The French Revolution in Pictures
a) What happened during the Storming of the Bastille?
Judging using only the title and the image, the Bastille would be the castle figure in the background. The attack was not to secure the Bastille to be used by the opposing forces but to destroy it, as images of the destroyed wall is in the bottom left hand corner. The defending forces would be either soldiers fighting for royalty or rich, due to their fancy uniforms. The attackers are from a less profitably background, as shown by mismatched clothes and fighting style. The supposed royal army are in a neat formation, opposed to the ferocity of the attackers. The time of the battle would have to have been after gunpowder was invented, as suggested by the many clouds of gunpowder in the background. Either the attackers and defenders had heaps of gunpowder, or the Bastille had large deposits of it in the walls.
b) Who might have supported this event?
The attackers, who seem to be of poor background. Royalty probably would not have supported this, as the uniformed defending soldiers seem to be fighting for royalty or a rich supporter.
Source 1: Storming of the Bastille
a) What does the above photo indicate about King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette?
The image indicates that King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were both royals and running away. This is demonstrated by the part of the title 'Royal Runaways'. The image also indicates that the two royals were vastly disliked, judging by the exagerrated angry faces of the French Democrats.
b) Why were they being arrested?
They (King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette) were being arrested due to running away from their royal duties, as suggested by the title, and using prior knowledge.
Source 2: French Democrats Surprising the Royal Runaways
a) Which estates do the three men represent in the above photograph?
The man on the far left represents the Second Estate (nobility), which can be seen from his colourful clothing. The man on the right of him represents the First Estate (clergy), as shown with the style of his plain black clothing. The man on the far right represents the Third Estate (commoners), as can bee shown by his duller clothes and revolutionary ribbon.
b) What message is being portrayed about the Estate System in the photograph? Provide evidence from the photo.
The image shows the Second and First Estate horrified and scared seeing the Third Estate removing his shackles and picking up a gun. The message portrayed is that the Second and First Estates were so used to the Third Estate being shackled, they expected it to last forever, making the unshackling a huge shock. The man representing the Third Estate also seems to be picking up a rifle from a pile of weapons, also suggesting that he was going to get up and attack the men representing the Second and First Estates. This symbolizes the French Revolution.
Source 3: The Awakening of the Third Estate
a) Identify the following for the above photograph; who is being represented in this picture?
Represented in this image is the vast variety of people in the French Revolution, including nobility, commoners and even a clergyman.
b) What important event might this photograph represent?
The rallying of the crowds against the king and queen of France; King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette.
Source 4: [unnamed]
a) What is meant by French Liberty and British Slavery?
After the French Revolution, the French people were technically free. They had no taxes and no King to rule over them. However, the country was still very poor, as a result, they were starving. However, they boasted to the people of England that they, unlike them, were free. While the English people still were taxed and were under the rule of a monarchy, they were still very well fed. The French called them slaves, but they were still rich and full.
b) Use the source to give examples of why these images are mocking the French Revolution.
Artist portrays the French as starving, eating weeds in front of their fire in ruined clothing with long, unkempt hair and sharp toenails in a house falling apart. However, the author title the image of the Frenchman as 'French Liberty'. The British man is seen in bright, expensive clothing, eating a juicy piece of meat with an overflowing cup of drink. His house is clearly expensive and clean. The British man is fat and flushed, commenting on the tax he is forced to pay. The mockery is labelling the Frenchman as free and the British man as a slave, even though, visually, it seems to be the other way around.
A note: Wix currently will not allow me to upload this image. I will attempt to fix this.
Source 5: French Liberty and Brithish Slavery
In Source 1, the art piece named 'The Storming of the Bastille' represents both bloodshed and brotherhood. The bloodshed is apparent as a huge battle is clearly what has been documented. Many lives would have been lost, on both sides of the battle, in order for the French Democrats to win this victory. The huge clouds of gunpowder suggest a lot of weapons fired, resulting in there being more bloodshed. The royal army are clearly organized, making the storming of the Bastille more difficult than if the royal army were as untrained as the commoners revolting. Despite this, the commoners managed to push through, which would have required great bravery from the individuals. Breaking into the Bastille, and seeing the guards would have required the brotherhood of the people around the attackers to give them bravery. Bonds would have been made in battle. This was the battle that unified the people, and showed them that they could fight against the nobility.
Presented in Source 2 is a representation of the First, Second and Third Estates. The image symbolizes the Third Estate, to the horror of the Second and First Estates, removing his shackles to pick up a rifle. Despite the image only describing one man, this (the removing of the shackles) was done by nearly everyone in the Third Estate as a whole. This unified process of freedom would have also had to inspire a feeling of brotherhood in others. However, the man representing the Third Estate has an angered expression on his face. He is also reaching for a a gun. This symbolizes the threat of the bloodshed to come.
The engraving (source 4) demonstrates the liberty and brotherhood of the French Revolution. The variety of members in the French Revolution is represented, showing that despite many people's differences, they all came together to free France of the tyranny of the monarchy. This would have inspired a great feeling of brotherhood amongst the members, knowing that their thoughts of freedom were the same as everyone else's, and everyone else were willing to risk their lives for that freedom.