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The French Revolution
Background - Eighteenth
century France was an absolute monarchy. This means that King Louis XIV
ruled France, with an "Estates General" - a kind of parliament
where all of the administrative matters of the country were organised,
but which effectively did nothing and rarely even held meetings. By 1750,
the "Estates General" was large, corrupt and inefficient. France
had no proper legal system. Each region determined its own laws, depending
on the local government at the time. By 1789, France was bankrupt. The
country could no longer pay its debts, debts that were all the result
of the "Hundred Year's War". Most of the time, it was only the
poorest peasants who were made to pay taxes, when they barely had anything
anyway.
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Liberté
Egalité Fraternité - "Liberty, Freedom, Brotherhood"
- This phrase was the official catchcry of the French Revolution.
It was the demands of the peasants who were sick of having no rights,
having no food, clothing or housing, while the wealthy aristocracy
and royalty had lavish lifestyles. It is said that Queen Marie Antoinette,
when hearing of the plight of the peasants" said "Let them
eat cake" (really "Let them eat brioche" (a type of
French pastry).
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Storming of the Bastille - On July 14 1789, a mob of Parisian's
stormed the Bastille Fortress, which was functioning as a royal prison.
The mob killed the governor of the prison and released the prisoners
held there (only 7 of them). This was the beginning of the French Revolution,
after which a republic (a country without a monarchy) was established.
July 14 is a national holiday in France - La Fête Nationale (French
National Day). In Paris, a military parade is held on the Champs-Elysées,
together with dancing and fireworks displays all over the country.
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Click here
to listen to the French National Anthem
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