French Revolution
Newspaper Assignment
You are going to be putting yourself back into the 1800’s, the time of the French
Revolution. Your job is a newspaper reporter (and, yes, they had newspapers back then!),
and you will be creating a newspaper, and writing a number of different articles.
Your newspaper will need an appropriate name (like our
very own Times-Colonist).
The newspaper will need pictures and/or illustrations that
relate to your articles (you will have to look them up!)
You will need to write these articles in the present tense (like
it is happening) where it is appropriate and in the past tense
(like it already happened) in other articles.
Remember to write these articles as if they just occurred yesterday, and not over 200
years ago. When writing your articles, try to order the events so that they are arranged
in a logical sequence!!
This newspaper covers events that occurred in France over an approximately ten year
period. In spite of this, include these articles in the same newspaper.
Evaluation:
Content ................................................................................... /45
Editing ..................................................................................... /5
Using Your Own Words ........................................................ /5
Organization ........................................................................... /5
Visuals/Artistic Merit ............................................................ /10
TOTAL ........................................................................ /70
Articles:
Article #1 (10 marks)
This article should be based upon the information given under the heading “A Crisis”
(pp. 72-73). Your article will need a title. Below is a guide of some or all of the information that
could be answered.
Mention the taxed that exploit the lower and middle classes
Mention that France is almost bankrupt and that revolution is near at hand
Describe the split of the royal court into two groups
Describe what the middle class, working class, and some aristocrats are demanding
Describe what the philosophes think of France’s government
Mention that people in France are starving, families are breaking up, and children are
being abandoned
Mention the serious unemployment problem
Mention the Paris mob
Describe how Louis is responding to critics of the government
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Article #2 (10 marks)
This article should be based upon the information given under the heading “The Estates
General” (pp. 73-74). Your article will need a title. Below is a guide of some or all of the
information that could be answered.
Where and when the Estates General will meet
Mention how seldom the Estates General meets and when their last meeting was
Describe what the Estates General is, and what class of people make up each of the three
estates
Mentioni how each estate votes as a bloc and how this works against the middle class
Describe what Louis and his director of the treasury, Jacques Necker, hope to achieve
from this meeting of the Estates General
What Louis plans to give, and not give, the Estates General in terms of power
Article #3 (10 marks)
This article should be based upon the information given under the heading “The Spirit of
the Revolution Grows” (pp. 74-75). Your article will need a title. Below is a guide of some or
all of the information that could be answered.
Describe what happened in the Estates General after six weeks of little progress
Mention that the real goal of the Third Estate is to create a new constitution for France
Describe what the Tennis Court Oath is and how Louis Responded to this
Explain what Louis was forced to do and how the crowds of Paris responded to this
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Article #4 (10 marks)
This article should be based upon the information
given under the heading “The Fall of the Bastille” (p. 75).
Your article will need a title. Below is a guide of some or
all of the information that could be answered.
Describe what happened on July 14, 1789
Describe what happened when troops were sent to
disperse the mob
Mention the number of prisoners that were released
Describe what the mob did to the governor
Describe how Louis responded to the fall of the Bastille and what he has agreed to do
Mention the “National Guard” and who commanded it
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Article #5 (10 marks)
This article should be based upon the information given under the heading “The Great
Fear” (p. 76). Your article will need a title. Below is a guide of some or all of the information
that could be answered.
Describe the storming of the chateaux and other violence
Mention how all this violence is a reaction to what has occurred in Paris and Versailles
Mention how peasants have been afraid that the King’s soldiers and his aristocrats might
stop the revolution
Mention how all of this is being referred to as the “Great Fear”
Mention that areas where this “Great Fear” is spreading and those areas that appear to be
unaffected
Article #6 (5 marks)
This article should be a short news brief and should be based upon the information given
in the first two paragraphs under the heading “Paris and the King” (p. 76). Your article will need
a title. Below is a guide of some or all of the information that could be answered.
What happened at the National Assembly on August 4, 1789
Mention how these changes are extraordinary
Describe how people feel about the king and the assembly and what they think needs to
be done
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Article #7 (5 marks)
This article should be a short news brief and should be based upon the information given
in the last paragraph under the heading “Paris and the King” (p. 76). Your article will need a
title. Below is a guide of some or all of the information that could be answered.
Describe what happened in Paris on October of 1789
Describe what the King and Queen agreed to do
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BONUS: Comment Section (10 marks)
Similar to today’s Comment sections of the newspaper, this section should contain 4-5
comments from various readers. The readers/writers will give their own views on what is
happening in the variety of articles. For example, one or two comments may be on the fall of the
Bastille, another may be on the Tennis Court Oath, and another may be on the Estates General.
Be sure to give each writer their own unique voice!!