. after many hours of this the crowd became enraged and tore through the gates of Versaille and began to attack the castle. Louis finaly succumbed to the womens demannds and he moved to Paris, and gave them them bread. LET THERE BE BREAD!!!!
paris france-on December the 2, 1804
ReplyDeletePARIS FRANCE TIMES- NICK HONIGFORT 4th
today a ceremony was held in honor of Napoleon bonaparte in the Notre Dame cathedral. it was more of a seizing of power or some might say a royal crowning. during the ceremony the pope was walking up with the crown and Napoleon jumped up grabbed the crown and put it on his head. we talked to the pope and he said he was shocked because he thought Napoleon was a classy man and a well respected general. some people say that it showed he had more power than the pope, but others are still appalled at such behavior. ALL in all people are still happy about such a powerful leader. what will he do next!
MATT HAGER
ReplyDelete4TH HOUR
King Found Guilty And Sentenced To Death!
Today we shall all celebrate like there's no tomorrow! After King Louis XVI was seen trying to 'visit' his wifes brother in Austria, the National Assembly forced King Louis to return to Paris, France. After the trip back from Austria with officials of the National Assembly, The National Assembly checked King Louis's house for any evidence of him plotting something evil against the people of France. While investigating, a box full of letters to and from other monarchs was found hidden in a safe. The letters are a clear statement that the king does not support the freedom and liberty of the French people.
January 21st, the king was put on trial and immediately found guilty. The jury pressed him with "conspiracy against the public liberty and the general safety." The vote was a majority vote, but if one person voted not guilty, it would of changed the whole vote. The vote's were 360-361. The beheading of the king will be held today at the Place de la Revolution in Paris. Everyone is able and encouraged to watch!
ALYSSA JOHNSON
ReplyDelete4TH HOUR
STORMING OF THE BASTILLE!!!
On July 14th,1789 in Paris, France an event took place that has shocked Europe. The storming of the Bastille. The storming of the Bastille was like a snowball effect. That night King Louis XVI wrote in his diary, “ July 14th; nothing,” as he did not know what had happened that day to the Bastille. The Bastille was a huge castle building that stood 8 towers. The Bastille was located in the East Of Paris. What led to the storming of the Bastille was rumors being floated around. The storming of the Bastille led to the changing of many many things.
The King had called the three estates to come to a tax resolution. The third estate was the only tax playing class and consisted of the vast majority of the public. With only a few cannons and about 3000 rifles, the mobs decided to storm into the Bastille with hope of finding more weapons. The Bastille was a prison at the time with Marquis de Launay as its head. The Bastille was known to be very poorly guarded. There were only 30 Swiss guards and 85 invalides. The of the prison tried to reach some kind of agreement with the furious mob and even agree to pull back the cannons that were positioned up high. Luanay made a very poor decision by letting the mob into the courtyard. Soon after a few gun shots were fired, a chaotic crossfire appeared and made for a giant blood bath. After about four hours, it was noticed that many of the prison defenders changed sides and started fighting from the revolutionaries’ side. Once the fighting was over with, Launay and his men were taken to Town Hall and murdered with their heads on posts parading around the city. Welcome to the French Revolution.