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The
French Revolution Mini Unit Study
The French Revolution, which lasted from 1789 to 1799, had dramatic
effects on France and lasting repercussions for the rest of Europe.
The revolution began, as many revolutions do, with a government
financial crisis. France was deeply in debt, largely due to the
cost of fighting the Seven Years’ War and its financing
of the American Revolution. Meetings of the Estates-General to
solve the crisis spiraled out of control when the Third Estate
(made up of the middle-classes and peasants) demanded reforms
in the social class and tax structures, among other things. Their
demands became a movement of violent reform that would ultimately
lead to the executions of King Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette
and thousands of others in what became known as the “Reign
of Terror.” The revolution ended when Napoleon Bonaparte,
a French general, seized power and later declared himself emperor.
However, because of the French Revolution, the European monarchy
learned that they could neither take their power for granted,
nor ignore the Enlightenment principles of liberty and equality.
The French Revolution is commemorated every year on July 14th
with the French national holiday known as Bastille Day and is
celebrated with parades and fireworks. It was on this day in 1789
that Frenchmen stormed the Bastille, a Paris prison that in the
past had housed political enemies of the king, and also had a
large cache of arms and ammunition inside its walls. Bastille
Day is symbolic as the end of the French monarchy and the beginnings
of a move towards a republican form of government. The Declaration
of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was adopted one month
later on August 26, 1789.
In this mini unit study, you can: visit the definitive French
Revolution site with over 600 primary source documents, take an
illustrated tour of the story of French Revolution, read an eyewitness
account of the execution of King Louis XVI, read the “Declaration
of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen,” look at how British
newspapers covered its neighbors revolt, listen to an audio version
of a Tale of Two Cities, hear the French national anthem
(written during the Revolution), “La Marseillaise,”
and make a variety of arts and crafts projects for Bastille Day.
Reading
Read all about the French Revolution at this site with articles,
pictures, and primary source documents:
Exploring
the French Revolution
Take an illustrated
tour through the whole story of the French Revolution:
Liberté
Egalité Fraternité
Read an eyewitness account
of Louis XVI's execution:
Eyewitness
account
Primary
Source Documents
Read how British newspapers covered the story of the French Revolution:
The
Times' accounts
Read the “Declaration
of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen":
Declaration
of Rights
Multimedia
Listen to a reading of a Tale of Two Cities (abridged):
A
Tale of Two Cities
Read the lyrics and
listen to the French National Anthem:
La
Marseillaise
Projects
Make a variety of arts
and crafts for Bastille Day:
Bastille
Day crafts
Test your knowledge
of the French Revolution and answer essay type questions in this
companion guide to the "French Revolution" documentary
published by the History Channel (PDF format):
French
Revolution Teacher's Guide
Recommended
Resource
A Tale of Two
Cities
One of my favorite Dickens novels is a Tale of Two Cities.
It is a moving story of class strife, love, and human hope set
during the the French Revolution. This epic takes place in two
great European cities, London and Paris, and features two men,
Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton, who share a passion for the
same woman.
This Puffin Classics edition has been specially abridged for children
and is a great historical fiction selection for the study of the
French Revolution for 9-12 year olds. Older students should read
the unabridged version, and after reading the book, be sure to
check out the Masterpiece Theatre production of the tale - available
on DVD from PBS.
Book (Paperback)
Authors: Charles Dickens
Amazon Price: $4.99 (new), from $.01 (used)
Read
more about the book on Amazon
