More Than a Parade:

How women showed their anger toward Louis XVI

Joshua Holsopple Junior Division Individual website

When I found out that I was doing a National History Day project I was interested in finding a topic, it was a feeling of mystery. When my teacher gave us a list of topics I wanted to research a topic that was related to world history rather than American history because I knew it would expand my knowledge of history. As I was skimming possible topics the bread riots or to be more specific the March on Versailles, caught my interest. This is an area of the French Revolution that I had never explored. When I started to look at my topic I noticed that the pictures and descriptions of my event were mainly about women raiding the Palace of Versailles which I found intriguing because I am not aware of many events that women are the main people involved. The other amazing aspect was the fact that ordinary people overthrew the most powerful man in the country. In my research I found many causes and effects that related to my event. I found many primary sources because of one site called Liberty, Equality, Fraternity: Exploring the French Revolution. It had documents, letters and accounts of people pertaining to the French Revolution. My teacher allowed me to use a video that he owns that was a key secondary source. It gave me a broad view of the French Revolution and showed me what pertains to my topic. Other resources I used were the internet and books. I gained much experience in how to research effectively. When I started my website my dad recommended that I should do a storyboard technique to plan my website. I then listed out what pages I wanted to include. I then sorted out what causes I would talk about and looked at what primary sources I could use to prove those statements. I then did the same procedure with the effects of my topic and incorporated this information on the website. The elements of my project include a background page, a cause page, a timeline, a description, an effects page, a conclusion page, and a process paper page. Additionally, within the information on the website, the words in yellow are primary source quotes and the words in black are student composed words. My topic is related to this years NHD theme in many ways. King Louis XVI signed the Rights of Man in reaction to the marchers coming to Versailles. This attempt to stop the marchers made everyone from nobility to peasant, equal in everything including social status. When the King agreed to leave Versailles, he took a big step in the wrong direction. This decision led to the destruction of the monarchy and his death. When the family escaped it was a result of Louis XVI moving out of Versailles which was a result of the March on Versailles.