The four visual sources provided tell the story and development of the French Revolution. Each provides a different perspective of the French revolution as well as displaying the growing fear during this period. In the first visual called “Joyous Accord” the three estates; clergy, nobility and commoners, are interacting peacefully with each other. As the French Revolution progressed the visual images changed to fit the status of the revolution and show the effects it was having on each estate.
After assisting the American Revolution in order to get back at their British rivals, France found their country in bankruptcy. The French government began to tax the people; however the nobility estate was considered privileged and resisted the taxes. …show more content…
In the image the third estate, the commoner, is reaching to unlock guns and swords signifying the start of the French revolution. The fears that came with the awakening of the commoners involved the fear that they would overthrow the lords and current government system, and demand for equal rights and the end of privilege. The image also includes the Bastille fortress in the background. The storming of the Bastille is considered the starting event to the French revolution. The Bastille fortress was used as a state prison for high class convicts, political trouble makers and spies. The military governor, Bernard-Jordan de Launay, feared it would become a target for revolutionaries and on July 14, 1789 the attack on the fortress occurred. Men stormed the great walls of Bastille and began to lower the draw bridge to the crowd. In response Launay ordered his men to open fire into the crowd killing and wounding over 100 rioters. This was not enough to stop the storming of Bastille though; eventually Launay was forced to surrender. He was taken into custody, all weapons were seized and the seven prisoners of Bastille were freed. On his way to trial Launay was taken by the mob and murdered. From the storming of Bastille the revolutionaries took control of Paris and eventually the court of King Louis XVI where he and his wife, Marie Antoinette were …show more content…
The final visual source labeled “Hell Broke Loose” depicts one of the most shocking events during the French Revolution. On January 21, 1793 King Louis XVI and his Queen Marie Antoinette were executed at the guillotine. Demonic bat like figures are flying around the guillotine watching the execution while repeating the phrase “Vive la nation” or “Ca ira” which translate into “Long live the nation” and “We will win.” The demonic figures seem to be representing the people of France. While the light shining down from Heaven implies King Louis was favored by God and the execution and revolution is an act that goes against him.
The execution of King Louis marks the end of a formal government system in France, and the beginning of the Reign of Terror. During this time Maximillian Robespierre and his Committee of Public Safety began to try and reshape the French Government. They sent thousands to the guillotines all under the suspicion of being enemies of the French Revolution. Robespierre was eventually placed under arrest by the National Assembly, received no trial and was guillotined; bringing an end to the Committee of Public Safety and the start of the First
After assisting the American Revolution in order to get back at their British rivals, France found their country in bankruptcy. The French government began to tax the people; however the nobility estate was considered privileged and resisted the taxes. …show more content…
In the image the third estate, the commoner, is reaching to unlock guns and swords signifying the start of the French revolution. The fears that came with the awakening of the commoners involved the fear that they would overthrow the lords and current government system, and demand for equal rights and the end of privilege. The image also includes the Bastille fortress in the background. The storming of the Bastille is considered the starting event to the French revolution. The Bastille fortress was used as a state prison for high class convicts, political trouble makers and spies. The military governor, Bernard-Jordan de Launay, feared it would become a target for revolutionaries and on July 14, 1789 the attack on the fortress occurred. Men stormed the great walls of Bastille and began to lower the draw bridge to the crowd. In response Launay ordered his men to open fire into the crowd killing and wounding over 100 rioters. This was not enough to stop the storming of Bastille though; eventually Launay was forced to surrender. He was taken into custody, all weapons were seized and the seven prisoners of Bastille were freed. On his way to trial Launay was taken by the mob and murdered. From the storming of Bastille the revolutionaries took control of Paris and eventually the court of King Louis XVI where he and his wife, Marie Antoinette were …show more content…
The final visual source labeled “Hell Broke Loose” depicts one of the most shocking events during the French Revolution. On January 21, 1793 King Louis XVI and his Queen Marie Antoinette were executed at the guillotine. Demonic bat like figures are flying around the guillotine watching the execution while repeating the phrase “Vive la nation” or “Ca ira” which translate into “Long live the nation” and “We will win.” The demonic figures seem to be representing the people of France. While the light shining down from Heaven implies King Louis was favored by God and the execution and revolution is an act that goes against him.
The execution of King Louis marks the end of a formal government system in France, and the beginning of the Reign of Terror. During this time Maximillian Robespierre and his Committee of Public Safety began to try and reshape the French Government. They sent thousands to the guillotines all under the suspicion of being enemies of the French Revolution. Robespierre was eventually placed under arrest by the National Assembly, received no trial and was guillotined; bringing an end to the Committee of Public Safety and the start of the First