The fall of The Bastille- 14th July 1789
Article 2- Blog Series on Revolution-
BIRTH OF DEMOCRACY IN MODERN HISTORY- THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
BY- SOUMYABRATA CHAKRABORTY
Article 2- The fall of The Bastille- 14th July 1789
(In this article- why was the Bastille stormed? Situation of French society back in 1789; what instilled the sense of revolution? Detailed account of the events of 14th July 1789).(Article 1- The Cult of Revolution Read Article1)
Introduction.
storming of the Bastille- 14th July 1789
Angry men and women of France were prepared for a change. At first
it was not a quest to abolish the monarchy, at first the French society was
just angry of the system of feudal privileges, and defective taxation system. But
who knew then, this revolution would establish the base of a new better system of
governance, “democracy”; a new way of life, “liberty”; a new framework of the
society, “equality” and all those principles, now we consider to be granted.
Who knew the storming of Bastille, would one day result in abolition
of monarchy, not only from France but also from the whole world (almost).
Who knew on 14th July in Paris, that their step
would lead the world to fight for a similar change, a better way of survival.
Who knew that this would bring a cease on big-big dynasties
of the world rulers? And definitely the execution of King Louis XVI? With whom
they had just started to fight, to change his oppressive policies.
14th July- Birth of The Revolution
The dawn of 14th July 1789, angry men and women of
France, angered of oppression, moved by hunger (shortage of food), yet many
more reasons, marched to just loot hoarded ammunition from a “tyrant”, ‘The Bastille
Fort’. And this small incident set the foot prints, which led to a massive,
game changing revolution.
This small incident resulted in a revolution, the French Revolution
that led to the end of monarchy in France.
A society based on feudal privileges gave way to a new system
of governance, ‘The Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen’ during the
revolution, announced the rise of a new era.
The idea that all individuals had rights and could claim
equality became part of a new language of politics that shaped men’s daily life
and the century’s literature. These notions of equality and freedom emerged as
the central ideas of a new age. But in different countries, these were
interpreted differently, in many different ways and implemented and rethought,
to make the principles even better, for the betterment of the society.
The anti-colonial movements in India, Africa, South America,
produced ideas that were innovative and original, but they spoke in a language
that gained currency only from the late eighteenth century.
14th July- An Outline
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| King Louis XVI also called Louis-Auguste, duc de Berry |
On the morning of 14th July 1789, the city of Paris
was highly alarmed, the then King Louis XVI ordered troops of the French army
to open fire on the angry and starving crowds of men and women, old and
children, on the streets of Paris.
At that time around, the state of a section of the French society,
who were exploited by the system of governance and taxation and social privileges,
was like a silent flame and it just needed an ignition to light up and turn the
whole system to ashes. And finally the very situation of the country during July
1789 and king’s wrong step of ordering the army to open fire, did the work of
ignition! Men and women starving since days, some 7000 of them gathered in
front of the town hall and decided to form a people’s militia.
As of the “rumors” spread that the king would soon order the
troops to open fire on them, they started arranging to defend themselves, and
in search of ammunition, they broke into a number of government buildings,
fort and other public places.
A group of several hundred people marched towards the eastern
part of the city of Paris and stormed and ruined the fortress-prison, the Bastille,
where they hoped to find hoarded ammunition. In armed conflict against the mob,
the commander of the Bastille was killed by the armed crowd. Prisoners were
released though only, seven were there.
Why Bastille?
The fortress was demolished and fragments
were sold in the markets of Paris to all of them, who wanted to keep a souvenir
of the Bastille’s destruction and those who were involved.
The Bastille was hated by majority of French population,
because it stood for the despotic powers of the King, demolishing it somewhat
meant to demolish the King’s power. Finally, France spoke against tyranny. The days
that followed were full of rioting, changes, political, social, economical reforms
that ultimately changed the way of governance, years later.
People were protesting against the high price of bread, the
defective taxation policy, the subsistence crisis situation, and the feudal privileges,
the society based on estates (more to come about it).
Historians looked back upon that time and they categorised it
(the event of Bastille storming) as the beginning of a chain of events that
ultimately led to the execution of the King in France, though most people at
the time did not anticipate this outcome, they were just protesting against the
state.
Now, what suddenly caused such a big uprising in the French society
that they finally decided to do out with it and waged a protest? From where did
the quest for a change originate? From where did the new society’s ideas emerge?
To get answer to all these questions, we need to look back on the structure of
the French society of the old regime, during and before 1789 and the policies
based on which the society was ruled.  |
| Execution of King Louis XVI |
All these questions will be taken up elaborately, in the
upcoming blogs of the series.
Make sure to read all the articles of the series.
(Article 1- The Cult of Revolution Read Article1)
Thank You for reading!!
Contributed by- Soumya
