2.6.2 Historical Factors—The National Assembly and the Attack on the Bastille
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2.6.2 Historical Factors—The National Assembly and the Attack on the Bastille
Attack of the Bastille
In the foreground, the mob moves toward the prison in the background. On the drawbridge in the centre right, white smoke billows from the discharge of muskets as the mob attacks the main gate.
The National Assembly
The French Revolution was initially peaceful. But it did not stay peaceful for long. By June 27, 1789, after the Third Estate had taken the Tennis Court Oath, Louis XVI allowed the three estates to meet as one group, called the National Assembly. The National Assembly vowed to create a new constitution for France, but obviously this would take time.
While the National Assembly continued to meet and work on the constitution, news of the revolutionary changes at Versailles (where each estate had previously been given one vote) had spread quickly throughout France. Open the tab below to learn how the French people embraced the sense of nationalism sweeping the country.
Peasants and workers of the Third Estate were not satisfied with the speed of change. The economy was still in shambles, and the commoners wanted better conditions right away. In Grenoble on June 7, 1788, a mob of nearly 400 people rioted at the news of a tax increase, and attacked troops by hurling heavy roof tiles (represented by Debelle's painting "The Day of the Tiles").
Rumours spread that the king was conspiring with the aristocracy to overthrow the Third Estate, and that there was an impending military coup. Peasants attacked and burned the homes of tax collectors and landlords, and riots broke out all over Paris. In response, King Louis XVI ordered troops stationed around the city.
The King's power continued to deteriorate, and revolutionaries began demanding the return of the King to Paris, where he and his family could be better supervised. After the confrontation of the Women's March to Versailles, the King was concerned about the impending threat of violence. He (and the royal family) returned with the crowd to the Tuileries Palace in Paris. On the way, Louis XVI was forced to wear the tricolour, a blue, white and red ribbon. The revolutionaries had adopted the tricolour as their symbol, white for royalty, with blue and red colours to represent the city of Paris.
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Go to your textbook, Understanding Nationalism, and read page 48. This page will further your understanding of the French Revolution's geographic factors that shaped French nationalism. |
| Continue to use the 2.4 Notebook Organizer (Word, PDF, Google Doc) to take notes on what you have read. When you are done, return here to continue. |
Attack on the Bastille
PARIS, July 14, 1789
Driven by the rumours that Louis XVI had ordered military troops to break up the National Assembly, a mob made up of about a thousand Parisians surrounded the Bastille (a royal prison originally built as a fortification), hoping to access the weapons stored in the Bastille and defend the Assembly. The Bastille had an infamous reputation among the commoners (that was largely unjustified). But, the revolutionaries were convinced the Bastille was a symbol of injustice, perpetrated by the King and the First and Second Estates.
Open the tab below to view the timeline and outcome of the attack.
As the crowd approached the Bastille, people quickly got out of hand and fighting began. Soon, the prison was in the hands of the mob. The revolutionaries took weapons they found and freed the few prisoners inside. The governor of the prison was murdered, as were some of the guards (although they had surrendered). Their heads were mounted on pikes and paraded through the streets of Paris in front of cheering crowds. The people of Paris had won a victory. They now knew what they could achieve, and their appetite for revolution grew.
The storming of the Bastille immediately became a symbol of French nationalism. It was proof that power no longer resided in the King, but rather in the people. This shift in power was supported by the theories developed by Enlightenment philosophers.
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Returning to Versailles after a day of hunting on July 14, Duke Rochefoucauld-Liancourt told Louis XVI what had just happened at the Bastille.
"Why, this is a revolt!" Louis exclaimed. "No, Sire", the duke replied. "It is a revolution!" |
With the storming of the Bastille, the Revolution had become serious. Very soon, Paris organized a new city government (the Commune) and established its own armed force (the National Guard). Other French cities followed the example of Paris. The new city governments arising throughout France aligned themselves under the National Assembly rather than under the monarchy of Louis XVI.
Watch
July 14 has since become a national holiday in France, celebrated as Bastille Day. Watch a summary and celebration of Bastille Day by clicking the video (below).
Watch the video (to the 7:15 mark) called "The French Revolution in 9 Minutes" to review the timeline of the development of nationalism in France.
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Go to your textbook, Understanding Nationalism, and read page 43. This page will further your understanding of the French Revolution's historical factors that shaped French nationalism. |
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Complete your notes about what you have read using the 2.4 Notebook Organizer (Word,
PDF, Google Doc).
As you complete the 2.6.3 The Right to Revolt Forum, consider the factors that lead to revolution, and whether it is possible to achieve nationalist goals without a revolution. |