JEAN-SÉBASTIEN JOURNAL:

VIVE LA RÉVOLUTIONA ‘Through Their Eyes’ journal depicting the French

Revolution

by: Max Curtis

ENTRY #1 – MARCH 23 , 1789 : GRASPING AT THE HANDLE OF

REALITY

I feel like an old man at times, wondering what life was like before the great Famine. I try to remember, but as soon as I grasp at the handle of reality, my fingers slip away, and I fall into the dark, sinister abyss that has consumed France. From a country filled with splendor and gaiety among the higher classes, comes a nation that has been turned into a living hellhole, where dreams come to starve, shrivel up and die a slow, agonizing death.

These are dark times, the 1780’s. Our beloved country of France has been exhausted by casualty and poverty. Famine has struck our nation, and fatality is inevitable. With the death toll rises by the hundreds every day, you never know who will be the next one to give way. It is even worse for the peasants and the lower class. Before the Famine, a family of four peasants could survive on two loaves of bread per day, but because of the Famine, they can only afford one loaf. Within this year, the price of a loaf has risen by two thirds. I feel horrible for them. Here I am, with all the food I can enjoy, and people less fortunate than me are doing everything they can for a loaf of bread. Through all the chaos, I could see this happening. A series of crop failures and the shortage raised the prices of grain and bread. At first, it didn’t seem like a big change, but through time the price kept rising and rising, until we arrive at the present, with nobody able to afford a loaf of bread, even if their life depended on it. Famine was obvious. Even two years before the great Famine, harsh winters struck the farmland, restricting the growth of crops. The locals called it “The Little Ice Age”. Cities and towns were beginning to overcrowd, and already there was a struggle to supply the Third Estate with food.

Even our taxes are obscured. Coming from a higher class, I believe that it is essential to pay taxes for we are more fortunate than the Third Estate. But when the nobles refuse to pay taxes, the peasants were charged with more taxes. The taxes largely degraded their income, and they had no money for food. Just another one of the government’s reckless reasons for famine and revolt. My peers ponder on my affection towards the lower class, but just because we are more fortunate, it does not mean that we need to make the lives of peasants worse from what it already is.

It’s depressing. I try not to think about how many people have perished, but it’s hard not too. People try to feel bad for the less fortunate ones who are taking in the full wrath of the famine, but they will never know what it feels like to be on the starving side. I will never know. Which is why I’m hoping to change the future of France. The government is unresponsive, and the people of France are starting to question the leadership of our monarch, King Louis XVI. Anger is boiling amidst the citizens, and something’s brewing in the public. I just pray that our nation will be ready for it.

ENTRY #1 – MARCH 23 , 1789 : GRASPING AT THE HANDLE OF

REALITY

A bread riot drawing during the great Famine.

ENTRY #2 - JUNE 20 1789: A GAME FOR THE ROYALS

The sweltering rays of shine bore down on the streets of Paris. A trampled flag representing our nation sits vainly on the filthy stone road as I slowly walk by the murky alleyways of the hungry city. I feel weak. Everybody does. The Famine has taken a toll on everybody, and nobody can hide from the starvation. Its relevance is equal to a monster in child’s book. Chasing down every single soul that inherits the land of the fairytale that is France. France is a dark hole of depression. But through all the starvation and devastation comes a time for the rebuilding of government and economy. Our apparent loyal monarch King Louis XVI has been utterly unresponsive towards the Famine and the good of the citizens of the Third Estate, which is why a new pledge has been issued today. A pledge sought to stand in opposition of Louis, and the refusal to back down from the King. This is the Tennis Court Oath.

Today, I walk home slowly, but surely, with a sense of willing pride. After years of starvation and Famine the people of France has finally worked up enough courage to make a change. Today, the Tennis Court Oath was issued, and news is spreading rapidly across Paris and France. Oddly, they say that the reason it is called the Tennis Court Oath is simply because it was pledged in a Jeu de paume or the King’s tennis court. People say that the King’s oldest son Dauphin had perished, and Louis was not to be conducted with political matters until he was out of mourning. Forced into a tennis court, the Third Estate swore an oath that they would not move until the voice of a nation was heard. King Louis met the expectations revealing him, having done the only smart thing he had accomplished in years. They agreed that the clergy and nobility would join with the Third Estate in the National Assembly. But as middle class citizens, I believe that Louis should grant more advantages. When it comes to voting, we should vote by poll, not by class, because we have many more representatives. An obscured Feudal System. This is yet just another example to add on to King Louis’s thoughtless leadership.

Louis XVI cannot do anything for himself. He simply does not have the knowledge to run a nation. Before the Tennis Court Oath, Louis summoned the Estate-General. They were to propose solutions to the King's government's financial problems. It's astounding because even they didn't do a thing. For weeks they sat back and didn't come to anything. They had reached a complete deadlock, ad before you know it, the whole summoning of the Estate-General was a complete waste of time because they were soon abolished by the National Assembly. Louis clearly does not have the mind set for being the King of France.

This past year has been a struggle for all of France. From Famine to total poverty, our nation is on the brink of destruction. But I believe through the newly issued Tennis Court Oath, we will be able to abolish our medieval ways of economics and achieve a fresh, new start for our nation.

ENTRY #2 - JUNE 20 1789: A GAME FOR THE ROYALS

A drawing of the Tennis Court Oath.

ENTRY #3 – AUGUST 14 1789: A REVOLUTION ON THE

HORIZON

Smoke rises from the streets of Paris as I watch in awe, trying to get a glimpse of the chaos that has just unwrapped itself. Anarchy has struck Paris as I run through the crowed streets, trying to push my way through the mass of people marching towards the rising, black smoke of death. Citizens carrying our nation’s flag lead the mob as I try to get to the front of the hundreds of people storming through the streets. The moment the fortress’s walls come into sight, I knew what these people are after. They are after the Bastille, the medieval fortress and prison that represented loyal authority in the center of our capital. After seeing what the mob was targeting, I realize they were threatening the King’s power. Rumors had spread throughout the city that said that Louis was planning a military coup against the National Assembly. Of course, nobody took this lightly. I thought the citizens might try to impend the King’s power some way, but I never thought it would reach these drastic measures.

These past years have been dark for our nation of France. Many things have changed and the citizens are revolting to the King’s power. Besides, without a revolution, our country would continue its slump to devastation. The Famine had already challenged the King’s leadership skills, but he was totally, and utterly unresponsive. And when it came to the Tennis Court Oath this year, it clearly showed his weak and penetrable side. Something big was due to happen, and it just happened to fall on my birthday, the fourteenth of July.

The demonstrators, led by Amaria Cahila had earlier stormed Hotel des Ivalides and gathered their arms there, but they were not filled with gunpowder. The demonstrators sought to gather powder at the Bastille, and by mid-morning the crowd about one thousand people had gathered outside the Bastille calling for immediate surrender and the release of more guns and gunpowder. I never knew something like this could escalate so quickly and violently, but the riot grew impatient and broke into the fortress. By then, I was in the middle of everything. In the middle of all the gunfire, trying to save people from immanent death. I couldn’t. The men and women in the front on the mob were shot down, creating this domino effect of murder. Blood was everywhere. Nonetheless, there was only so much I could do, and in order to save myself from being killed, I had decided to flee leaving the helpless crowd of livid citizens behind me. Well, for now.Once I had reached home, I could see the angry horde of people marching and cheering from their victory. Leading the crowd, was a man’s head on a stick, and it happened to be Governor de Luanay’s head, which I had later found out that they had taken him captive after the storming, and sawn off his head.

The people of France are challenging the King, and I can see why they should be. He has been unsympathetic and impassive to the nations people, and I am beginning to side with them. He had no care for the peasants during the Famine, and he never will. He believes that there is no reason to change the state of government when the medieval ways are beginning to abolish right in front of him. These things need to change, and Louis needs to be kicked off his throne. As I write this though, things are changing. A revolution is brewing among us, and I believe that our nation of France

ENTRY #3 – AUGUST 14 1789: A REVOLUTION ON THE

HORIZON

A drawing of the Storming of Bastille.

ENTRY #4 – JANUARY 26 1793: THE FALL OF A MONARCH

I couldn’t accept my eyes, what I was seeing. The colossal crowd of choleric citizens stretched across Place de la Révolution as I stoop on my tiptoes, trying to get a glimpse of the King making his last stand of horrifying glory. Hundreds of large, bulky soldiers surrounded Louis as he has his neck slammed in the hemispherical shape cut out from wood. His fake, grey, dirty wig fell before his face, covering his pleading eyes. It was time. A man in a black outfit hauled the blade of the guillotine up above the mighty King’s head, and then dropped the shining, angled blade at the signal of Robespierre. I didn’t want to witness the gruesome sight, but I had to. The moment the blade was dropped, the blade sliced through the neck of the King, bit-by-bit, until his head was chopped clean off, sputtering blood everywhere. The head rolled for on the deck of the guillotine, then stopped, wig still blocking his crying eyes. Once the Sanson showed of Louis XVI to the people, when a huge cry of Vive la Nation! Vive la République! arose and an artillery salute rang out across the immense crowd of people. It was over.  I cannot think remember of such a day when the King did not look so weak, and frail. For years now, he was tormented the nation of France, making a wrong move at every attempt. It was time for someone new to rule France. Not someone who simply sits back and watches his nation starve, or completely rebel against him. Someone who sets out to make a difference in their nation, and not to so unresponsive and so unwilling to make a change in government when it clearly isn’t working at all. Someone who will bring peace to our nation of France. That person is Robespierre. As of now, we are at war with Austria, and Robespierre needs to secure his position, and fight this war for us. It has been five days since the execution. Although I have faith in Robespierre cradling France to it’s full potential, I fear that this may have brought more violence upon us. Rumors for been scattered around the city, saying that Robespierre was planning to get rid of all of the Girondins that apparently stop him from achieving what ever he wishes to achieve. I don’t think he would attempt something so violent, but I can see why he could be threatened. Also, because of the execution of Louis XVI, different King’s across Europe have started to feel threatened by his lust for power. Preposterous! How is that a threat to other countries? He is simply getting rid of the bad and replacing it with the good. But of course, they don’t know, I believe that war is among us. As of now, the royal family is held captive in prison. Something different from what they’re used to, at La Conciergerie. At least now we know there is no immanent threat towards Robespierre and the Jacobins. But as I look towards the future, I sense many different feelings. On one side, I feel the nation of France thriving to become the best, but violence on the way. I just hope that Robespierre brings peace to our land.

ENTRY #4 – JANUARY 26 1793: THE FALL OF A MONARCH

A drawing of Robespierre holding the King’s head after execution.

ENTRY #5: EXECUTION OF ROBESPIERRE AND THE TERROR:

PAYBACK

I find myself again peeking over the heads of angry, but relived citizens, trying to get a glimpse of Robespierre in a position that he has only forced others to take. Under the angled, shining blade of the monstrous guillotine. The joyful day has finally arrived. A day when France is released from the terrifying grip of Robespierre, and able to breath once more. Today, 28 July 1794, Robespierre is to be executed in front of the citizens of whom he once promised a better nation than what was given by Louis XVI. The crowd stretches across the square, like a sea of livid citizens all wanting the same thing, death. The familiarization of the Place de la Révolution brings back memories of previous years, when it wasn’t Robespierre that was under the guillotine’s blade, but our last weak, repulsive leader, Louis XVI. At least, the terrorization of the nation of France ends where it all began, under the guillotine in the Place de la Révolution. When I think back to that day when it all started, the execution of Louis XVI, I think what in Hell’s name was I thinking? What was everyone thinking? Was the public so blinded by the execution of Louis that Robespierre’s horrific, wrathful traits went unseen? Still, to this day, I can’t remember how Robespierre took our nation and made it his own. He, along with the Jacobins, promised the principle that the ‘rights of man’ should extend to all men – including the poor, and the slaves in the colonies. Well then why did he later change his mind and become and advocate on Terror? Yet he issued extremely excessive laws. For example, anyone that even seemed to be a counter-revolutionist was sentenced to death without trial. Although I wouldn’t blame Robespierre, for he was unquestionably threatened near the beginning of his downfall, but to execute any apparent counter-revolutionaries without trial is preposterous.  The execution of Louis XVI also marked the beginning of the Reign of Terror. After the downfall of monarchy and Louis, we were still troubled by war. I will agree, a stable government was needed to quell the chaos, but that doesn't mean that you execute anyone that opposes you! Robespierre and the Jacobin’s reckless decision issuing Terror as legal policy just struck fear into the citizens, making sure they don’t revolt against him, and it’s not fixing the problem at all. Robespierre deserves to perish, for my long time friend, Pierre, was accused of being a counter-revolutionist, and was executed the next day. Of course, knowing him very well, I knew that he wasn’t one. He supported change as much as I did, but not in the way Robespierre believes it should be. Not at all. The French flag blows in the wind of the grey sky as Maximilian Robespierre let out his final scream of terror. The blade of the guillotine went through Robespierre’s neck in one drop, sputtering blood everywhere. I find myself getting used to the sight of people being beheaded. I don’t cringe, or close my eyes. I don’t know if it’s a bad thing, but at least I know that it is all over now. I hope that no blade will ever drop upon an innocent man’s neck ever again. The crowd erupted and the brothers of Robespierre where not even heard screaming for life, since the citizens of France were simply too loud. The Reign of Terror is over, and maybe France will be able to benefit from Robespierre’s madness as leader, and make our country a better, stronger nation than it ever was.

ENTRY #5: EXECUTION OF ROBESPIERRE AND THE TERROR:

PAYBACK

A drawing of the Place de la Révolution where Robespierre was executed.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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