IN THIS ISSUE: NAPOLEON, THE FRENCH REVOLUTION, MARIE ANTOINETTE, FRENCH FOOD & ART, THE GUILLOTINE!

ISSUE TWENTY!NINE " COLOSSAL

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 F RANC E

People You Should Know. 10

MADAME
MARIE ANTOINETTE: THE MYTH AND THE LEGEND........... 22

Revolutionizing FOOD................................................................ 38
ARE YOU A OR A ?.....
AfeShCk: THE HAITIAN REVOLUTION........................................... 46
ART and REVOLUTION ................................................................................... 54
Greetings, Young Historians,

Like many of you, I went through a big phase where I was

obsessed with all things French. I loved reading about how
the fancy people of society lived, men and women like Louis
XVI and Marie Antoinette. What I overlooked, and what many
history books don’t cover well, is the hardship that everyday
people faced during this time.

When thinking about the past, it’s easy to imagine yourself

living a wealthy life. The idea of attending grand parties
thrown by the aristocracy, having servants, and sleeping in a
grand room with curtains on your bed is much more fun than
imagining what it must have been like for the average poor
family. But to understand the French Revolution, it is important
to learn about why the ordinary citizens of France were so
unhappy and how their lives were vastly di!erent from those
of the aristocracy. The people wanted change, and they
made it happen.

To this day, France is known for its revolutions. While it’s not
always “pretty,” revolution can bring about powerful changes
for normal people like you and me. I hope this issue helps you
discover more about France’s rich history and inspires you to
be a history maker yourself.

Keep on researching, and happy reading!

Best,
 E A TURED
F
YOUNG
HISTORIAN
My favorite color is: What are your
green. favorite things to study
Name: Alexa W.
in school?
History, science, and Age: 11
Do you have Greek mythology. From: Near St. Louis, IL
any siblings?
No, but I have a dog
named Gizmo. I love Why is it important to
study history? Would you rather live
her so much that I have
To learn about the good in the past or future
her in all of the books I
of the past and the and why?
wrote – Alexa and
bad. It is important to The past so I could go on
Gizmo’s Time
understand all aspects di!erent adventures to
Travel Adventures.
of history to better meet and talk to people
understand today and from the past and learn
Who are your heroes make tomorrow better who they really are. Also,
and why? for everyone. I could see what places
My heroes are Anne like Constantinople,
Frank because she was Alexandria, and
brave to write about Carthage looked like.
What do you want to be
the things happening when you grow up?
with the Nazis; Jackie I hope to become the
Robinson because he first woman President What is something you
was a great leader who of the United States. But want to tell the world?
stood up for himself to I am too young for that. To always be mindful of
be treated the same So, first a professional the people around you
as others in baseball soccer player for FC and always try to be a
and life; and Abraham Bayern Munich, and then better person.
Lincoln because he an astronaut, so I can To always stand up for
fought for slaves to be discover something new. yourself and others for
treated like people what is right.
and won.

FEATURED YOUNG HISTORIAN | 5

WELCOME TO FRANCE | 7
 During the Revolution, Queen Marie
Antoinette never actually said,
“Let them eat cake!” It was likely a
fabrication used to paint her as out of
touch with the common people.
It clearly worked!

After Louis XVI’s execution,

a lock of his long hair was
saved and later sold for a
hefty price—over $5,000.
Sacré bleu!

When King Louis XVI tried to

flee France, a local postmaster
recognized his face and raised
the alarm. The postmaster
said he recognized the king
The oath taken by French
from his portrait on a paper
citizens that triggered the
bill. What a slip-up!
French Revolution occurred at a
tennis court.

“La Marseillaise,” the French

national anthem, was a popular
patriotic song sung during the
French Revolution.

HONEST HISTORY | 8
 The first public zoo, the
Ménagerie du Jardin des
Plantes, was founded in Paris
by revolutionaries when they
required French aristocrats
to hand over their exotic
creatures. Many of the zoo's
animals also came from the
Palace of Versailles.
The national motto of France,
Liberté, Fraternité, Égalité
(Liberty, Fraternity, Equality),
originated as a popular phrase
during the French Revolution.

The Louvre became a public

museum during the French
The Phryges, the mascots for the Revolution. Before the revolution,
2024 Paris Olympics, are a nod the Louvre Palace and its
to the iconic Phrygian cap worn collections had been the
by many French revolutionaries. property of the French king.
Hats o! to freedom!

YOU PROBABLY DIDN’T KNOW | 9

 P E O P L E YO U
JOSEPH BOLOGNE
Joseph Bologne, Chevalier
de Saint-Georges, was an
extraordinary fencer and
an exceptional musician.
He was born in the French
colony of Guadeloupe to a
wealthy French planter and
an enslaved African woman.
He showed his outstanding
talent in fencing early
during his schooling in Paris,
where he defeated master
fencer Alexandre Picard. Not
surprisingly, he was named
a king’s bodyguard and a
knight (chevalier) at age 21.
Bologne’s musical talents
were equally impressive.
He became a renowned
violinist and composer,
working with a talented
company of musicians
called the Le Concert des Amateurs. He often played for Marie Antoinette
and even conducted the premiere of the famous Paris symphonies by
composer Joseph Haydn. During the French Revolution, Joseph led an all-
Black regiment called Légion de Saint Georges, breaking stereotypes!
Alas, he was dismissed from the military during the French Revolution by
Maximilien Robespierre. Joseph was accused of conspiring with the French
elite, arrested, and later released. He dedicated his final years solely to the
violin, dying in 1799 at the age of 53.

HONEST HISTORY | 10
 SHOULD KNOW
MARIE ANTOINETTE
Marie Antoinette, an Austrian archduchess who became the queen of
France, was a symbol of both splendor and tragedy. Born in Vienna,
Austria, she was the daughter of the powerful Habsburg Empress, Maria
Theresa. At just 14, Marie Antoinette was betrothed to the future French
king, Louis XVI. The marriage was designed to strengthen the ties between
her home of Austria and France. While queen of France, Marie Antoinette
was known for her love of fashion and entertainment, which captivated
and occasionally
scandalized the French
court. She would style
her hair into intricate
designs called poufs
(sometimes reaching
as high as three feet!).
As France teetered on
the brink of revolution,
Marie Antoinette
faced growing public
criticism. She soon
became a symbol of the
monarchy’s excesses.
Accused of treason and
other o!enses, she was
eventually imprisoned
during the French
Revolution. She
was executed by
guillotine at the age
of 37 in 1793.

PEOPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW | 11

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HONEST HISTORY | 12
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BONJOUR! | 13
 The French Revolu!on was an exci!ng and scary
!me to be alive! During this period, the people of
France overthrew the king and took control of the
government. But why and how did this happen?

The Old System

For centuries, France was ruled according to a system
called the ancien régime. In this system, the people
were ruled by a king and divided into three groups.

! First Estate: Clergy or religious leaders

! Second Estate: Aristocracy
! Third Estate: The com(on people

The Third Estate had fewer rights and had

to pay heavy taxes. About 98 percent of
France’s people were part of this group.

1765–1783: The Lead-Up

After years of fighting in the American Revolution, France is on the brink of bankruptcy. French
people are upset over the poverty they face and the fancy lives of the aristocracy. The people are
tired of the injustice they see and decide to do something about it.

June 20, 1789:

The Tennis Court Oath
The Third Estate (representatives of “the
people”) forms their own government, called
the National Assembly, to fight for change.
On June 20, they swear an oath on a tennis
court. They vow to stay together until there
is a new constitution for France.
 August 26, 1789:
Declara!on of the Rights
The National Assembly
approves the Declaration
of the Rights of Man and
of the Citizen. This
document lists the
principles of the
revolution, which include
men’s equal rights and
fre(dom.
July 14, 1789: Storming the Bas!lle
Protests turn violent when a crowd attacks the Bastille, a fortress
and prison in Paris. After a fierce battle, the people take control of the
fortress. This event is celebrated in France every year on July 14.

October 5, 1789: Women’s

March on Versailles
A crowd of Parisian
women march from Paris
to Versailles to demand
bread from King Louis XVI.
Joined by revolutionaries,
the women besiege the
palace and force the king to
return to Paris
with them.

August 10, 1792:

Revolu!on Turns Radical January 21, 1793:
Radical revolutionaries attack The King Is Dead
the royal palace and ar)est King The Republic puts
Louis XVI. In the following month, King Louis XVI on trial
violence swe(ps across Paris. By and condemns him to
September, the monarchy has be(n death. The king is
abolished and the French Republic is sent to the guillotine.
established.
September 17, 1793: The Law of Suspects
The new law allows for the arrest and trial of anyone
suspected of being against the revolution. For the next
10 months, thousands of people are sent to the guillotine
under the orders of Maximilien Robespierre.

October 16, 1793: O! with Her Head!

The queen of France, Marie Antoinette, is
put on trial for treason against the French
Republic and found guilty. She is executed by
guillotine.

December 19, 1793: Siege of Toulon

The French Army recaptures the port city of Toulon, which Britain,
Spain, and the Royalists had taken. Throughout the revolution,
France battles other European rulers who want to stop the spread of
revolutionary ideas.

July 27, 1794: The Terror Comes to an End

Robespierre is overthrown and arrested by the National
Convention. The following day, on July 28, he is executed
by guillotine. The Thermidorians, the group of people who
overthrew Robespierre, come to power.
 May 20–21, 1795: The Prairial Uprising
Increasing bread prices and poverty cause
the common people to rise up against
Thermidorian rule. The Prairial Uprising is
the last major uprising during the Revolution.

November 2, 1795: The French Directory Is Born

After the uprising, the Thermidorians write
their own constitution to create a new system of
government known as the French Directory. The
Directory rules for the next four years, growing
increasingly unpopular.

July 28, 1794: Thermidorian Reac!on Begins

Following the Reign of Terror, the Thermidorians
try to bring order to France. They repeal the Law
of Suspects, reinstate freedom of worship, and
arrest thousands of Robespierre’s supporters
during the “White Terror.”

November 9, 1799:
Napoleon Takes Power
The succes(ful general, Napoleon
Bonaparte, helps stage a coup to
take control of the government.
He ends the Directory and
establishes himself as “)rst
consul” of France.
Because of the momentous changes that occurred in such a short
time, many famous books take place during or directly after the French
Revolution. Here are some of the most well-known works of fiction that
reference themes from this period of history.

Written by
Hungarian author
Baroness
Emmuska
Orczy, The
Scarlet Pimpernel is
about a mysterious spy
who sneaks aristocrats
out of the country.
But the great twist
is that the spy is
actually the foppish
English aristocrat,
Sir Percy Blakeney—
the least likely person
to be the secretive Scarlet Pimpernel. The story began as a play but was
later published as a book. It has also been made into several movies and
television series.

HONEST HISTORY | 18
This famous first line introduces readers to A Tale of Two Cities by English
author Charles Dickens. His novel tells the story of a French doctor. One of
the best-selling historical novels of all time, the book has been adapted to
television, movies, radio, and the stage.

REVOLUTIONARIES ON THE PAGE | 19

Although the plot of Les Misérables takes place several decades after the
French Revolution, the themes of independence and freedom make this
work by Victor Hugo a bestseller. Taking place during the Napoleonic Wars,
the story follows Jean Valjean as he tries to better his life and that of his
daughter. Les Misérables has also been made into a beloved musical on
Broadway and features epic music, including the famous song, “I Dreamed
a Dream.”

HONEST HISTORY | 20
MADAME
While there were many symbols associated with the French
Revolution, none were as famous as the guillotine. Although the
device looks cruel, the guillotine was far more efficient and pain free
than beheading with an axe. Here are a few interesting facts you
may not know about the famous “Madame Guillotine.”

“
”

MADAME GUILLOTINE | 21
You’ve likely heard the name
Marie Antoinette. She is
one of the most famous
women in French history
and is often misunderstood.
Let’s separate fact from
fiction when it comes to this
complicated queen.

Marie Antoinette came from She was a patron of the arts

Austria to marry the French and music and helped many
prince when she was just 14 artists rise to fame.
years old.
Marie helped secure Austria’s
Marie became the queen of and Russia’s support to
France at 18 years old. aid patriots during the
With a great love of fashion, American Revolution.
Marie had 300 new dresses
made every year.
 Marie was famous for her
To this day, Marie Antoinette is
extravagant and over-the-top
often portrayed as spoiled and
wigs, which often had ribbons,
made into a villain because of
feathers, pearls, and even small
her high-end taste and love for
sailboats in them to show off
fine things.
her style.
Marie tried to flee with her
family during the French
Revolution but was
ultimately caught and later
sent to the guillotine.

Marie never actually said, “Let

them eat cake,” when she was
told the peasants of France
had nothing to eat.

Marie was aware of how

the people of France were
struggling and did help create
programs to assist the poor.
Always a woman of good
manners, the queen apologized
to her executioner after stepping
on his foot while approaching
the guillotine.
During the French Revolution, the French king and
queen were under careful watch. Marie Antoinette sent
letters to other European courts, letting them know
how they were or asking
for help. To keep her
messages secret, she
wrote using a cipher.

One of the people she

wrote to was Count
Axel von Fersen of
Sweden. The two were
good friends, and some
historians even suspect they were in love!

Use the cipher below to reveal one of Marie

Antoinette’s secret messages to the Swedish count.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M
N G Q A H T I R J V U K W

N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
B X Z D C P O E Y S M F L
all do not return under any circumstances.
having no news from us. May heaven grant that this letter reaches you. Do not write to me, this would compromise all of us and above
Answer: I am alive here my beloved … Oh, how anxious I have been for you, and how sorry I am about all you must have su!ered in
G DX DZGJU EUHU XV NUZTJUQ... TE,
... ,
ETM DAOGTKW G EDJU NUUA YTH VTK,
,
DAQ ETM WTHHV G DX DNTKF DZZ VTK

XKWF EDJU WKYYUHUQ GA EDJGAB AT

AUMW YHTX KW. XDV EUDJUA BHDAF FEDF

.
FEGW ZUFFUH HUDREUW VTK. QT ATF
.
MHGFU FT XU, FEGW MTKZQ RTXSHTXGWU
,
DZZ TY KW DAQ DNTJU DZZ QT ATF

HUFKHA KAQUH DAV RGHRKXWFDARUW.

.

THE QUEEN’S SECRET LETTERS | 25

NAPOLEON | 27
NAPOLEON | 29
NAPOLEON | 31
HONEST HISTORY | 32
NAPOLEON | 33
HONEST HISTORY | 34
NAPOLEON | 37
PAIN AU CHOCOLAT. CROISSANTS. RATATOUILLE.
These delicious foods are now beloved in Paris,
the “culinary capital” of the world, but French cuisine
wasn’t always as well-known. We can see and understand
the French Revolution, in part, through France’s foods.
THE GUILD SYSTEM
Before the French Revolution, French food was deeply impacted by
the guild system. This system dates back to the Middle Ages. A guild
was a collection of craftspeople or merchants in a certain town. The
guild’s purpose was to regulate prices and the number of people who
could be in one profession. There were many di!erent types of guilds,
including guilds for bakers,
painters, blacksmiths, and
weavers. Guilds helped protect
their members and made sure
their products were well-made.
While this could be a good
thing, the guild system limited
competition and innovation.
The system also excluded
women and poor people.

Di!erent guilds controlled many aspects of French food.

Here are just a few examples:

PATISSIERS...prepared pies and tarts

TRAITEURS...prepared meat dishes and stews
CHARCUTIERS...prepared cured meats
TAMELIERS...baked bread

REVOLUTIONIZING FOOD | 39
 LET THEM EAT BREAD
There were numerous reasons
for the outbreak of the French
Revolution in 1789, and bread
was one of them. Bread was a
staple of the peasants’ diet, so
price increases were noticeable
and harshly felt. Expensive
bread often led to anger and
protests. To keep the peace, the
police controlled all aspects of
bread making. Due to the guild
system, the monarchy decided
who would be the bread makers
and the peasants. When France
su!ered from a famine in 1789
and the prices kept increasing, the peasants revolted. Many directed
their anger at the monarchy and the guilds for the high bread prices.

DINING OUT
The French Revolution resulted in the end of the monarchy, and by
1791, the guild system was gone too. Previously, the restrictive system
had controlled who could sell certain foods and where. With no more
guilds, it was much easier to open new shops and eateries. There
were also a lot of cooks looking for jobs! During the revolution, many
aristocrats were sent to the guillotine or fled France.

HONEST HISTORY | 40
Their cooks and kitchen assistants had to !nd new employment. Many
cooks decided to create their own restaurants, bringing the !ne dining
of the elite with them. In these restaurants, the common people got to
eat like the aristocrats, but at a cheaper price.

The main aims of the French Revolution were liberté, égalité,

fraternité, and this was even seen in the new popular French cuisine.
There was no longer any harsh divide between the people, so there
was no divide between food. Fine dining was no longer just for the
rich, and foods like “mother sauces” (bechamel, hollandaise, tomato)
became popular. Today, these sauces are the staples of many iconic
French dishes, like beef bourguignon.

Abolishing the guild system after the Revolution allowed French cooks
to experiment with food and try new dishes. It’s no wonder that today,
Paris is considered one of the world’s culinary capitals.

REVOLUTIONIZING FOOD | 41
 ?

Royalists were people,

at first mostly aristocrats,
who supported the king and
wanted to return to the old
system, or ancien régime.

the a n c ie n ré gime, people

Unde r ke
sed fo rm a l ti tle s when they spo
u
ch o th e r. T hey addressed
to ea
onsieur or
each other as M
Mrs.).
Madame (Mr. or
 lists showed
Aristocratic Roya
ir sup po rt fo r th e old system
the
attire. Men
by wearing court
re c ulo tte s, o r silk breeches,
wo
re dresses
while women wo
t fabrics.
made of elegan

Royalists also wore purple,

black, and white attire. They
sometimes added a fleur-de-
lys, an emblem of the French
monarchy, to their clothing.

ring the Most aristocrats could

By the Reign of Terror, wea
n régime speak French as it
luxurious outfits of the ancie
aristocrats even was the language of
became dangerous. Some
eir servants to the king. However,
borrowed the clothing of th about half of France
hide their identities.
did not speak French!
They spoke other local
languages and dialects.

Many aristocrats fled

r
France in fear for thei
lives. These émigrés,
as they were called,
often wore orange
e
cockades to support th
ancien régime.

ARE YOU A ROYALIST OR A REVOLUTIONARY? | 43

 ?

Revolutionaries wanted to end the ancien régime

and create a new government that was ruled by the
people. As the revolution continued, some of these
revolutionaries grew more radical.

Did you know

revolutionaries ba
nned
certain words? Peo
ple
no longer said Mo
nsieur
or Madame but ra
ther
addressed each oth
er as
citoyen (citizen).

aries
Some revolution
French
wanted to make
e of
the only languag
the
France. In 1794,
vernment
revolutionary go
guage
ruled that no lan
h could
other than Frenc
be spoken.

HONEST HISTORY | 44
 You would not find a
revolutionary wearing silk.
Simple fabrics, like cotton,
linen, and wool,
were preferred over
anything luxurious.

To show support for the

revolution, people wore
red, white, and blue
sashes or cockades.

g -c la s s m en did not
Workin r
a r cu lo tte s, but rathe
Many revolution
aries we o re radical
u s e rs . M
sported a red ca long tro
p
e v o lu t io n a ries were
called the Phryg r
ian a ll e d sa n s -culottes
cap. This hat bec often c )
ame a
ith o u t k n e e breeches
symbol of demo (w
cracy hese
and freedom. and wore t
ers.
loose trous

ARE YOU A ROYALIST OR A REVOLUTIONARY? | 45

 The Haitian Revolution
As the revolution spread across France,
another rebellion was beginning on an
island in the Caribbean. Part of the island, known
as Saint-Domingue, was under French rule.
In 1791, thousands of enslaved people, joined by
free people of color, revolted. For the next 12 years,
the people of Saint-Domingue would fight for equality.

Today, this event is known as...

It would become known as one of the largest and most

successful revolts of enslaved people in history.

HONEST HISTORY | 46
Who Lıved ın Saın-Domıngue
The Taíno were among the first known people to settle on the island. After
Christopher Columbus arrived in 1492, the Spanish claimed the land as
their own.

In the 1600s, the French took over part of the island and called its colony
Saint-Domingue. France created plantations, or huge farms, to grow coffee
and sugar. Thousands of Africans were sent to the island to work on these
plantations. Most of these Africans were enslaved and suffered under
harsh working conditions.

As the idea of liberty spread across North America and France, the people
of Saint-Domingue began to consider their own lives.

AFTERSHOCKS: THE HAITIAN REVOLUTION | 47

Tired of cruel treatment and inequality, the enslaved people wanted
change.

In 1791, two separate revolts broke out. On the north side of the island,
enslaved workers attacked the plantation owners and set fire to the
buildings. At the same time, free people of color began revolting on the
west side of the island.

The revolution had begun.

In 1791, over 400,000 people lived on the island.

Enslaved Africans made up about 90 percent of
the population while the remaining 10 percent were
Europeans and affranchis. A!ranchis were free people
of color with mixed European and African ancestry.

HONEST HISTORY | 48
he Leaders of he Grea Fıgh
Toussaint Louverture, a former enslaved man, served as a powerful
commander of the revolution. Intelligent and strategic, Louverture
organized and trained thousands of enslaved people. Under his command,
the determined army battled the French forces. By 1797, Louverture was the
de facto ruler of the colony.

De facto, which means “in reality,”

is a term for an uno!cial ruler who
takes on the role of a leader.

AFTERSHOCKS: THE HAITIAN REVOLUTION | 49

Even though France still ruled the colony, Louverture controlled the military
and governed the island’s day-to-day affairs. In 1801, Louverture drafted a
constitution that named him governor for life.

The Haitian Revolution had many other key players. Georges Biassou
was a rebel leader who fought alongside Louverture. Marie-Jeanne
Lamartinière was a courageous woman who fought as a soldier, and
François Capois was famous for charging into battle while under fire.

Under Louverture’s leadership, this army, made up of men and women,

used their knowledge of the land to stage surprise attacks. They were
fighting to build a more equal society.

Bale for ındependence

By 1801, Louverture had taken control over the island. Slavery had already
been abolished, but the road to freedom was a long one. One year later,
France tried to reclaim the island of Saint-Domingue and restore slavery.

The island faced

the skilled army of
Napoleon Bonaparte.
And yet, Saint-
Domingue did not
surrender. The French
offered to discuss a
truce, which Louverture
hesitantly agreed
to. Shortly after
accepting, Louverture
was arrested and
imprisoned in France
until his death
in 1803.

HONEST HISTORY | 50
Jean-Jacques
Dessalines, once a
top general under
Louverture, assumed
the role of the new
leader of Saint-
Domingue. A fierce
warrior, Dessalines
refused to let
Napoleon’s forces
bring slavery back to
the island. He quickly
regained power over
the land, leading
Haitian soldiers
to victory in 1803
following the Battle of Vertières. This was one of the final battles of
the revolution.

During these years, thousands of French soldiers in Haiti died of yellow

fever. As the Haitian army grew in number and strength, the French began
to give up on the idea of retaking the island.

On January 1, 1804, the people of Saint-Domingue declared independence

from France, ending the Haitian Revolution. Dessalines became the first
leader of the newly independent nation. Following this triumphant victory,
Saint-Domingue was renamed “Haiti.” This name comes from the island’s
Indigenous Taíno heritage.

In the Taíno language, “Haiti” means “land of high

mountains.” Today, the Haitian Revolution stands as a
powerful moment in the fight for human rights.

AFTERSHOCKS: THE HAITIAN REVOLUTION | 51

 PERCY’S
MAILBOX Here are some of the things our young
historians have to say about Honest History.

HONEST HISTORY | 52
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WORDS WE SHOULD LEARN | 53

 ART and REVOLUTION
ROCOCO
Rococo is a style of art that started in France
in the early 1700s. It comes from the French
word rocaile, meaning rubble or pebbles. This is
because Rococo first looked like the rocks and
shells that decorated grottoes and fountains in
grand gardens. You could find Rococo furniture,
buildings, sculptures, and paintings. The style
was inspired by nature, and it was
playful, joyful, and rich with pastel colors.

HOW DID ROCOCO START?

Rococo began when France had a lot of wealth
and power, and because of it, the French elite
had time and money to do things they loved.
Rococo artwork reflected this peaceful period.
A famous 18th-century Rococo painting called
"Soap Bubbles" was done by an artist named
Jean-Baptiste Siméon Chardin. The painting
of a boy blowing a soap bubble was popular
because it was relatable and playful. It's
something you might even do for fun!
 Madame de Pompadour, born Jeanne-
Antoinette Poisson, is known as the
"godmother of the Rococo." As the king’s
trusted advisor, she helped support
Rococo artists, which helped the style
spread throughout Europe.

THE END OF ROCOCO

But by the 1760s, French people were no
longer at peace. Many were poor, hungry, and
unhappy with their king and queen, whom
they believed had too much power and wealth.
French scholars were also learning more about
science and were interested in change. Rococo
no longer reflected how many people felt.

A SHIFT TO NEOCLASSICISM
In the 1700s, ancient sites were
uncovered in Italy—places like Pompeii
and Herculaneum. Many people became
interested in these discoveries, including
Pompadour’s brother, Abel-François
Poisson de Vandières. He was in charge
of the king’s buildings and was sent
to study the ancient art and buildings
of Rome and Greece. After seeing all
this history, he became interested in
"Neoclassicism," or new classicism. This
type of art is inspired by ancient Greece
and Rome. Poisson de Vandières and
many others encouraged artists to be
inspired by the classical past.

ART AND REVOLUTION | 55

 NEOCLASSICAL ART
Where Rococo was curved and playful,
Neoclassical art was serious, less focused
on color and more on straight lines.

Many paintings during this time show what

was important to the French. They used art
as a tool to teach right from wrong and
encourage people to stand up for liberty.
Today, the Neoclassical style is linked to the
art of the French Revolution.

HONEST HISTORY | 56
What are some of the ways France changed after the French Revolution?

How did the Haitian Revolution mirror the French Revolution?

What are some other revolutions you can think of from the past?

Do you think there are negative e!ects of revolutionary change?

If so, what are they?

THINKING IT OVER | 57
 Color in
Napoleon’s
victory
gallop!
HONEST HISTORY | 60
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | 61
 WORD SEARCH!
Can you find all the words from the list below?
BONJOUR NAPOLEON REVOLUTION
GUILLOTINE PARIS ROBESPIERRE
HAITI PIMPERNEL ROCOCO
KING RESTAURANT SANS!CULOTTES
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