Historical Analysis of Colson's Perspective

A violent confrontation sparked by misinterpreted comments about bread prices, resulting in the burning of an effigy and attempts to kill an industrialist.

The lower social class, often characterized as unruly and uncultured.

The three social classes of pre-Revolutionary France: clergy, nobility, and commoners.

The formal ceremony where elected representatives are presented to the king.

The elected representatives of the French people, representing the three estates.

The king of France during the French Revolution.

The official pronouncements of the king and government.

The process of controlling or censoring information to prevent its public dissemination.

The deputies, who were members of the newly formed National Assembly, swore an oath to "God, to the fatherland, and to the king." This oath represented their commitment to fulfill their duties and uphold the new government.

This oath was taken during the French Revolution, where representatives of the three estates (clergy, nobility, and commoners) agreed to work together to reform the nation. They aimed to create a new constitution that would address the grievances of the commoners.

The king's declaration rejecting and annulling the actions of the National Assembly, including the oath they had taken. It undermined the credibility of the Assembly and heightened tensions between the monarchy and the people.

The period of hope and optimism in the early French Revolution, when the three estates (the clergy, nobility, and commoners) were believed to be working together to reform the nation. It was a time of optimism and a sense of unity.

The public believed that the three estates, representing the clergy, nobility, and commoners, were working together. However this was a misconception, as the king's actions revealed the existing divisions between the estates and the lack of actual unity.

A process where elected representatives of the three estates gather to verify their credentials and formally open the Estates-General.

The first estate, consisting of members of the clergy.

The second estate, consisting of the nobility.

The third estate, representing the commoners, including merchants, peasants, and urban workers.

The right to vote for each estate, with each estate having one vote, regardless of the number of representatives.

The idea that each estate should have an equal voice in decision making, regardless of population representation.

The process of having representatives from the three estates discuss and debate issues together, potentially reaching consensus.

The concept that the Third Estate had the right to represent the entirety of the nation, not just the commoners.

A circular badge with red and blue colors, representing patriotic commitment during the French Revolution.

A group of armed citizens formed to defend their neighborhood during the French Revolution.

A military school for young nobles located in Paris during the French Revolution.

A large fortress in Paris that was believed to be used as a political prison, containing arms and prisoners.

The event where a crowd stormed the Bastille fortress in Paris on July 14, 1789, marking the start of the French Revolution.

The street where Colson resided during the French Revolution.

The official accounts of individuals involved in the storming of the Bastille.

The event where crowds gathered and stormed the Bastille, seeking arms and freeing imprisoned people.

People in the lower classes claiming new freedoms to negotiate wages and conditions during the early French Revolution.

The widespread practice of poaching in the countryside, defying aristocratic land ownership.

A public prayer ritual during the French Revolution, seeking a return to calm and peace.

The patron saint of Paris, invoked during the French Revolution for peace and order.

The fear and uncertainty that gripped Paris during the French Revolution.

The early revolutionary successes that filled people with hope.

Colson’s commitment to staying in Paris and informing his noble patrons of the political changes.

The widespread enthusiasm and optimism for the early stages of the French Revolution.

A group of armed civilians, organized to defend against imminent threats, similar to the National Guard in Paris.

The system of land ownership and obligations between lords and peasants. Lords held land and peasants worked it, paying rent and services.

A local leader, often a noble, who commands a militia or armed force during times of unrest.

An agent or representative of the nobility, responsible for collecting rents and dues from peasants.

The collection of fees and services owed by peasants to their lord. This could include rent, taxes, and labor.

A state of near lawlessness and lack of control within a region or community.

To subside means to decrease or lessen in intensity. In this case, the violent unrest in the region gradually calmed down.

The period of time when events in Levroux gradually returned to a more stable state, after the initial upheaval.