Chương 89: The Beginning of the French Revolution
Paris, France
February 1st, 1789
Lafayette knew he took a considerable risk when he sailed across the Atlantic to the United States. He was disobeying his father-in-law's direct orders to remain in France and risked possible imprisonment once he returned to France. So when he was arrested immediately after returning to France in 1783, he wasn't surprised or bothered. Despite his treatment by the King in the other history, he knew that this time around, he would be reprimanded more harshly due to France's relations with the United States. As he predicted, he was placed under house arrest for several months before he was finally released and "congratulated" by the government for his exemplary achievements during the American War of Independence. However, he was locked out of the nobility and forced to "retire." During his time under house arrest, he reassessed his own thoughts about a constitutional monarchy and slowly concluded that he was wrong about focusing solely on a constitutional monarchy. His time in the United States had been wonderful and the nation, despite its young age, was functioning well with its republican form of government. The fact that France was a republic (and a fairly successful one) in the future did not elude him either. Samuel Kim, the first president of the United States and one of his closest friends, was an ardent republican himself, and Lafayette fondly recalled the days when the two of them debated between the finer points of a constitutional monarchy and a republic.
While imprisoned in his own home, Lafayette knew that the storm was coming. France hadn't done any better in its war against Britain in this world than it had in the other world. And with the volcano eruption in Iceland, food prices rose sharply despite the best efforts of American merchants and the American government to slow the disastrous price hike. With a lackluster effort in the war against Britain, a mounting debt, and a sudden rise in food prices, Lafayette expected the Revolution to come earlier. And without any say in how the government operated or any influence to voice his proposed reforms to the King, he knew France was heading to disaster, the same disaster that wrecked the nation in the other world. So he vowed to take it upon himself to lead the republicans (or any of the pro-reform groups) this time and establish a new France, whether it be a republic or a constitutional monarchy.
For several years, he gathered dissenters and critics of the current regime and built himself a support base. He knew that when the Revolution erupted, he would need supporters and friends to prevent the Revolution from going off the rails and truly build a France based on equality and liberty. He contacted individuals that were Girondins in the other history: Pierre Vergniaud, Marguerite Elie Guadet, Armand Gensonee, and a few select others. They were mainly pro-constitutional monarchy, but they had similar views and beliefs as him as well. He spoke to Robespierre on a few occasions to discern the man's current thoughts and possibly prevent him from being radicalized during the Revolution. He also sought the help of the American representatives in Paris (with John Adams visiting France frequently). He found the proper funds and information for his efforts with their support. By the time the Estates-General was called in 1786, Lafayette was confident in his ability to harness the opposition to the current regime and utilize it to create a unified front for a reformed France.
During the Estates-General, Lafayette represented the Third Estate as he was cast out from the government's favor. Much like the other history, the Third Estate was disregarded and cast aside by the king and the other two estates. The National Assembly was formed, much like the other world, but this time, it was arranged by Lafayette himself. As a result, when the Third Estate was opposed and excluded from the Salle des Estas, Lafayette gathered members of the Third Estate and members of the clergy to declare the Tennis Court Oath and release the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen. However, this time, the Declaration was more inclusive of the rights of those living in rural areas and women. It also revoked the practice of slavery and claimed that it was a "disgrace, a sin upon the civilized world." The Declaration was more radical, but it was a necessity. Lafayette knew that to gain widespread support, he needed to appeal to the French people in Paris and other areas of France. And while losing the support of plantation owners or slavers, he was determined to see things through.
And now he was here, leading a crowd of supporters in front of the Bastille to begin the first steps to tearing down the monarchy and forcing the nation to reform before it collapsed.
"People of France!" Lafayette shouted in front of the crowd of thousands. He wasn't an orator like Jefferson or Kim, but he had prepared a speech with the help of John Adams (before he left back to the United States) to not sound like a bumbling fool. The Revolution needed a strong leader, a guiding hand to ensure it wasn't delegitimized by radicals or power-hungry men. He was going to ensure that he himself never turned into a dictator or monarch and was firm on only serving the interest of France, "All of us stand here today to bring justice to France! Our nation has been restrained and neglected by those we have trusted to lead it! Our calls to fix the woes of France have been met with nothing but disdain and scorn, even as the situation grows worse day by day. Our peaceful methods have been blocked at every turn, so today, we take action. We must restrain ourselves from total violence, as we are not tyrannical or brutal like the nobles or monarchs. However, we must act! We must show them that unlike them, we fight for a better France; a France built upon the ideals of liberté, égalité, fraternité! And we will not falter until the day that those ideals are the laws of this land! Even if we are fired upon or attacked, we will push forward for a new France! Viva la France!"
"Viva la France!"
As the people marched forward in an organized, unified manner, the song of liberty that originated from the United States was sung by the crowd,
"A la volonté du peuple
Et à la santé du progrès,
Remplis ton cœur d'un vin rebelle
Et à demain, ami fidèle.
Nous voulons faire la lumière
Malgré le masque de la nuit
Pour illuminer notre terre
Et changer la vie.
Il faut gagner à la guerre
Notre sillon à labourer,
Déblayer la misère
Pour les blonds épis de la paix
Qui danseront de joie
Au grand vent de la liberté.
A la volonté du peuple
Et à la santé du progrès,
Remplis ton cœur d'un vin rebelle
Et à demain, ami fidèle.
Nous voulons faire la lumière
Malgré le masque de la nuit
Pour illuminer notre terre
Et changer la vie.
A la volonté du peuple,
Je fais don de ma volonté.
S'il faut mourir pour elle,
Moi je veux être le premier,
Le premier nom gravé
Au marbre du monument d'espoir.
A la volonté du peuple
Et à la santé du progrès,
Remplis ton cœur d'un vin rebelle
Et à demain, ami fidèle.
Nous voulons faire la lumière
Malgré le masque de la nuit
Pour illuminer notre terre
Et changer la vie!"
Some of the garrison in the Bastille looked panicked as the crowd moved in and fired upon some protesters, which provoked a hostile reaction. Lafayette was at the front of it all, doing his best to keep the crowd in check and to bring down the Bastille to begin the fires of the Revolution.
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