God and Grain: The French Revolution, Part I

Designed by the amazing Karen Kavett: http://www.youtube.com/xperpetualmotion
In which John discusses the causes of the French Revolution and its initial events, including the French debt crisis under King Louis XVI, the convocation of the estates general, the rise of the third estate, the formation of the National Assembly, the tennis court oath at Versailles, the storming of the Bastille, the women's march, and the moving of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette to Paris.

This is part of a four-video series designed to see whether we can make genuinely educational videos--the kind of videos that could actually help people learn the big and important things they have to learn in school. Nerdfighters gave us permission to make the videos longer than four minutes, so....no punishment. Let us know how we're doing.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• History
• French
• Revolution
• France
• European History
• French Revolution
• Bastille
• Louis XVI
• Versailles
• Marie Antoinette

[xLeavingxMyxMarkx]

I watched this in class today. When I found out we would be watching it today, I pumped my fists into the air, shouted, "YES!" several times, and got a few funny looks but didn't care. Throughout the entire video, I sat back and smiled and laughed like an idiot, but I was proud. To everyone else watching it in their Euro class, be proud to be a nerd (especially if your nerding specialty is history). DFTBA.

[StudentCommunity]

I'm upset about two things.

One: I did not know of this video back in 2010 when I DID have French Revolution in history class.

Two: My friend got her hands on a copy of The Fault In Our Stars and she has no idea who John Green is. She asked me if John Green was a YouTuber, and also proceeded to explain Brotherhood 2.0 to me. Me? I'm a nerdfighter through and through and STILL haven't read TFIOS. I'm jealous.

[rekuma]

I learned So F-ing much in that 5 minutes!

[AlwaysPotterhead]

I was going to get my history teacher to show this in our class, but he found the actual History Channel video that pretty much explains the same thing as John. I was sorely disappointed.

[BlurgMaster3000]

Why didn't I know about this last term when we were reading about the french revolution in school. Back then I did not really understand it, but now I do...

It's awesome but I'm kind of upset about this.

[purplepancake11]

@girlfighter523 If you're saying it in french, it's pronounced 'bassty' but it's one of those words that has developed a separate english/american pronunciation. A bit like how we pronounce Paris how it's spellt instead of Par-ee and Eiffel as Eye-ful instead of Ee-fell. So both are kinda right.

[girlfighter523]

I thought Bastille was pronounced bassty?!? Idk does anyone know?!? I think Johns right but I don't want to be wrong:/

[vidkid42]

We're learning about the French Revolution in history, and my teacher showed us a really boring video insultingly aimed for like 5th graders (I'm a sophomore) and I just kept thinking that she should show us this one because then people would actually pay attention. Thanks!!

[Philandshaned125]

John, I hope you know we had to do a project In school about these videos and my teacher called u a legend. Boo frikin yah

[kellylynnclifford]

What Software are you using to create this video?

[PERCABETH2000]

meh b-day is july 14 T^T

[PERCABETH2000]

ay i piont out somthing marie and luoie are TEENS k thx bai