I have curated this exhibit as a thoughtful and in-depth journey through the French Revolution, using the books and pamphlets of the 18th century as our primary guides. Drawing from publications produced in both Britain and France, I present not just the major events, but the evolving ideas, passions, and conflicts that shaped one of European history’s most transformative periods. The exhibit is arranged into galleries, which can be explored in any order, allowing visitors to chart their own course through the Revolution's complex landscape. Within each gallery, I have grouped the pamphlets according to the narrative threads that, to me, best capture the unfolding story of the Revolution: its hopes, its turmoil, and its lasting impact. My goal has been to let these original voices speak for themselves while offering a framework that brings their historical significance into focus.

-Madelyn Geiler 

Organizational Guide:

The Inevitable Turn explores how the deepening crises of political mismanagement, economic hardship, and Enlightenment ideals made revolutionary upheaval in France not just possible, but inevitable.

Hardships and Struggles examines the widespread suffering, economic inequality, and social tensions that fueled resentment and pushed the French people toward revolutionary action.

Commentary from Britian explores how British observers, including influential figures like the M.P. Edmund Burke, reacted to the French Revolution, with Burke notably condemning its violence and upheaval while others debated its lessons and possibilities for reform.

A New Republic explores how the French Revolution’s radical phase saw the Third Estate rise to political power, ultimately leading to the creation of the National Convention, a bold attempt to replace monarchy with a republic grounded in popular sovereignty and revolutionary ideals.

The End of King Louis XVI examines the downfall of the French monarchy, culminating in the king’s trial and execution by the National Convention, a dramatic moment that symbolized the irreversible break with the ancien régime and the Revolution’s escalating radicalism.

Header Images taken from: Library of Congress