View of the Historians

What do Modern Historians think about the Storming of the Bastille?

This is what has happened during the fall of the Bastille during the French Revolution, which was the 14th July 1789. Modern historians think that the storming of the Bastille was due to obtain power in the General Estates and to rebel against the king’s excess of spending money. For example, the royal family had spent a lot of money for clothes, for Versailles, for the army, for the war against England and to finance the Independent War in America. France in that period was poor and had to pay a lot of money, including taxes. During the storming of the Bastille, the population freed some of the politicians that were caught and sent into the prison of the Bastille. Now days, the historians think that the fall of the Bastille was a symbol of rebellion against the king’s power and an important symbolic event of the French Revolution.
The Paris Newspaper says that all the Parisian people were revolting and were stealing all the furniture and weapons to destroy the Bastille. More than 10000 people were involved, including the farmers and the prisoners. The crowd was surging towards the Bastille killed and tortured the king’s troop. As Charles Dickens, a famous writer wrote that on the June 27th 1789, it looked that the king had finally given up, but it was not. Soon, he attacked Paris without telling anything. He wanted take control in Paris. In fact, he killed many revolts that were against him. Many people died.
The second view of point was Charles Dickens who wrote that although the storming of the Bastille was the begin of the French Revolution, all the French people were not really prepared for this attack. Moreover, the revolt was not a courageous act of patriotism. They did that because they were against the king Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette’s power, which was hated by every single person in France.
The third view of point was a Governor called Bernard-Rene de Launay. He said that nearly around 1000 people were gathered around the Bastille and were shouting to surrender. However, the king’s army did not obey them. Therefore, they shot to the prison with cannons and guns. About ninety-eight attackers and one defender were killed.
The war started in the morning at 11 o’clock a.m. and had finished at around 5.30 p.m. due to the order of surrender of the Governor Launay. Without him, many revolts and soldiers would have died.
This day is mainly dedicated for the storming of the Bastille, which is the symbol of defeating the king’s power. This special day, the 14th of July of every year is holiday to all the French people. In this ceremony, the French Military Parades march under the Arch of Victory during the morning.

The Storming Of The Bastille

The Storming of the Bastille occurred in Paris on 14 July 1789. While the medieval fortress and prison known as the Bastille contained only seven prisoners, its fall was the flashpoint of the French Revolution and it therefore become an icon of the French Republic. In France, Le quatorze juillet (14 July) is a public holiday, known as the Fète de la Fèderation (Federation Holiday). It is usually called Bastille Day in English.
The demonstrators invaded the Hotel des Invalides to gather arms (29,000 to 32,000 muskets without powder or shot) for storming the bastille. The prison was nearly empty of prisoners, it had only seven people: four forgers, two lunatics and one aristocrat. The cost of maintaining a medieval fortress for so limited purposes had led to take a decision to close it, shortly before the storming began.
The main purpose of the attackers was to get the large quantities of arms and ammunition that there were there. There was over 13,600 kg of gunpowder Bastille.
The list of the crowd ha about 600 names and the total of the crowd was probably less than a thousand. The crowd gathered outside around mid-morning, calling for the surrender of the prison and the release of the arms and gunpowder. Two representatives of the crowd outside were invited into the fortress and negotiations began. The negotiations continued while the crowd grew and became more and more impatient.
Around 1:30 PM the crowd went into the outer courtyard and the chains of the bridge were cut – injuring a person of the crowd. About this time gunfire began. The crowd seemed to have fallen into a trap and the fighting became more violent and intense.
The firing continued and at 3:00 PM the attackers were reinforced by French guards and other people from the regular troops, carrying weapons and also two cannons. With the possibility of a massacre Governor de Launay ordered a cease fire at 5:00 PM. A letter offering his demands was given to the crowd, but they obviously refused. But de Launay realized that his troops could not hold out much longer, therefore they opened the gates. The crowd dashed inside ready to liberate the Bastille at 5:30 PM.
Ninety-eight attackers and just one defender had died in the fighting. De Launay was dragged towards the Hotel De Ville by the attackers. De Launay who had been badly beaten and he therefore shouted "Enough! Let me die!" and kicked a one of the attackers named Desnot in the groin. De Launay was then stabbed again and again, so fell to the street, his head was cut off and fixed on a pike and then carried through the streets.
After this event the crowd entered the Bastille and stole everything, included weapons and gunpowder.

Charles Dickens life and accomplishments

Dickens early life
Dickens was born in Portsmouth, February the 7th 1812. He then became a famous English writer. Dickens lived in London and later on moved in Chatham. When he was 12 years old his father was sent to prison, for debt reasons and the young boy was forced to work in a blacking warehouse.
When he was 17 years old he became a parliamentary reporter for the “Morning Chronicle”. He created some sketches of the life in London and put together these forming “Sketches of Boz” (1836), a great success.
Dickens became famous for “The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club”, a collection of sporting sketches.
In 1836 Dickens married Catherine Hogarth, and had ten children from her.
During the 1840s, he travelled and campaigned a lot against the evil things going on during his times. In 1844 until 1845 he lived in Italy, Switzerland and Paris, then went in the United states, and in Britain where he taught going from place to place.
He died at Gadshill on June 9, 1870.

During his life as a writer, Dickens produced many essays and edited other ones. Some of these essays are: “A visit to Newgate” (1836), where he remembers the times when he used to meet his family in the Marshale a Prison; “A small star in the East”, is another essay he has produced in which he describes his working conditions; and “Mr. Barlow” (1869), where he describes an un-sensitive tutor.

A tale of two cities
One of his most important novels is “A tale of two cities” (1859), which took place during the French Revolution, in Paris and London. It is a moral novel, which expresses the subjects of hope, guilt, social injustice, shame, resurrection, salvation, and loyalty. Dickens wrote this novel by getting an inspiration from Thomas Carlyle, who wrote “The French R

evolution: A history”, and who believes that history is the destruction and resurrection itself. In “A tale of two cities”, there are few characters, not like in most other novels written by Dickens. The latter has been able to transmit the horrors and atrocities committed during the French revolution in his time. Throughout the whole novel there is a sense of mystery that catches the reader. Dickens uses a convincing language, helped by some dialogues carried out by people of different social status (the Marquis, Jerry Cruncher and other important characters of the time). He is able to do this because he has a profound understanding of human nature and of the different social classes. Weaknesses and strengths of the human personality are treated with sympathy and at times with humor depending on the character which is being described. This is what makes this novel one of the most popular and most read even in our times.

A bit about the Storming of the Bastille, and Bastille Day

There are many causes that have led to Revolution... France in that moment was reigned by the King Louis XVI and his queen, they weren’t really able to satisfy the needs of their country. France was enormous; the biggest state in Europe, but most of the time, it didn’t have enough food and money for its population… The lower classes situation was really difficult, but not only for them…Although the bourgeoisie was wealthy, but did not have any political power in France, the country was going towards bankrupt. Loads of assemblies took place, most of them asking for a constitution, but the King always seemed to want to avoid the constitution, and eventually the people rebelled.

The First Republic was founded in 1792.The Revolution also lead to the tricolour flag of blue, red, and white. Blue and red are known as the colours of Paris and white instead is the colour of royalty. Bastille Day was proclaimed a national holiday in 1880 .


Bastille Day is celebrated the 14th July every year; it’s the French National Day. The Bastille infact was a symbol of the King, and they wanted the power of the King destroyed. With the storming of the Bastille, all people, of all social classes, had most of the rights and privileges that they deserved. By attacking the Bastille, they had practically destroyed the Absolute Power of King Louis XVI upon France. The storming of the Bastille was a sign of liberty, equality and fraternity for the French. It was declared like French National Day by Benjamin Raspail the 6th of July 1880. Bastille Day has great significance for the French, because it marks the beginning of a Republic. During Bastille Day, many cities hold fireworks, and many parties are organized. Also the French Republican Guards are involved, and they hold some kind of parade throughout France. Military Parades march during the morning of 14th July.