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The Great Fear

To be ignorant of history is to remain always a child - Cicero
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burning chateaux in the countryside
burning chateaux as the peasants riot in the countryside

Between June and the beginning of August there were riots in the countryside. Peasants burned their nobles' chateaux, monasteries and buildings which housed public records. They particularly targeted documents which contained records of their feudal obligations. It was called "The Great Fear" and spread quickly throughout France.  

Part of Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité: The French Revolution exhibit