<!–^~^440|right|Louis XVI^~^–>France in 1789 was one of the richest and most powerful nations in Europe. Only in Great Britain and the Netherlands did the common people have more freedom and less chance of arbitrary punishment. Nonetheless, a popular rebellion would first to bring the regime of King Louis XVI of France under control of a [...]
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Emile Zola
…mile Zola (April 2, 1840 – September 29, 1902) was an influential French novelist, the most important example of the literary school of naturalism and a major figure in the political liberalization of France. [img]439|left|Emile Zola[/img] Born in Paris, France, the son of an Italian engineer, …mile Zola spent his childhood in Aix-en-Provence and was [...]
The Dreyfus Affair
The Dreyfus Affair was a political cover-up which divided France for many years in the late 19th century. [img]435|left|J’accuse![/img]It centered on the 1894 treason conviction of Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish artillery officer in the French army. Dreyfus was, in fact, innocent: the conviction rested on false documents, and when high-ranking officers realised this they attempted [...]
Alfred Dreyfus
Alfred Dreyfus (October 9, 1859 – July 12, 1935), French military officer best known for being the focus of the Dreyfus affair. [img]436|left|Capitaine Dreyfus[/img]Born in Mulhouse, Alsace, France, Dreyfus was the youngest of seven children in the family of a Jewish textile manufacturer who had accepted French nationality in 1871. The family had long been [...]
The Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of VersaillesFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The Treaty of Versailles of 1919 was the peace treaty that was created as a result of the six-month-long Paris Peace Conference of 1919 which put an official end to World War I. The treaty was ratified on January 10, 1920 and required that Germany accept responsibility for [...]
Regions and Departments
The dÈpartements (or departments) are administrative units of France, roughly analogous to British counties and now grouped into 22 metropolitan and four overseas rÈgions. They are subdivided into 342 arrondissements. Administrative role Each dÈpartement is administered by a Conseil GÈnÈral elected for six years, and by a prÈfet appointed by the French government and assisted [...]
The Politics of France
The ConstitutionA popular referendum approved the constitution of the Fifth Republic in 1958, greatly strengthening the authority of the presidency and the executive in relation to Parliament. The executive branchFrance has an original system with an executive headed by two officials: the President and the Prime Minister. The President of the Republic [img]325|left|Jacques Chirac[/img]Under the [...]
Notre-Dame de Reims
For many centuries, this cathedral is where the Kings of France have been crowned. Today, it stands as one of the the most perfect architectural masterpieces of the Middle Ages.
Avignon
Host to France’s favorite summer theater festival, this southern city 4 hours by train from Paris, boasts a rich history, and a varied architecture. Year after year, it ranks as one of the country’s favorite destinations amongst foreign and French tourist
Gustave Eiffel
Gustave Eiffel (December 15, 1832 – December 27, 1923), French architect. †[img]304|left|Gustave Eiffel[/img]Born Alexandre Gustave Eiffel in Dijon, CÙte-d’Or, France, he is most famous for building the Eiffel Tower, built from 1887-1889 for the 1889 Paris Universal Exposition in Paris, France, as well as the armature for the Statue of Liberty in New York [...]