Thomas Jefferson: Founding Father... of the French Revolution?

 

As Bastille Day approaches, it is important that, as citizens of Charlottesville, we recognize the impact that our own Thomas Jefferson had in shaping the events of the French Revolution. Jefferson, of course authored the Declaration of Independence, outlining the principles of self-governance and basic human rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

However, Jefferson was also a well-known Francophile, and spent several years in France as an ambassador. At a time when many Americans sided with Britain in the persisting Franco-British rivalry, Jefferson was adamantly pro-French. Upon leaving the country in 1789, he expressed his “sense of its preeminence of character among the nations of the earth.”

It is therefore no surprise that many of the early principles that sparked France’s revolution are outlined in Jefferson’s declaration, as he was well known in Europe as the author of the document. Jefferson predicted that America’s democratic experiment would inspire further revolutions. In a famous analogy, he wrote that America’s “ball of liberty” would roll around the world. France would be the first to be flattened.

"Reveil du Tiers Etat": "The Awakening of the Third Estate"
The nobility (left) and clergy (center) recoil in fear at the newfound
independence of the third estate.

Revolutionary fervor in France reached a boiling point in the summer of 1789. After years of rising bread prices and financial instability under King Louis XVI, the educated bourgeois and furious starving peasants were fed up. The Third Estate, which represented the non-clergy and non-nobility in the French parliament, began meeting on its own and declared itself the National Assembly.

The Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in August, which is where Thomas Jefferson most directly influenced the revolution.

The Marquis de Lafayette, who played an important role in our own American Revolution, introduced the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. While this document differed from the Declaration of Independence in some ways, it was undeniably inspired by Jefferson’s original work. In fact, Lafayette even wrote to Jefferson asking for “observations” and comments on his ideas before presenting the document to the National Assembly.

While Jefferson was in Paris, he became a close friend of Lafayette's

In substance, the similarities are also remarkable. Both documents reference a divine, self-evident truth on which fundamental rights are anchored. Both affirm that all men are born free and equal, and in cases of government oppression, they have the right to resist to that oppression (“la résistance à l’oppression”.) Finally, both affirm that sovereignty (“le principe de toute Souveranieté”) rests fundamentally with the people. As Jefferson’s document came first, the importance of the Declaration of Independence in France’s own revolution cannot be understated.

As the revolution dragged on past 1793 and the ruling factions became more and more extreme, Jefferson did eventually express his disapproval with the direction of the revolution. Apparently, he wasn’t too fond of the thousands of executions of political dissenters via the guillotine under Robespierre.

Yikes.

However, the symbolism of the revolution still remains incredibly important to the French identity today. And it’s incredible to be able to say that the French Revolution was inspired in part by a patriot born here in Albemarle County, Virginia.

Batteau Festival: This Upcoming Wednesday June 24th

 

 

Make it a priority to visit historic Scottsville, Virginia this Wednesday, June 24^th and join the town in a celebration for the 30^th Annual James River Batteau Festival!  The Batteau Festival is a FREE all-day celebration filled with live music, art/museum exhibits, food vendors, and much more! 

Not only is this the 30^th year of operation, but also the strongest year in boat totals.  Twenty-five batteaux total will be floating down the James River for a grand eight day voyage starting in Lynchburg and finishing in Richmond, VA.  

 

The “batteaux” are long wooden, flat bottomed boats that are directed by poles.  Each batteau will float a crew dressed period costumes along with supplies for their journey. 

We should all go out and celebrate, as Scottsville marks the half way point on their voyage.  The stretch is a total of 120 miles. 

 

One goal of the James River Batteau Festival other than having a great and memorable time is to preserve the heritage of the batteau and its voyage.  The first batteau was hand crafted by Anthony Rucker in the mid to late 16^th century.  This life style and previous mode of transportation are very important to mark in history.  In previous centuries, this network of transportation was so popular that there were more than 500 batteaux on the James at one point in time.  Many of these boats were carrying items such as Irish linens, tobacco, fine French wines, and more.  As you can see this path from Richmond to Lynchburg was very important for the installation and improvement of trade to the west parts of Virginia.

In the meantime, France was undertaken by political conflict, foreshadowing a future revolution on the horizon.  Look forward to read more about the French Revolution leading up to our Bastille Day Celebration on July 14^th. 

DON'T MISS OUT: Free Screening of Les Choristes

 

Head down to Jefferson-Madison Central Library on Tuesday June 30th for a free screening of this academy award nominated French masterpiece! Originally released in 2004, Les Choristes is an inspiring story of the transformative power of music.


Set in 1949 at a boarding school for misbehaved boys, the film follows a young Pierre Morhange (played by Jean-Baptiste Maunier) and his friend Pépinot (Maxence Perrin). Though they are at first subjected to the cruel discipline of their headmaster, Monsieur Rachin (François Berléand), the arrival of a new school teacher, Clément Mathieu (Gérard Jugnot), brightens up the gloomy atmosphere of the school. One day after hearing students singing rude songs about the teachers, Mathieu decides to assemble a choir and teach the students to sing. In the process, Mathieu discovers the remarkable talent of Pierre, helping to transform the troubled child's future.


 

La Cage aux Rossignols (1945) helped inspire the film.

Director Christophe Barratier, whose first feature film was Les Choristes, recounts that the inspiration for the film came in large part from his own childhood, especially between the ages of 4 and 8. He was also greatly inspired by a 1945 French film entitled La Cage aux Rossignols (a cage of nightingales), which also features a choir director who helps troubled teens by teaching them to sing. Barratier said he was "deeply touched" by the film when he saw it as a child, and he even decided to keep the name of the choir director the same from the original. In fact, both movies are inspired by a real educational center called Ker Goat, in which a team of teachers worked to help troubled children through choral singing and other innovative educational methods.

The film includes an incredible soundtrack, featuring the real voice of Jean-Baptiste Maunier, who plays the Morhange in the movie! At the 2005 academy awards, Les Choristes was not only nominated for Best Foreign Language Film but also Best Original Song, Vois sur ton chemin ("Look to Your Path"), which you can enjoy below:

The screening will begin at 6:00pm, and soft drinks and popcorn will be provided. Additionally, AFC member and volunteer Eric Flanagan will introduce the film and host a short discussion on the film afterwards (library doors close at 9pm).

Venez nombreux! Don't miss out on this fun evening!

Be sure to click here to RSVP.

Great Summer Read: Le Petit Prince

We have all heard of the classic, French, children's book Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, but how many have actually read it?  Don't let the words "children's book" deter you, as this small, poetic story can be enjoyed by all ages, and should be.  It is the 3rd most translated book in the world and can be found in more than 350 languages.  So, if you have not read it yet, we suggest you put it on your top summer read list! 

So why is this book important to us?  Why should we read it?   

Le Petit Prince teaches us many substantial lessons to note/learn whether young or mature.  A few lessons to mention;  the dangers of being narrow-minded, enlightenment through exploration, relationships teach us responsibilities, and many more. 

One of my favorite quotes from the book is...

"I must endure the presence of a few caterpillars if I wish to become acquainted with the butterflies."

As you can see, there are many different interpretations for what Saint-Exupéry could have meant.  Perhaps; sometimes to be around beautiful objects, people, or experiences you must learn to accept the not so beautiful parts.  What do you think he meant? 

Another popular quote...

"All grown-ups were once children…but only few of them remember it."

Saint-Exupéry was referring to the fact that as many of us grow up we forget that we once had the innocence and creativity of children.  We become more involved in materials, appearances, and money.  We stop questioning to learn and our curiosity is lost.  In exchange, we start to think we know everything.

You will surely find out that this book is full of emotional conflict; isolation, fear, and love.  Many of Saint-Exupéry's abstract ideas and events in the book have clear connection to his person life.  The desert setting from Le Petit Prince is from when Saint-Exupéery was lost for nearly a week in the Arabian desert.  He experienced loneliness, the sense of death, and fear during that time.  The love between the Prince and the Rose, from the book, comes from his shifty affair with his wife, Consuelo.  Saint-Exupéry had many inspirations from his personal life.  You can find more just from reading the book carefully. 

With that said, we will be celebrating the release of the NEW Le Petit Prince movie (dated in France for 29 July 2015) by hosting a FREE Le Petit Prince Story time at Central Library!  So make sure to mark your calendars for Saturday June 11th and 13th! 

 

Suggested age group: 6 to 9-year-olds

Readings will take place upstairs in the McIntyre Room on:

Saturday, June 13th from 10:30-11:30

and

Saturday, July 11th from 10:30-11:30

 

Location:  Central Library located on Market Street in Downtown Charlottesville. 

Familiarity Abroad: The Importance of Besançon, Charlottesville's Sister City

Kursaal concert hall, Besançon

Two weeks ago, the Alliance received a message from Edward Herring, a newly appointed member of the sister city commission in Charlottesville. Recently, on his last night visiting Besançon with a group of students from Monticello High School, Mr. Herring’s host family took him to hear Orff’s Camina Burana at the Kursaal, a concert hall in Besançon.

“Imagine this,” Herring recalls, “you are traveling… totally immersed in your activity. You are amidst a crowd of strangers, when suddenly, someone calls your name, someone unexpected.”

“As I squeezed my way from my seat… I heard someone say ‘Mister Herring, what are you doing here?’ Some of my recent students from a stint at Charlottesville High School had stopped in Besançon on their way to Geneva.”

Thousands of miles away from Charlottesville, Mr. Herring and his students had suddenly found a sense of familiarity within a foreign place. This sort of chance encounter is exactly the type of benefit to be gained from a sister city relationship.

A central street in Besançon

While French culture obviously seems foreign from an American perspective, it can feel reassuring to be a Charlottesville citizen in Besançon. Through years of cultural exchange, the sister city relationship has created a gateway through which citizens of both cities can experience a much deeper sense of intimacy than through tourism in a non-sister city. In Besançon, there’s a good chance you could find a French citizen who knows an acquaintance of yours from Charlottesville, and that’s a powerful feeling when you’re an ocean away from home.

City schools have helped initiate one of the most dynamic examples of this exchange. Both cities have actively maintained a series of student exchanges that have helped build cultural awareness and develop relationships across the two cities. I once witnessed a group of French students at a UVA football game in the fall with their Charlottesville High School counterparts. Later this spring, I saw a group of young Besançon students parading around UVA’s campus with their teachers, talking and giggling in French.

 

Price (left-center) and Eric (center) with friends in
Besançon

The sister city relationship has personally helped make Besançon a more familiar place for me. Three years ago, I hosted a student from Besançon named Eric over the summer. Eric and I are the same age and have a lot in common, including similar musical tastes and a goofy sense of humor. The next summer, while traveling Europe, I was welcomed by Eric and his family for a few days in Besançon. It was truly fantastic to see the city with a native who I already knew and trusted, someone who had seen my home as well.

Countryside in Franche-Comté

Another positive externality of the sister city program has been to expand the cultural exchange beyond the cities themselves and into the greater surrounding regions of Franche-Comté in France and the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. I am originally from Staunton, about forty-five minutes from Charlottesville. My alma mater, Robert E. Lee high school, has always sponsored a biennial trip for French and Spanish students to Maîche, a small town about an hour from Besançon. Additionally, students from Staunton and even Lexington have taken classes and taught English in Besançon in recent years. In this way, the curiously similar agrarian regions of France and Virginia have become intertwined.

Countryside in the Shenandoah Valley

At the end of his letter, Mr. Herring remarked that he could “barely wait to go back to Besançon and see whom else [he] will run into.” Indeed, with each passing year, citizens of the two cities have formed lasting bonds with the people and places, domestic and foreign, they’ve gotten to know through this relationship. For over twenty-five years, and hopefully for many more to come, Charlottesville and Besançon have helped foster these cross-cultural exchanges. For those hoping to broaden their experience with French culture, it is an absolute blessing.  


Written by Price Gillock, AFC intern