1.Background of the Bastille:
The Bastille was a notorious royal fortress and prison located in Paris.
2.Storming of the Bastille:
On the morning of July 14, 1789, a large crowd gathered at the Bastille. They were seeking ammunition to defend the city from potential counter-revolutionary forces. After negotiations with the governor of the Bastille failed, the crowd stormed the fortress.
3.Symbolism:
The storming of the Bastille held great symbolic importance. It represented the people's uprising against the absolute monarchy and the privileges enjoyed by the nobility and clergy. The fall of the Bastille became a rallying point for the revolution and a source of inspiration for the revolutionaries.
4.Fall of the Ancien Régime:
The capture of the Bastille marked a turning point in the revolution. It weakened the power of King Louis XVI and the royal court. It demonstrated that the people were willing to fight for their rights and led to the eventual downfall of the Ancien Régime (old regime).
5.Bastille Day as a National Holiday:
In 1880, the French government officially designated July 14 as a national holiday, celebrating the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille. The day is commemorated with parades, fireworks, and various cultural events.
Bastille Day, therefore, holds great historical significance in France as it represents the beginning of the French Revolution, the fight for liberty, equality, and fraternity, and the establishment of a republic based on democratic principles.
