The Feast of the Federation

In July 1790, the French revolutionary government organized an extravagant event called the Feast of the Federation. Over 100,000 people attended the festival, which aimed to symbolize the unity and acceptance of a moderate constitutional monarchy envisioned by the liberal bourgeoisie. The event featured a Catholic mass, a grand oath-swearing ceremony led by Marquis de Lafayette, and four days of celebration with food, wine, music, and dancing. Although the festival projected an image of unity, the reality was that French society remained deeply divided, and the momentary display of consensus did not reflect the growing factionalism and conflicts within the country.