Unit 3 - French Revolution

Emergency Meeting of the French Assembly

July 1, 1795

Dear Citizen,

The future of France needs to be decided now! France has been in a state of chaos over the past six years and the country has been divided by several factions. You have been chosen to represent members of the revolutionary tribunal and others (workers, clergy, nobles, women, peasants, and aristocrats) from French Society at the time of the French Revolution just after the radical phase has ended. You must give a 3 to 5 minute speech at our meeting. You will also need to prepare to question your opponents during the debate. You have the responsibility of bringing stability to France by debating and determining what type of government would be best for France in the future. The Revolution has made death and carnage common in the streets of France and you need to bring lasting stability to all aspects of French society (politically, socially, economically and religiously). You will be a member of one of the following factions:

Radical Revolutionary “The Mountain” “The Left” Radicals (includes groups like the Jacobins, Cordeliers, Paris Commune,) – You believe a revolution will eradicate both serfdom and absolutism from France and pave the way for a democratic republic. You believe that radical change will be worth its human costs. You are against the restoration of the monarchy. You mostly represent the interests of the radicals in Paris. They include the likes of Jean Paul Marat, Georges Jacques Danton, Jacques Roux, Robespierre, Napoleon, Jacques Hebert, Bertrand Barere, or a member of the sans culottes

Anti-Revolutionary “The Right” Conservatives (Royalists) – You are opposed to a radical change and are opposed to violence. You believe the human costs will not be worth the revolution. You are for the full restoration of the monarchy. They include the likes of King Louis XVI, Queen Marie Antoinette, Pope Pius VI, Edmund Burke, an émigré, a noble from the south a French aritocrat, or a member of the clergy

Moderate Revolutionary View “The Plain” “The Center” Moderates (Girondists, Feuillants,) – You believe that change in France should be evolutionary. You support an orderly, legal change that will occur over time. You want to create a limited/constitutional monarchy that can accomplish these goals. You also lean toward keeping the King alive. You mostly represent the provinces, areas outside the cities. You fear the radical mobs in Paris who are represented by the Mountain. They include the likes of Honore-Gabriel Riqueti, Comte De Mirabeau, Marquis De Lafayette, Louis-Philippe- Joseph, Thomas Paine, Marquis de Con Condorcet

Speech Criteria:

· Your speech must be 3 to 5 minutes long

· It must include primary source research

· It must be organized properly (see Debate Organizer, Speech Blueprint & Rubric for specifics)

· It must be persuasive

· You must ask several questions during the debate

Consider the following people, events, or issues in your speech:

King Louis XVI Queen Marie-Antoinette

Robespierre Great Fear

Causes of the Revolution The Enlightenment

Tennis Court Oath Declaration of Rights of Man and the Citizen

Jean Paul Marat Famine & Bad Harvests

A French butcher (worker) The Bastille

Georges Jacques Danton Napoleon

First, Second and Third Estates De-Christianization

Bourgeoisie The Clergy

Jacques Necker A French Peasant

Deficit Spending National Assembly & National Convention

Women in the Revolution Factions (Jacobins, San Culottes, Peasants, urban vs. rural)

The Directory Committee of Public Safety

Suffrage Republic vs. Monarchy

Nationalism Secular vs Religious Society