Bastille Day: A Turning Point In The French Revolution

The French Revolution was a political movement devoted to the people, more specifically, the common people. The motto of the Revolution was “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity,” meaning freedom, equals, and alliance. Although the Revolution was thought to be a bloody tragedy by some, the majority of the people around the world saw the Revolution as much more. The French Revolution, on a technical level, took place between the years of 1789 and 1799.1 It began with the storming of the Bastille, but tensions were mounting long before that. However, the taking of the Bastille was a significant symbol in France and the world as a whole, for it symbolized what can be done when the people take the power into their own hands.

The growing economic and social importance of the bourgeoisie, the middle class of France, was usually described as the cause of the Revolution. It was believed that the bourgeoisie overthrew the Old Regime because the regime had given power and privilege to the other classes such as the nobility and clergy, who prevented the bourgeoisie from advancing socially and politically. Economic recession in the 1770s frustrated the bourgeoisie in their rise to

However, now it is believed that the revolutionary process started with a crisis in the French State. By 1789, the French people had become critical of the monarchy, even though it had been successful in defending France in domestic violence. They resented the rising and unequal taxes, the persecution of religious minorities, and government interference in their private lives. These resentments, in addition to an inefficient government and outdated legal system, made the French government seem more and more inadequate to the French people. The royal court of Versailles, which had been developed to impress the French people and Europe, now symbolized the squandering of tax money and the corruption of the entire Old Regime.1

The people heard a rumor that thousands of troops were about to charge. On July 14, 1789, a wind from the southwest pushed through a stormy sky as the crowd gathered outside the Bastille. The people flocked there to seek ammunition to defend themselves against the soldiers. The Bastille was simply a prison, but its intimidating military potential frightened people. And at this moment, it is almost recast to its old role as defender of the capital, against an attack that nobody was expecting to see. The crowd has no thought of releasing the prisoners, all of whom are unknown to it, and isn’t even aware that there are only seven of them left, mostly insane. It shouted itself hoarse, demanding powder and cartridges, which Launay, the governor, had no intention of giving. Although he is shaken by the size of the crowd, he did not seriously believe that the King’s finest fortress, even defended by a few soldiers, will yield to any kind of attack from carpenters, cabinetmakers, locksmiths, etc. The governor’s reasoning was not unfounded because for over an hour, all the crowd did was shout louder and louder on the far side of the famous walls, seemingly deaf and blind. But two young men forced the gates open, and someone cried “Treason!” which lashed out at the governor who was now thought to have let people enter solely in order to shoot them down at close range.1

Two days after, Bastille Day became an official holiday in France, which “connected France with the ideals of freedom and equality that led a group of ordinary citizens to perform an extraordinary act.” Now, Bastille Day is celebrated as equivalent to Independence Day, or July 4th, where citizens participate in festivals and picnics.4

power and wealth, and rising bread prices just before the revolution increased discontent among works and peasants.2

The crowd almost forgot that its main reason for being there was to get gunpowder. Now, for vengeance and for honor, the capture of the Bastille became the objective. After a brief hour of isolated shots and rushing into the fortress, they told the governor he must surrender. Lau

Some topics in this essay:
Parlement Paris, French Revolution, National Assembly, Jacques Necker, American Revolution, Jacques Turgot, Bastille Day, Louis XVI’s, Reign Terror, Napoleon Bonaparte, french people, french revolution, common people, bastille day, revolution french revolution, july 14, 18th century, french monarchy, parlement paris, louis xvi’s, estates meeting,