8 Questions
Why did people decide to form a peoples' militia in front of the town hall?
Due to rumors that the king would order the army to open fire upon the citizens.
What event took place in Paris on the morning of 14 July 1789?
The storming of the Bastille
How many prisoners were released when the Bastille was stormed?
Seven
What was done to the Bastille after it was stormed?
It was demolished
What did the Bastille symbolize to the people of France?
The despotic power of the king
What were most people protesting against during the rioting that followed the storming of the Bastille?
The high price of bread
What did historians later see the storming of the Bastille as?
The beginning of a chain of events that led to the execution of the king
Why did people sell the stone fragments of the demolished Bastille in the markets?
To keep a souvenir of its destruction
Study Notes
The French Revolution Begins
- On July 14, 1789, Paris was in a state of alarm due to the king's decision to move troops into the city.
- Rumors spread that the king would order the army to open fire on citizens, sparking widespread panic.
- In response, approximately 7,000 people gathered in front of the town hall and formed a people's militia.
- The militia broke into government buildings to search for arms and eventually stormed the Bastille, a fortress-prison, in search of hoarded ammunition.
- The commander of the Bastille was killed in the ensuing armed fight, and the seven prisoners were released.
- The Bastille was a symbol of the king's despotic power and was hated by the people.
- Following the storming of the Bastille, the fortress was demolished, and its stone fragments were sold as souvenirs.
Aftermath and Consequences
- The days that followed saw widespread rioting in both Paris and the countryside.
- Most people were protesting against the high price of bread.
- Historians would later view this event as the beginning of a chain of events that ultimately led to the execution of the king in France.
- However, at the time, most people did not anticipate this outcome.
Test your knowledge on the events leading to the storming of the Bastille in Paris on 14 July 1789. Learn about the formation of a peoples' militia and the significance of the fortress-prison.
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