An introduction. The name is general lafayette, although i believe that most of your americans know me far better by my name of the old iner of the revolution here america, and that of course is the marquis de lafayette. What a pleasure and honor to see all of you here on this simply magnificent day. July, the day in which we french celebrate the beginning of our revolution. My deare meeting with friend, your thomas jefferson, in hopes that he shall arrive sometime soon, so let us hope we can all have a conversation together. Where is mr. Jefferson . Mon cher, lafayette. Cher, jefferson. What a pleasure it is to see you again over so many years. Years, than 30 absolutely. And with great reverence to bastille day. Just as we celebrate the fourth of july, in france it is the 14th of july. We shall celebrate together, my friend. General, we have not forgotten your assistance in our nation either, and the American Revolution would have never been successful without the aid of france. It is a grand alliance between our two nations, my ,riends general rochambeau others coming to the assistance of our newfound friend and ally, the United States. Marquis, we are not alone. Us today,e world with welcoming us all back to monticello, as i hope you have discovered. Entired not realize the world. This must be one of your mr. Benjamin franklins inventions, isnt it . It brings us together this afternoon with the opportunity for a chance to ask some questions. Questions about our friendship, about the french revolution, about what has transpired in the history of your nation, let alone our own, in which you and myself laid no small part. Played no small part. Indeed. We have to the questions, mademoiselle alice wagner. Thank you for being here today, and if you are set, we are ready to begin with the first question. Monsiue r lafayette eiur lafayette, when did you come to america and why . I came to america in june 1777, but that was not i first are the glorious call of american freedom. It was back in 1775, back then, i was but a second lieutenant, newly promoted to the rank of , only in truth because my fatherinlaw owned the regiment, so it was a bit of a wedding gift. As was commonplace back then, we would often have these grandiose dinner parties with all of the most noble in attendance. We would speak about the various subjects of the day, a war that , perhaps or concluded in innovation in strategy or tactics. On one occasion, we had a very special guest. This guest was none other than the duke of gloucester. Yes, the same name applies to that in the city of williamsburg that you know so very well. Aftert street was named the eldest son of queen anne, william, duke of gloucester, who passed away before he could become monarch. Indeed, my friend. We soon discovered that he was rather simple that the american cause. Any were of the opinion that he thought america should the free be free and independent. So we listened to what he had to say. We spoke of the fighting at lexington and the town hall of your grant congress in and the great man himself, general washington. It was by the conclusion of this meeting that i told my brother officers that i was ready and willing to fight and, if need be, die for this cause. Now i know many have said, but why, mr. Markey mr monsieur marquis,onsieur would you want to go fight and die in another mans war . [indiscernible] a war that embraced the idea of great thinkers of the enlightened age. This age of reason. The likes of people who believe that a man, no matter what free,n in life, might be whether he be black or white, catholic or protestant, with rich or poor, slave or free should not [indiscernible] but by which the way that person would carry themselves and them prove himself in this world. It was with this inspiration that i received a promissory note by your very own american and ifrom connecticut, came to america and began taking part in this grand crusade. Quis, i mustar tell you that i might have been the one who influenced you if i had had accompanied dr. Franklin to france. Once we declared our independence, the new congress of the United States actually invited me to sail to france, but i could not. Ill health ran through my family at the time, the commonwealth of virginia required me to work on their const tuition and so it. As i know mr. Adams would have been sent as well, and perhaps you would have been wellsuited for it, as opposed to mr. Adams, who said i had a canine appetite for popularity. [laughs] great opportunity when congress invited me to secede dr. Benjamin franklin as our nations first minister to the call of louis the 16th. I was quite delighted to receive that commission, and you know, as i wanted to have more of a knowledge of all of our new nation and had never been to new england, i decided to sail to france from boston. So i went up to new england, and theyre hoping to board a ship upon which mrs. John adams would be a passenger. I arrived too late to make a reservation upon the ship. I did have the opportunity to meet with mrs. Adams, but in short time, and she embarked and i had to quit for the next ship. The ship i sailed on without a boston it left boston on the fifth of july. I spent the fourth of july in boston. Do you know a number of years later, you may recall, i was sailing the atlantic east ward when you were sailing the atlantic westward to return to our nation for the First Time Since the war. Do you think that your ship and mine passed in the night . They undoubtedly did, my friend. If only we knew. Are there any other questions for us . Andhis means that both you mr. Jefferson were in france during the storming of the bastille on july 14, 1789. How did each of you experience that moment . Marquisesay, monsieur , you were an actor on the stage of all the turbulence that was onewing at the bastille july 14. I was there to see you, bear witness to your great speech that you gave. You honor me so, my friend. Of course, the storming of the bastille was just the explosion. It occurred because of many reasons. Some have said it was because of the amount of money that france on the revolution in america. Some said it was the great ideas ers speakingphic of revolution. Indeed, the ideas that you spoke of in america became contagious. General washington spoke of the tree of liberty that would continue to grow and spread its leaves, and those leaves had landed in france, many in the minds of general rochambeaus soldiers. There, i found myself with the general representing the second estate, or the aristocracy, and we were deciding what was going to occur next. I have placed fourth the document that we had worked on together of the rights of man and of the citizens come in essence, a preamble to all friends our french constitution, and as we were debating whether this document should be accepted, many of the people of france became greatly concerned that some change was going to take lace. And they began rioting in the streets of paris. Austria, born in marie antoinette, had spread a rumor she was bringing in foreign troops, and the presence of the swiss guards to guard the royal family, which was commonplace for many, many years in the kingdom of france, many felt that the french people would be replaced by these foreign mercenaries. The people of france rose up in revolt. Attending these various sessions when i heard of the storming of the bastille. The city of paris, as you know, has over 600,000 people and nearly 80,000 of them rose in revolt. They went to the left bank of eine, where there were weapons to be found. Ts,y retrieved muske pistols, sabers and canons, and continued on to the bastille. What was the bastille . It was a fortress that had been converted into a prison, but not for your common criminal. It was a prison for those who had spoke out against the government. The injustices that occurred. Voltaire had spent a bit of time at the bastille, so by taking the bastille, you could unlock the doors and allow freedom of each for the freedom of speech for the people. The people were interested to appropriate for themselves the the that were in there, safety and defense in arms and gunpowder. Truth, myak the friend. Great deal of black powder operated the weapons system of our age, so not only by a locking the injustice, but by providing the acquit meant that would be needed to defend themselves against foreign attackers. Be taken l would alas, there were only seven criminals within the bastille at nexttime, but the very day, i found myself trying to restore order. I found a horse, a white horse that looked magnificent in restoring order, i donned the worn a the uniform i had worn during the American Revolution, and with two the streets to stop the violence, tell people to remain calm as best they could in hopes that change would occur. It was at that moment, my friend, that i was made commander of the guard nationale, a National Guard that would remain and keep order within the city of paris. I remember distinctly, marquis, that you were the only one who could restore the faith of the french people. They were not hearing what they felt would ease their concerns, let alone their pain. Longhe facts had for so [indiscernible] when you referred to the estate general. Ancienter the government of three particular classes am i correct . , allirst class was clergy my, the clergy. The second class was the nobility and the monarchy. The 3rd class were the people. Toould not deign to refer them as peasants, some did, but they were people included merchants and doctors as well. The last time the estate met with 1614. The year was 1789. I ask all of you, is that an effective legislative body . I think not. And i can understand that two thirds of that body would dig hate under the one third, dictate and proffer to the one third, the people. Wagner, you asked about the storming of the bastille that day, i was visiting a hotel. My good friend, madame de cornin g, and her son. General, you bore witness to the fact that practicing i did the beauty of your language to speak it fluently, i was never very successful. His. Name is et what haded all of us occurred at the bastille, and i remember as well hearing a story that was told to me by a good friend of my secretary, william shaw. His friend was a french nobleman the name of the liam hoff. As the story goes, the king was out hunting, as he often did, instead of seeing to the affairs of state, especially as volatile as things were at that moment. Advisors, his ministers came to him with a very sour expression upon his face, and the king looked at him, saying, is a revolt . No, sire, itwith is a revolution. Of july, 1789. The revolution had officially begun. Marquis, thee french people knew what was occurring, even though they were not certain of the facts. But wasnt not the royalty, the nobility that had simply lost touch with their people . Were almost in a world of their own . You referred to the late queen marie antoinette. I have often said if it were not for the queen, there never would have been a revolution. Im referring to her extravagance, the fact that she actually manufactured a peasant village on the grounds of versailles, where she would dress up as a peasant woman and go out amongst her sheep, etc. This showed the monarchy had simply distanced themselves so far from their own people. Then he lies were attributed to her, such as let them eat cake she never said such a thing. But because she was austrian born, many people, as the revolution progressed, became less and less trusting of her. And of course come at such a volatile time, spending so much of the kingdoms money created a , as people thought her an enemy of the people and no longer sit a savior of the people. The king could have united the people, created a Constitutional Monarchy that would have remained, a glorious revolution to mimic the english, in one where there was not a loss of life. But great change for the betterment of mankind. As we know, my friend, that would not come to pass. And it cannot be denied, the french people were hungry. They were very hungry, were they not . It had been a disastrous winter, 1788 and 1789. A year before had seen torrential rain storms. 1788 saw drought, and the winter was very, very oppressive. It destroyed all the orchards and fruits, the fields of grain they hardly had anything to eat. It was a difficult time for the people of france, and it is surprise no that they rose to revolt. Mademoiselle wagner, another question . To do each experience the french revolution from 1789 on . Thatw did we experience revolution since . I was safe at home, but at the time of the storming of the bastille, as you know, i was making preparations to return home. I was not sure what was expected of me and our new government when i say new government, i meant the government under our constitution. 1789. Eft september whatrned, general marquis, happened when you lead the parisians timber parisians to versailles. It was after the storming of the best deal that we hoped to establish the Constitutional Monarchy, keeping the king as the chief executive, having a legislative body look after the best interests of the people of france, and this was achieved. But it took some time. Thedocument, the rights of citizens, the preamble in which we spoke of those natural rights of life, liberty, property, of the pursuit of happiness, of freedom from oppression. It took a bit of time before the king would accept this, but on october 6, after some provoking, this was accepted. The provoking was the amount of to women to versailles demand the butcher, the baker, and the bakers wife. As youple were starving, so eloquently stated, and they were in want of food. At versailles, no more than 12 miles from the city of paris, there were granaries that could provide people with that to make bread, the staple of the french diet. Beganf the women their march on versailles. They began to be followed by others and myself as commander of the National Guard began to escort them, to ensure there would be no violence or uproar. Some were afraid the people would assault versailles the king and queen, but they demanded the baker and the bakers wifes grain. Violence,erned about so i dismounted my white horse, mounted the balcony and there i kissed the hand of the queen to avert the violence. The Constitutional Monarchy was accepted. This remained for a bit of time, but not all of the 25 million frenchmen were content with a Constitutional Monarchy. In fact, many were in favor of a republic like you had here in america. So a change began to occur. Be on the 17thd of july, 1791, where a mob of nearly 10,000 extreme leftists began signing a petition to remove the monarchy. They began to become violent. They killed some of my soldiers. I marched my soldiers and to i rebuffedem, and them for a short time, but they returned, worse than before. Mob,ldiers fired upon the they were killing my Soldiers Left and right. In hindsight, it was the wrong decision. The next day i had to resign my commission, as did the mayor of paris. Change occurred more quickly than it had before. Was, the palace at paris stormed. The king and queen were arrested for crimes against the people, and sent to the national razor, madam guillotine, where all of france would [indiscernible] they did not want their monarchies to be removed, as the french monarchy had been removed. I was soon very unpopular in france, so i had to flee from france. I had crossed the border into belgium, and think of this the people of france thought i was the enemy of the revolution, and the people of austria thought i was the symbol of the revolution. So when i was captured by the austrian army, who at that time held belgium, they threw me in a prisons. From 1792 to 1797 i remained in prison. I tried as secretary of state at the beginning of this to support your release. I did argue on behalf of his excellency, general washington, that we might support the french revolution. I initially thought it was simply a civil war, and i used that term many times during those years in france before i left, but then shortly after it was quite clear, it had become a revolution. Our influence and the success of our own, the constitution, was most obvious. Im afraid there was a great the cabinet of president washington. While i encouraged the french people to regain in their own revolution and also support your release from prison, i was awarded in that effort thwarted in that effort by the secretary of the treasury, general hamilton. He was not alone, there were others. What had occurred was that a faction was not in favor of the french revolution. To this day, we continue to differ on that point. Understandably so, but i do not fault president washington for not assisting my country during the political times of the revolution. The reality was when all of france,eclared war on if america had aligned with france, you would have been with war at war with all of europe. You did not have many troops or much money, so it is my fear that america would have been invaded at that time. Wifei voluntarily joined me in prison with two of my daughters to support me. Eventually, because of the success of a young upstart general named bonaparte and his First Italian Campaign in 1796 and 1797, i would eventually be released. To answer your question, madame mazama wagner madame was well , i wasmoiselle wagner not allowed to return to france. I had to remain outside until his couphad finished detat, but i retired outside of france, because i did not agree with the direction he was taking france. When i left in september of 1789 and later learned that, as you welcomed the parisian women and those who followed into the courtyard of versailles, and encouraged the royal family i say encouraged, not so much they want to go to leave the palace of versailles and follow he all back to paris never returned. The royal family never returned to versailles, and i have never been able to return to france. You know it is my second home. I look forward to returning someday. Anotherelle wagner, question if you will. One of our guests took note uniform and on your would like to know more about it. Was created by louis the 14th in 1693. It is a metal of merit medal of merit for performance on the battlefield, and i received it after the siege of yorktown on my return back to france in 1782. This was the stowed upon me by for my service not only at the siege of yorktown, but during the entire revolution in america. Perhaps from a distance, it looks very similar to the order that replaced it, and that created by in 1802, bonaparte himself. In a in the year 1824, it still existed. Soldiers forn to their current on the battlefield, but for civilians inwell for great exploits science, mathematics or literature, whatever it might be. General, as you speak about that, i believe that the emperor, general bonaparte, was successful ultimately to seize the beautiful parisian townhouse, which i watched being built on the west left bank. I watched them build this magnificent home that had three stories, with a one story facade and a little dome. It was built by a wealthy german that is the prototype for our monticello, a beautiful French Building which i stand, correct me if i am wrong, is the headquarters for a museum for the legion of honor. On the banks of the river seine. Perhaps our friend who inquired with such a question new the answer to that. [laughter] another question, mademoiselle . You tell us where you disagreed on the institution of slavery . Slavery. Stitution of let me rephrase that, the deplorable institution of slavery. When ino surprise that came to america, i let my thoughts and feelings on this institution be known. I had to become part of washington as military family with men such as alexander hamilton, John Lawrence and others, and i shared my views on this. 1784,ld not be until before my return to celebrate with all the American People the fact you had achieved independence, that i wrote a lender that wrote a letter to general washington stating, you, general, would be considered an even greater man than you already are, if you would set the example by emancipating the slaves. Thereby, others would follow this example, and you would eradicate this horrible institution. He of course responded by saying that i was a credit to humanity for making such a suggestion, though i am not the only one who suggested such a thing. But he said it could not be done immediately, that it must done slowly and through legislation. This greatly saddened me. Iis disappointed me, but believe actions speak louder than words. So thus, upon my return to france, my wife who is of like mind on my views of this horrible situation, thought we could help set the example. So we purchased a plot of land in french guiana. Emancipatew to upwards of 90 slaves. Gabrielle,t la belle and through education, tools, equipment, supplies, we sought to establish a colony that through this education, they productive members of society. Do you know what occurred, my friends . Success. The example had been set. And i was hoping that in the future others would follow my example. But the revolution would come to france, so i was not able at that time to devote myself entirely to ending this institution. Although i have always lent my voice, my right arm, my pin, my pen, ending this horrible institution. I will share one more anecdote during the course of the war in america, i had a friend put in my service, a slave, James Armistead. The immediate master William Armistead was the head of the stalls providing equipment for the war effort, but he in my service could do as i wished, whatever it might be. I soon discovered after an indepth conversation with the man that he was quite intelligent, and i was able to use his assistance and knowledge as a spy. Much of the information he was able to procure from the enemy camp mentz was vital to bringing us our victory at yorktown. But a promise had been made by the virginia legislature, granting read him for those slaves who had served in the course of the war. , sos had served as a spy through a technicality, they did not grant his freedom. Believe it or not, i carry upon my person the same letter i wrote on his behalf, written november 21, 1784. Simply a recommendation james. This is to search by that the error by the name of james has done essential service to me while i had the honor to command the state. His intelligence from enemy camps were industrial collected and delivered work industrially collected were industrial collected and delivered to my hands, he is but one man. He would be granted his freedom in 1787 andin 77 is a credit to me, he changed his name from James Armistead to james lafayette. To free his family. He said he freed more people onto hands that he thought he could ever do on the course thought hes that he could ever do during the course of his life. We shall endeavor to continue to do so. Will put, general. You, as one man, have done so much to enable another meant to be of influence himself. 1788, we werey and aer in paris frenchman dedicated to the emancipation of slavery worldwide collaborative collaborated with an englishman by the name of thomas clarkson. And they formed the friends of the black race. [speaking french] you yourself and i was invited. As anxious as i was to become a member of such a Noble Organization in my mind, because two of us shared the same sentiments for the eradication of this barbarous system of because i could not, was in a particular office representing my nation, and for me to have joined that would have had extensive percussions throughout our new government. Thesehave corresponded last several years, with the admittance of maine and the territory of missouri, when i was so shocked to learn we had made a compromise, if you will, 20, that we would accept slave,ree and missouri a it could mean the death knell of our union. I must admit as i have written to you, perhaps then slavery will ultimately dissolve as it 10 use far to the west. It will no longer prove viable. Me and said,ote mr. Jefferson, what if it does not dissolve, what if it continues to empower itself . When i began my Second Administration is president of our nation, i invited you to become governor of the territory of louisiana. Our hope was when we were doubling or some say tripling the size of our nation, that we could eradicate the further spread of slavery. I knew that with you at the helm , that might be achieved. Turned downly, you the invitation. But never forget, congress has stowed on you land here, land in someday that you might realize that this is your home whenever you care to come here. Thank you, my friend. I have often said from the moment i set foot on french soil, [speaking french] , france i have to countries, france on the United States of america. And i am hopeful that the foundation built on the sacrifice of so much blood by you the American People, that one day, this nation shall serve as a beacon for all other nations as the truest example of freedom and independence. Well said, general. Do we have any more questions, mademoiselle . We have time for one question. Several people want to know more about mr. Lafayettes visit back to the u. S. In 1824. Indeed, my visit to the United States after 40 years in 1824 when, believe it or not, your president james monroe youted me back to be what were calling a guest of the nation, to two are all 24 of the United States and territories. Mr. Jefferson, i find it fickle to believe, 24 United States. Last time i was here, you had your team. At this rate, you will have as many as 51 day. You imagine . There are so many complains of our government growing overly large, what can you expect . [laughter] indeed, i will be able to tour all 24 United States during my visit in washington city, travel southward to the georgia thesover to louisiana, up mississippi river, crossover the ohio valley into upper new york and down to meet, because you are having another election, so perhaps i should meet with the new president of these United States. Know, isdy you already my great hope. John quincy adams . It is indeed and he says he does not care to be elevated to that station, but rest assured, i have my hope. In fact, massachusetts has been turning in a rather jeffersonian way. [laughter] i wonder what mr. Adams would say of that . [laughter] the genius found its routing in the mind of the father, no question about that found its rooting in the might of the father, no doubt about that. Seeing this nation has prospered, it has endured so many difficulties, war, civil strife, turmoil, yet it has endured. And that is a credit to the American People, for sacrificing all to keep it existing and keep it moving forward into the future. Understand that as your son, George Washington lafayette, companies you. He is in the carriage now. And the two of you are bringing on your travels a great hogs head. Variousisit the battlegrounds, would you care to share your intentions . It is my great intention to acquire first from the United States of america has many important sites that i had some connection with, such as mount vernon, brandywine, and bring back some of that earth to france in the hope that upon my death, i might be buried in american soil. Eyes well up, general. This is a property on, if you would allow, that i share with you one of last bottles of bordeaux a chateau briand. Was saved for the time you would be visiting monticello and we may deplete the wine cellar. So i am going to pour you a little libation, i self as well, and then if you will, general, this for you, this for me. And i cannot think of a better lean to toast, vive france. Le france. Long live the United States. Long live rance. The alliant long live france. And long live the Great Alliance alliant between france Great Alliance between france and the United States. Youre watching American History tv, exploring our nations past every weekend. This week, we are looking back on this date in history. Ginsburg, would you raise your right hand and repeat after me . Doruth bader ginsburg, solemnly swear. I, ruth nader ginsberg, do solemnly swear, that i will support and defend the constitution of the United States. Support andll defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and mystic and domestic that i will bear true faith and allegiance to the same that i will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. That i take this obligation freely that i take this obligation freely without any mental raven reservation or purpose of evasion and that i will well and faithfully discharge that i take this odds this obligation freely without reservation or purpose of evasion and that i will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office for which i will enter. No help me god. Sow help me god. God. Help me [applause] follow us on social media cspan history, for more of this day in history clips and hosts. Interpreterfferson bill barker, and brendan dillard monticello, discussed how and monticellos historic interpretation manager, Brandon Dillard, discuss how depictions of both slavery and jeffersons life have changed over recent decades. Thomas Jeffersons Monticello recorded this program and provided the video. Brandon good afternoon. My name is Brandon Dillard and i am the mer